Creating my "Over the Top" Deer Blind

[EddieWalker]

Robert,

The window height is just about perfect. I've shot a couple hogs from it and found that the rifle rests on the sill just right. I have some new folding chairs in there now that are very comfortable. One drawback to the size of it is that if you are watching the side where the feeder and food plot are, you can't see Lake Marabou and the woods around it. Steph usually sits on the side with the feeder and I sit on the side of Lake Marabou. She's had hogs in her sites, but hesitates. So far, she hasn't fired a shot from the blind, but has had several oportunities.

For reasons that I don't understand, I insulated the door and made it very, VERY heavy. I also added a weather strip to the bottom that was a pain on the threshold. It sort of stuck and took an effort to open and close the door. My brother was using the blind to shoot some hogs and that weather strip broke off. He bought me a new one, but neither of us have wanted to take off that heavy door to replace the weather strip. the gap is so small that I'm probably just gonna live with it. Single pane glass, no insulation in the walls, but the door is 2 inches of plywood and foam. Go figure. LOL

I just bought a coleman propane heater that is rated for indoor use. I want to test it first, but it will be in there pretty soon. I also bought some books over the weekend that went up on my shelf in there. Except for food and drink, I'm all set for a nice, comfortable day sitting in there when deer season starts next month.

Dave,

Thank you. I bought the weathervane from an outfit in Maine. Seems like that's the only place to get them.

Eddie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I bought a couple of those little buddy heaters and used them in my pop up blinds last year. In an uninsulated blind in the middle of our New york winter one little heater kept it so warm in there that I could sit comfortably with just a long sleeve shirt on. My heavy hunting coat always sat on the ground in the corner. The heater was only set on low also and the blinds were 5x5s. I bought the hoses so each heater was hooked to a 20lb propane tank and it will last through a season. The only problem I had was when it was real cold (around 10f and lower) the tank would freeze up and the propane wouldn't flow as easily so the heater would go out after it has been on for an hour or so.

I will plan to set my windows at 3' and it should be good. I also plan to get an office chair up there so that I can move easily to turn or check the other window. I just need to figure out some more details then I am set to build but it is raining with 30mph winds right now so I am not going to do much work on it today

 

[dave1949]

Thank you. I bought the weathervane from an outfit in Maine. Seems like that's the only place to get them.

Eddie

Really? I wouldn't have guessed that. I know there are a couple of people along the Maine coast who make them. In Wells, ME where we used to live, one of the windvane makers has a shop on Rt. 1 (the tourist trail). He also sells ready made cupolas with copper roofs.

I always wanted one but have never had the right building to put one on. One of those elegant touches from the past. I like driving by a New England house and barn with a connecting ell, looks so nice. However, I have an aversion to painting.

Dave.

 

[EddieWalker]

Robert,

Your comment about your jacket remined me that I wanted to find some rustic, wildlife, type coat hooks for the wall, or behind the door. I bought a nice clock with a Whitetail buck on it that I like for keeping track of the time, but haven't found a thermometer that I like. I want to know how cold it is outside while I'm out there. It doesn't really matter, it's just something that I'd like to know. Recently, I realized that I could mount it to the railing on the stairs and still be able to see it, without it blocking my windows.

I forgot to mention in my previous post, but the 8x8 demensions have worked out really well when all four of us are in there. It's enough room for the kids to sit and play on their video games, while Steph and I watching out the windows. While we haven't shot anything with all of us in there, or even seen anything, it's still family time together. My goal in life is to create those times that we all do things together that will hopefully stay with them when they get older and start their own families. Having a deer blind big enough for all of us to do this and enjoy it was an imortant part of my design. I think that if it was smaller, it wouldn't have worked out as well.

Dave,

When I was building this, the weathervane was the only expense that really caused me to pause and think about what I was doing. It was an expensive frill that I didn't need, but really wanted. The cupola would have been fine with just a finial on it that I could have bought for $30 and nobody would ever think anything about it. In the end, I spent the money on the weather vane because it's something that I've always admired in other buildings and always wanted. I just never had a place to put one before. Now that it's there, I like it so much that I will include one in my gazebo's and I'm even thinking of adding two of them to my house one of these days!!!!!

Eddie

 

[dave1949]

Dave,

When I was building this, the weathervane was the only expense that really caused me to pause and think about what I was doing. It was an expensive frill that I didn't need, but really wanted. The cupola would have been fine with just a finial on it that I could have bought for $30 and nobody would ever think anything about it. In the end, I spent the money on the weather vane because it's something that I've always admired in other buildings and always wanted. I just never had a place to put one before. Now that it's there, I like it so much that I will include one in my gazebo's and I'm even thinking of adding two of them to my house one of these days!!!!!

Eddie

Oh yes, they put some very proud prices on them. If you are artistic or know someone who is, here is how they are made:

Relief carve in a block of soft wood the image you want the weather vane to have. Usually they are symetrical, so one carving does both sides. The depth of the carving determines the finished width of the figure.

Using soft sheet copper and a leather or other non-marking mallet plus judicious use of rounded sticks, fingers and thumbs, work the copper into your relief carving. Repeat this for the other side of the figure.

Trim the two halves so they match around the edges then solder them together.

Of course, the figure design and mounting/swivel point need to function in combination like a simple wind arrow for them to point the correct wind direction.

The larger and more ornate models use multiple relief carved blocks and multiple sheets of copper. Like a golfer swinging a club or three flying geese, for example.

If the copper stiffens up and you can't form it, you may need to anneal it one or two times during the forming process.

Dave.

 

[captjack]

This is how we roll ! - we use this set up for Deer , Duck and Goose hunting. Just pick it up and put it where ever you need it. This is a picture of deer hunting mode

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert,

Your comment about your jacket remined me that I wanted to find some rustic, wildlife, type coat hooks for the wall, or behind the door. I bought a nice clock with a Whitetail buck on it that I like for keeping track of the time, but haven't found a thermometer that I like. I want to know how cold it is outside while I'm out there. It doesn't really matter, it's just something that I'd like to know. Recently, I realized that I could mount it to the railing on the stairs and still be able to see it, without it blocking my windows.

I forgot to mention in my previous post, but the 8x8 demensions have worked out really well when all four of us are in there. It's enough room for the kids to sit and play on their video games, while Steph and I watching out the windows. While we haven't shot anything with all of us in there, or even seen anything, it's still family time together. My goal in life is to create those times that we all do things together that will hopefully stay with them when they get older and start their own families. Having a deer blind big enough for all of us to do this and enjoy it was an imortant part of my design. I think that if it was smaller, it wouldn't have worked out as well.

Eddie

I have a battery operated wireless thermometer that works well. If I recall the batteries lasted 2 years (two 3a's and two 2a's) You mount the transmitter where ever you want outside and set the receiver inside. It tells the time, indoor and outdoor temps.

That is a good idea about coat hooks also, I hadn't thought about that. I plan to set a 12" bench around the 3 walls to give me a good rest and a place to set things. I plan to set it up so my daughter can come with me when she wants. That is why I plan on insulated it well to help deaden any noise she makes since she is 5 and loves to talk

I have had her in my pop ups before and we actually had enough room in a 5x5 with sloped walls. I think a 6x8 will be big enough but can easily go back to a 8x8 since I haven't set any poles yet. A wind storm blew over three trees here. One missed everything but almost killed one of our deer, another hit the fence and even though it was heavy the fence held its own. The third tree ripped our service out of the house as well as the phone and cable. We had to replace the service yesterday and today we got our cable and phone back on. The fax line is still down though as they are trying to find the problem. I guess the line got fried at the main terminal so I have no idea what they have to do.

 

[Tororider]

Eddie, have you thought about using some sort of antlers for a coat hanger? Would fit the theme.

Also, do you have a tube with a funnel going down to the ground to relieve the pressure when the urge arises? Just a thought or two.

 

[EddieWalker]

I might use an antler drop, but I used up all my good ones making my antler chandelier. There might be a few decent ones left, I'll have to check.

The tube idea was one that I dismissed almost as soon as I came up with it when building the blind. If I was the only person to use it, then that might be workable, but if anybody else uses, it, I'll never know what happens. No way do I want anything like that going on in there. It's ten seconds to walk down the stairs and water a tree.

Of course, this is always when the deer show up. Fall asleep, go to the bathroom or do something to distract yourself, and sure enough, the deer come out to see why you're not hunting anymore!!!!

Edide

 

[SCDolphin]

Eddie, When can you come to SC and build mine?? How high is the floor off the ground. Pict of my brother's out house in Montana..........might be nice addition. Good choice of colors........really blends in