Enclosed ladder stand?

[Foggy47]

I've found the same thing to be true. It's a blind in of itself. I felt big and bulky in it the first time... but deer, yotes, and bobcats seem to completely ignore it. And since you're inside it you can move all you want without detection. I've found I can look down into it to play on my phone and not risk the light or hand movements being seen.

I only use mine if it's in the teens or colder, but when I do it's very nice and warm!

A freind of mine used to take his sleeping bag with him on stand. Most often he would pull it up just above his waist. He said he was toasty warm in cold temps.

 

[hillrunner]

A freind of mine used to take his sleeping bag with him on stand. Most often he would pull it up just above his waist. He said he was toasty warm in cold temps.

I used to do that for my daughter when she was little. Problem was, she would fall asleep!

 

[BenA]

You could bend some cattle panels into a upside down U attaching them to the rails of the ladder stand. Cover that with a tarp or similar.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I’ve used the fabric “blind” walls ladder stands from the stand manufacturer before. They are nice to block wind and movement from waist down but aren’t a game changer by any means.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

These were the days where we would climb into those stands in the dark.....and leave 'em after dark. We were really commited to the hunt. Won't do it ever again.....but fond memories.

Your stand-build sounds like a very good method. A little comfort goes a long way in the cold & wind.

That's how I hunted most of my life - dark to dark. 4:00 am in the stand in the dark, usually 1/2 hour to 45 minutes after complete darkness - I left the stand, to avoid spooking any nearby deer. Paid off many times ..... no regrets.

 

[Catscratch]

Foggy, you got me a little curious; was that heater propane or electric? Always thought heating your scent stream would be a good method of scent control.

 

[Mtyhunter]

I used to take my little buddy heater to my stand on really cold mornings, but i hate the noise it makes, and packing it in/out.
I roll up one of those cheap ass dollar gentral blankets (it has a buck pic on it at least) and attach it to my backpack. Put the blanket over my legs, and I'm warm, no more hauling in the heater.

 

[Foggy47]

Foggy, you got me a little curious; was that heater propane or electric? Always thought heating your scent stream would be a good method of scent control.

What I used was a relatively cheap, single burner, Coleman propane stove. It came with a plastic base to hold one of those typical short, fat, tanks found today. Just a low blue flame between my legs. Had to be a bit careful.....but was not a huge concern. It kept my lower body quite warm, and I did not need to wear gloves unless it was real cold or windy. I could feel the heat wash-up over my chest and face. Especially Nice when the temps dipped into the single digits. My feet did not get cold, but I had a small piece of carpet (sample) that I put under my snowmobile boots. The aluminum rail was just about perfect as a shooting rail....but we did not make any long distance shots.. We typically hunted some pretty thick timber.

I think there is a huge advantage in being out in the open like this....as opposed to inside a box blind. You really have more of your senses working when you are outside....and hear and see many more thitngs sooner and more clearly when you are out in the elements. Still.....I prefer a softer life today. Grin.