tree stand with or without walls

[Game Hunter]

curious to what everyones opinion is on building a treestand. open to the air? or frame out a few boards and hang plywood to hide your scent- body?
ive built one that is 16 ft in the air 4x8 ft platform with a 8 ft bench along the back. kinda curious if the deer will still catch your scent or view from that high up?

[roger]

16 feet up is a loooong ways to try and control sway., id be inclined to utilize the lay of the land for height.
aside from the obvious on the enclosed one, extra work, costs, looks.
do you have permission for multiple seasons?, you wont want to be taking it down every year..walls will control scent better.
using window screen will control wind, even plan for panes of glass (old school bus sliding windows) and a door. propane two burner stove for making grillcheeze samitch or coffee:)
its really about what you can acquire for free and use it.
the nicer you make it the more likely youll use it at length.
ensure you have scouted the area extensively, this may be used for several years.
I would use a 4 foot square as a base and tall enough to stand and stretch.
put a barstool that spins 360* without noise
i d go for it, comfort means everything. when its -20C with a wind youll be only -10C and partially frozen.

[Full Curl Earl]

Good question! I have built a couple similar to yours, and cut the walls eventually! I tried shooting windows and such, which all work fine if your gun hunting but walls on downward angles will hit your bow. Just no way around it that I've found. If your still when up in it the deer won't notice you. Your scent will be no different than in a conventional tree stand, which has no walls. If your just going to gun hunt, then heck, turn it into the Taj Mahal!

[Game Hunter]

thanks for the replies. taj mahal it is. Do have all the permission i need to build and leave it there. would all you rifle hunters build wind screens for comfort? or even cammo screens to blend in well?

[Full Curl Earl]

My buddy has one with sliding plexi windows, heater, grill it's really like an eating event more than anything else! Lol and he has killed deer from it!

[roger]

would all you rifle hunters build wind screens for comfort? or even cammo screens to blend in well?

again, whatever you can get for cheap or both. blending in really isnt an issue especially after the first year, the biggest challenge is getting into the site without leaving, quad, truck etc behind. getting dropped at the base of the ladder is the best. vehicles come and go all the time, no footprints. less scent.
i would hang a old compact disc or two inside it. then it will constantly give a flicker or reflection for the deer to acknowledge every day there after. they wont even give it a second look to see a reflection after a week

[jimbo1]

ive helped build a couple over the years and as stated comfort is the most important thing
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j413/jimbo1985/111.jpghttp://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j413/jimbo1985/112.jpg
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j413/jimbo1985/125.jpg
it really helps keep the wind out having walls and a roof is nice too :)

[happy honker]

woah....I'm inspired.
I'd hunt in that a week at a time.

[Game Hunter]

nice setup there, whats in the field? would like to atleast get a few walls and shooting rail up this year. maybe follow through with the roof,archways,and stucco next year. :)
love the cd idea, makes sense.

[jimbo1]

the setups in southern england on my buddys land there are a lot of fallow deer and muntjac on this land in fact heres a fallow I shot from therehttp://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j413/jimbo1985/108.jpg
and a pure white fallow I saw in there too http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j413/jimbo1985/124.jpg
but getting back to the tower it could be very easily fitted with a small wood stove but temps in southern england dont really warrant it but something to consider in AB maybe :)