Catscratch
5 year old buck +
I'm considering trying to build an enclosure around a couple of my ladder stands for late season hunts. Anyone ever do this? Tips or plans?
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Enclosed ladder stand?
- Thread starter Catscratch
- Start date
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
I did this several decades ago. I had a relatively lightweight ladder stand that was 12' high. It was made by Warren and Sweat. Still have it and it's a good ladder stand. What I did was to enlarge the platform with a larger size of plywood, then have some 1 1/4" aluminum square tube bent to match about the same size as the plywood floor of my ladder stand......and used two supports on either side of the floor to hold the bent aluminum "hoop" at either side....as well as attached this "hoop" to the tree at mid-back level. I secured the "mid back" level hoop with a rachet strap.....thus it was very solid. Then I sewed a canvas curtain which extended from one side of the tree to the other and was slit in the middle for entry to the blind via the ladder. Velcro secured the middle slit together....and shock cord kept it all snug around the base and aluminum tube.
Thus I had a nice shooting rail with a canvas surround to nearly chest hight. I had a small folding, poratble stool and used a boat cushion for a bit of butt comfort. I used a small single burner Coleman camp stove for heat between my legs.....and that heater kept me toasty warm when set on low....and medium on the worst days. (Glad I never caught fire!!). Hunting in single digits....it was easy to keep my gloves off and stay warm....unless the wind was howling. I also think the heat helped to carry my scent up and away....as I saw on several occasions where deer would approach my stand from the downwind side.....and never seemed concerned with me. Heat rises....and with it....so does scent.....IMO.
I made this blind so that it could be back-pack carried into place by myself....and set up in short order. Used this for many years before the time of box blinds and office chairs. I think I designed mine back in the 70's....and it was the envy of all the guys I hunted with. I still got it....but we have gotten soft and do not use it any more. We could....we just don/t. I killed my best buck ever from that stand/blind.......while sitting "backwards" and facing the tree due to a wind change.
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.
Last edited:
hillrunner
5 year old buck +
Heater body suit, forget the enclosure
Telemark
5 year old buck +
Depends on what kind of tools you have. You can get 2x4s cheap, build the base with them, and rip a couple to fill out the frame. Then you can hang any kind of burlap or camp net from the frame. The art is fastening branches to everything to break up the silhouette.
"Brushing in" blinds and ladder stands is one of my favorite winter activities. I can make a blind absolutely disappear. If you do it right, they will never give you a second glance.
"Brushing in" blinds and ladder stands is one of my favorite winter activities. I can make a blind absolutely disappear. If you do it right, they will never give you a second glance.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Well... I have a Heater Body Suit. Damn thing is great! If it's REALLY cold I'll use it. If it's just kind of cold I don't bother with it and sit there being cold.
Foggy, I could see me making something like that as an experiment to see if a more permanent structure would be worth pursuing. If it worked good enough might just make several of them.
Thanks for the replies guys!
Foggy, I could see me making something like that as an experiment to see if a more permanent structure would be worth pursuing. If it worked good enough might just make several of them.
Thanks for the replies guys!
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
I did endure all-day sits....with temps into the single digits here in MN. Not sure anyone would do this anymore.....but it was the clear Schmidt back in time. I think we were more imaginative back then....and had more fun trying to better feather our nests. Different times. Neat stuff was not available....so we figured a better way. Was fun to figure it out. Now we just buy the better chit.
Feelslikefar.
5 year old buck +
Thinking about this yesterday, how much weight could you really add to it boxing it in? If you attach to the tree, at that point you're building a tree house and just using the stand as a ladder to get in. 
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Thinking about this yesterday, how much weight could you really add to it boxing it in? If you attach to the tree, at that point you're building a tree house and just using the stand as a ladder to get in.
I had thought about that. Wouldn't be very hard to build from the tree out around the stand. Would make it safer in my opinion. If the stand is supporting your weight then the walls wouldn't need to be very sturdy.
I've also spent quite a bit of time thinking about a pit blind. Not much more comfortable than being in the ground.
TonySoprano
5 year old buck +
This is probably what you are looking for . The older I get I'm not a fan of heights , 15 to 16 foot stands max for me. I have the Trophy Treestands 16 foot Aimer 360 stand. I need to get some help next year putting it up, it's too heavy and awkward, I tried with a strap and a mule but it didn't work. They sell a optional roof and blind to keep you hidden.
bowhunterssuperstore.com
Trophy Treestands Aimer 360 Ladderstand Single Person 16 Ft.
Shop the best bowhunting, archery, sportsman & outdoor equipment at low prices. Save money & get it fast with same-day shipping on the best outdoor brands.
bowhunterssuperstore.com
TonySoprano
5 year old buck +
Trophy Treestands Aimer 360 Roof Kit Accessory TL108-BR Height: 14 in, Condition: New, 14% Off w/ Free S&H
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Catscratch
5 year old buck +
The last ladder stand I put up was a huge pain in the a$$. I'm in my low 50's, I could see getting hurt trying to put one up. But I do love hunting from a ladder stand!This is probably what you are looking for . The older I get I'm not a fan of heights , 15 to 16 foot stands max for me. I have the Trophy Treestands 16 foot Aimer 360 stand. I need to get some help next year putting it up, it's too heavy and awkward, I tried with a strap and a mule but it didn't work. They sell a optional roof and blind to keep you hidden.
Trophy Treestands Aimer 360 Ladderstand Single Person 16 Ft.
Shop the best bowhunting, archery, sportsman & outdoor equipment at low prices. Save money & get it fast with same-day shipping on the best outdoor brands.
Those wrap around cloth things are pretty much what Foggy invented way back in the day to hunt the dinosaurs. Probably cheaper to buy one than to make one from scratch.
TonySoprano
5 year old buck +
I'm not sure if I found the right thing....I googled heater Body suit and found IWON ? the suit is $499.00 !
I'm sure it's great , but I'll stick to some Big Bill wool pants and a Vintage Jc Penny wool buffalo plad hunting coat for Virginia .
Granted it usually doesn't get super cold here usually 30's to 40's in the mornings , the coldest mornings would be in the 20's....and the absoulte lowest would be the teen's to 10 degrees but that's rare.
I know this might sound gay , but has anyone ever taken a army surplus wool blanket into a blind ?. It might work here for those 20 degree mornings without spending a arm and a leg.
hillrunner
5 year old buck +
This would be one of the last pieces of hunting gear I would give up. I can hunt all day long in cold weather and simply do not get cold. I'll sit in single digit temps all day long if I want to. No more cold feet, no more cold hands, no shivering. I use light non insulated gloves in even the coldest weather.
One thing a lot of people think when they see one is that you'll get spotted because it looks big & bulky. It's the exact opposite, you are hidden inside it. I hate when the temps are too warm to use it.
Original Heater Body Suit
The Original Heater Body Suit is the original cold-weather hunting solution, built to keep you warm, silent, and ready—no matter how long you're in the stand. Designed for hunters who refuse to let frigid temperatures cut their day short, this one-of-a-kind suit surrounds your entire body in...
killzhunt.com
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
This would be one of the last pieces of hunting gear I would give up. I can hunt all day long in cold weather and simply do not get cold. I'll sit in single digit temps all day long if I want to. No more cold feet, no more cold hands, no shivering. I use light non insulated gloves in even the coldest weather.
One thing a lot of people think when they see one is that you'll get spotted because it looks big & bulky. It's the exact opposite, you are hidden inside it. I hate when the temps are too warm to use it.
Original Heater Body Suit
The Original Heater Body Suit is the original cold-weather hunting solution, built to keep you warm, silent, and ready—no matter how long you're in the stand. Designed for hunters who refuse to let frigid temperatures cut their day short, this one-of-a-kind suit surrounds your entire body in...killzhunt.com
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!
Feelslikefar.
5 year old buck +
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
If you make something and have to work on ladders, make it a safer height. 6-8 ft up can be plenty in many places. Maybe make 8ft platfrom leaning on tree with two 4x4s.
also, walmart sells a twenty buck 12v blanket in automotive
also, walmart sells a twenty buck 12v blanket in automotive
RGrizzzz
Administrator
Feelslikefar.
5 year old buck +
I know someone who would take one out in the middle a of field, wrap themselves up and lay down, maybe take a nap.
Of course they were doing it at night with a .22 pistol and a flashlight.
