Started my tower stand today

[Tororider]

Robert,
Have you thought about a crossbow? I know with your back it might be easier, they have ones you can crank to draw them. In Michigan they have made crossbow laws less restrictive. In the shotgun zone anyone over 50 can use one during bow season. In the rifle zone anyone can use them during bow season. Just a thought. By the way, I have heard they are not as accurate as regular compounds past about 25 yards.

Looks great. I have been wanting to build one for the past couple years but haven't found the time. Maybe next year.

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks good. I like how the roof brings it to life.

Eddie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Wow - That is Awesome work - How does a guy with a hurt back build that roof? - I'm guessing you are standing on a ladder with a nail gun. Still, it'd seem difficult to hold boards in place and secure them - Especially when you have a hurt back !

I have been building structures of all sorts for 20 years (almost 2/3's of my life) so I have learned a lot over that time frame. I built that roof from inside the stand using just the 6' step ladder. I didn't have a nail gun as I didn't want to bring the generator and compressor out there so everything has been nailed by hand which is why I am up at 2am as I pushed myself too hard today and am now paying the price.

What I did was build one side of the roof first, set two temporary legs and lifted the peak up onto them. Did the math to know exactly where I had to be and nailed it to the wall plate. The other side was basically the same but was a little more difficult but I still managed. The 16" on center rafters made it a challenge as I am not that skinny anymore so trying to work in between them kept me thinking of easy ways to do things.

Thanks for the compliments

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert,
Have you thought about a crossbow? I know with your back it might be easier, they have ones you can crank to draw them. In Michigan they have made crossbow laws less restrictive. In the shotgun zone anyone over 50 can use one during bow season. In the rifle zone anyone can use them during bow season. Just a thought. By the way, I have heard they are not as accurate as regular compounds past about 25 yards.

Looks great. I have been wanting to build one for the past couple years but haven't found the time. Maybe next year.

I am not overly excited about a cross bow. I don't doubt I can pull my current bows back and except for practicing I don't have to pull it back very often while hunting (hopefully only once). My problem is there is no desire right now to go bow hunting. I am sure I will get the bug again sometime but I don't know when.

Currently crossbows are still illegal in New York. I have a couple friends who have them and they both said the same thing about them being inaccurate over 25 yards. The only way you can get a legal permit to use a crossbow here is if your handicapped and it is determined that the only way for you to archery hunt is with one.

Don't put off on building your stand too long, this one has been in the plans for 4-5 years and if I didn't buy the poles and joists when I got the bug again I most likely would have put it off another year but once the poles are laying on the ground out there you kind of have no choice

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Looks good. I like how the roof brings it to life.

Eddie

Thanks. The roof really did make it look so much more "real". I was happy just having it framed up as I could then see the end of the line from that point.

 

[mbohuntr]

Robert. Sorry for all the critical posts, don't let them detract from the project. I injured my back a few years ago, and I know about the pain and cold issues. Luckily my injury was repaired by therapy and I'm pretty much 100%, but I can't tolerate cold or standing still on concrete for long periods like I used to. They said if they couldn't alleviate the pain then surgery would be necessary and I was done working. I remember working for an hour then laying on the couch for two. I remember a supervisor accusing my of faking my injury so I could collect disability??? I was back at work as soon as I could stand without spasms???? I never asked for a dime!!! People who have never had back injuries don't get it. I changed careers so I didn't have to lift and carry steel anymore. I ended up building my own home and many more projects. Keep going as well as your able and don't look back. Nice stand!!!

 

[20 20]

Robert in NY: looks great I'm sure you'll get much use out of it. Don't worry about the negative comments, just people with nothing better to do. I went and got my huntin lic. yesterday{$$$$}, wow paterson as really screwed this state up with his garbage. This state keeps this junk up and no one will hunt or fish. I know of quite a few now that said to heck with it.

 

[mbohuntr]

I Agree, I won't hunt this year in part because of the fee increase. I also sold that log house I built because the state tripled my taxes above what they quoted me before I built.
I've about had it with this state.

Hey Robert, why don't you try placing a tray on each leg of the stand and place a box on each tray that has a small hole in it with Decon in it. The mice will eat it before they start looking in the blind, and grey squirrels won't be able to squeeze in there.???

 

[coobie]

Good read robert!!I just had my amish neighbor build me a 6X6 stand,metal roof about 20 ft. high.He used RV camper windows and door that have worked out pretty slick.I just finished insulating it this past weekend.I can,t wait for michigan s deer season so I can hunt in comfort.coobie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert. Sorry for all the critical posts, don't let them detract from the project. I injured my back a few years ago, and I know about the pain and cold issues. Luckily my injury was repaired by therapy and I'm pretty much 100%, but I can't tolerate cold or standing still on concrete for long periods like I used to. They said if they couldn't alleviate the pain then surgery would be necessary and I was done working. I remember working for an hour then laying on the couch for two. I remember a supervisor accusing my of faking my injury so I could collect disability??? I was back at work as soon as I could stand without spasms???? I never asked for a dime!!! People who have never had back injuries don't get it. I changed careers so I didn't have to lift and carry steel anymore. I ended up building my own home and many more projects. Keep going as well as your able and don't look back. Nice stand!!!

Thanks, I was not letting the negative posts bother me or detract from this thread.

I am better now as far as being able to stand but it still hurts me if I am standing for an hour or more. If I try to work with my arms out in front of me it stresses my back considerably and really causes me problems so I try to do all my cutting and work right close to my body and preferably near my waist as that is the easiest place for me to work without hurting. But reaching out, up or bending over working near my feet is tough and something that wears me out very quickly. I am hoping it is mostly just muscle issues as I keep hoping as I get stronger again I will be able to do these things better but its been 2 years now and I still can't do these things without hurting and getting wore out quick. That is why its taking me so long to work on this stand. Trying to do everything myself allows me to work on it when I want but it wears me out a lot quicker then if I had a helper.

Today I was gone all day and didn't get home till a half hour ago so all I want to do is relax and spend the rest of the evening with my daughter. Hopefully tomorrow I will be home in time to work on the stand some as I want to get the roof finished and put some more OSB up on the walls so I can start sealing things up tight. I won't side it till this winter or next spring though as I will be using the left over siding from my parents house which is another project I have been helping with in my spare time. There should be enough siding to do this stand so I won't have to buy any and I won't have to worry about painting. I like maintance free buildings

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert in NY: looks great I'm sure you'll get much use out of it. Don't worry about the negative comments, just people with nothing better to do. I went and got my huntin lic. yesterday{$$$$}, wow paterson as really screwed this state up with his garbage. This state keeps this junk up and no one will hunt or fish. I know of quite a few now that said to heck with it.

We saw this coming 10 years ago so both I and my father bought lifetime licenses then. I have a lifetime big game, bow and muzzle loading license. When we first got it we still had to pay for our turkey stamps though but NY added those to our lifetime license so now we get all our tags including turkeys sent to us. We just have to go get our free doe permits each year if we want them.

My dad bought my daughter her lifetime license when she was 1 as it was very cheap. She is 5 now and so far has shot a few raccons and a couple possums but has gone turkey hunting with us and will be out deer hunting with me once this stand is done. Plus she loves fishing so I expect she will get her moneys worth with her lifetime license even if all she ever does is fish. He also bought my niece and nephew their lifetime licenses this summer before the price increase. My niece is 4 and nephew is 1 and their dad and both grand parents are avid outdoors men so they spend a lot of time outside like my daughter so its only a matter of time till they start going hunting.

What I don't like is how the state raised the price for the seniors. That was cheap but it finally made sense for my grandfather to buy a lifetime as the new cost for seniors was a lot more then last year. I think it use to be $5 a year for him now its $20 if I recall and the lifetime license before the cost increase was like $50 or something. Most of the senior hunters can't get out every day anymore and charging them more when most of them are on fixed income just to go out a few days a year was crappy. If anything it should have stayed the same or went down.

But I don't see the price of licenses coming down anytime soon but I do see more and more cost increases coming up. It will get to a point where people will risk getting caught without a license as the fine will be cheaper then the license

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I Agree, I won't hunt this year in part because of the fee increase. I also sold that log house I built because the state tripled my taxes above what they quoted me before I built.
I've about had it with this state.

Hey Robert, why don't you try placing a tray on each leg of the stand and place a box on each tray that has a small hole in it with Decon in it. The mice will eat it before they start looking in the blind, and grey squirrels won't be able to squeeze in there.???

I plan to have the building sealed up fairly well but I do like your idea. If I notice problems with rodents I will set up boxes like you described to help eliminate them.

I am sorry about your house, the town we have apartments in keeps raising their taxes and water rates. We are getting tired of it and have started selling the apartments off. Its just costs too much and they are adding more and more to it. They just recently passed a law where they are going door to door and inspecting every apartment. If there is a water stain on the ceiling or any other minor issue then they will cite you and you have to fix it then pay them to reinspect the house. It doesn't matter if you already fixed the problem that caused the stain they will make you paint the stain or replace tiles and other nit picky things. Their reason is they want to protect the tenants yet if you own your own home in town they don't care about you as they won't inspect home owners houses. We have spent a lot of money over the years since we bought these places bringing them up to where we want them as far as modern, maintance free places but when the upstairs people leave the shower curtain outside the tub and all the water flows onto the floor and leaks to the downstairs apartment there isn't much you can do about it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Good read robert!!I just had my amish neighbor build me a 6X6 stand,metal roof about 20 ft. high.He used RV camper windows and door that have worked out pretty slick.I just finished insulating it this past weekend.I can,t wait for michigan s deer season so I can hunt in comfort.coobie

Do you have a pic of yours? Its always fun to see other peoples stands as I and others can possibly see something we would want to incorporate into our own or future stands. I am already looking forward to building my next tower stand. I hope to start it early next year when I have the auger on again fixing posts in the vineyard. Once the posts are in and floor joists are set and things are braced I can play around on weekends or when I have free time when its nice and warm. No more messing around with working in the cold. This first stand has made me realize how much fun it is again and that I can do most of the work myself. I am already starting to look for supplies for the next tower and as I find them I will buy them and store them. I have locations for two more towers already and am looking forward to starting them now that I got bit by this bug

 

[coobie]

Do you have a pic of yours? Its always fun to see other peoples stands as I and others can possibly see something we would want to incorporate into our own or future stands. I am already looking forward to building my next tower stand. I hope to start it early next year when I have the auger on again fixing posts in the vineyard. Once the posts are in and floor joists are set and things are braced I can play around on weekends or when I have free time when its nice and warm. No more messing around with working in the cold. This first stand has made me realize how much fun it is again and that I can do most of the work myself. I am already starting to look for supplies for the next tower and as I find them I will buy them and store them. I have locations for two more towers already and am looking forward to starting them now that I got bit by this bug

Sorry robert not computer savy enough to post pics.I had MAJOR back surgery last fall,cages and rods installed in my back,to many years(33) of doing electric linework.Anyway our deer/tree house was built 4X6 main posts,3/4 treated wood sides,metal roof,1/4 insulation guled on,2X2 slider windows,7 ft door,nice stairs with a hand rail for the grands kids and old farts.The wife and kids and grand kids love it.We are also planning to have another one built.coobie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am hoping to build the stairs still this year but am not sure if I will have the time. I am going to leave the bottom to float as I don't want to lock it into the ground as this is a high wind area and I don't want it to tear itself apart. I am going to have it 3' wide with hand rails on both sides so I can walk up it without worry as we get a lot of snow here and I don't want to slip. I plan on using a heavy grit sand paper to rough up the steps first then seal them for the weather. Hopefully if I can rough them up enough it will help with traction when they are wet.

 

[trook]

Your pics are great!! Please keep us updated as your progress increases.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Your pics are great!! Please keep us updated as your progress increases.

Thanks. I am just taking the pics as I leave each time with my phone. When I am all done I will take my good camera down and get better pics to show more of the details.

 

[20 20]

Robert; smart choice on the lifetime lic. I was going to do it but when I found out about my back {having surgery's etc}I decided to hold off, not sure how many years I have left for hunting. I hear ya load and clear about how the seniors got shafted. These punks in office don't relize if it weren't for them old fogies they woudn't have what they have now. The disrespect it took to pass that bill is absolutely unexceptable.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well I didn't have much time tonight after dinner but I finished the roof and walled up the one gabel end. It was dark when I finished but I did take this pic of the wall when I got there as I have never showed it before. This is the wall I put OSB on tonight. I can now set the door and one window. I just boarded the window opening over for tonight to keep the inside corner closed off from the elements as a dry place to store my supplies for now.

The second pic is a little visitor I found there. There were two of them actually and they were quite spry

 

[Western]

Hey Robert,
I've been watching in silence, but after your last post, with the different angle or maybe I just noticed, the power line poles.
Now I'm thinking... those power poles are what 30' across? soooo. 2 more poles and you have a nice 30'x30' elevated, stress relieving, refreshment CLUB house hunting blind...WITH FREE power.....Sorry just dreaming.. Like your build, I would ask you what you have in it outside of labor, but it wouldn't relate for where I live. I didn't realize that you guys in the east used blinds much, but from looking at yours I see you guys also like more than a "board in a tree" one of those "labor" of love projects for sure..