Whether you are a bow hunter or rifle hunter, the Maine deer season is just around the corner.

There is still time, however, to fabricate a home-built tree stand. The advantages of a tree stand are numerous.

Scent control and enhanced visibility are foremost. There is a downside, though.

On cold days when there is a biting north wind, tree stands are the coldest places on earth. And then there is the height-off-the ground factor. Each year, some hunters are killed or injured after falling from tree stands.

Still, there is no arguing that in most cases a hunter in a treestand is giving himself an edge in the pursuit of North America’s keenest and wariest big game animal. If you want that edge, if you are reasonably agile and not prone to deep sleep while in a hunting mode, you might want to try hunting with a view. Before you rush to the Cabela catalog and order up one of those factory-made hunting chairs for $250 or more, consider a home-built job in the $50 to $60 range. You may already have some of the materials on hand. I’ve built and used three of these with some success.

Materials

2 12′ 2x4s (Pressure treated)

1 6′ 2×4 (Pressure treated)

24 lineal feet 1x3s (Poplar works good)

1 24″x24″ piece exterior grade plywood (5/8″ or 3/4″)

6 1/4″ stove bolts

6 washers and wing nuts

1 lb. 3″ or 4″ dry wall screws

2 large eyebolts

Construction

Simply make a ladder using the two 12 2x4s. Use eight 1×3 rungs cut 24″ long. Space them 16″ on center, preferably “rabbiting” out a 1″x 3″ groove for the rungs. Drill holes for the dry wall screws in rungs only and attach to ladder. Cut the six foot 2×4 in half.(Platform supports) Drilling bolt holes in the ends of the now three foot 2x4s and the top of the ladder, bolt the platform supports on the inside of ladder top. Cut a shallow “V” in one end of the plywood platform and screw to top of platform supports. Install large eyebolts to the left and right of the plywood “V.”

Finally, cut two 1x3s that are 3’10” long. (Platform support braces). Drill bolt holes in each end of 1x3s and on outer end of platform supports. Before drilling the holes in the ladder for the 1×3 support braces, establish the desired angle between the platform and the ladder legs (somewhere between 10 and 20 degrees). This will insure that your treestand platform is level when your ladder is leaning against a tree. When transporting the ladder, the support braces are folded up inside the ladder legs. The stove bolts, washers and wing nuts are not installed in the lower support braces until the stand is ready to be put against the tree. If desired, the stand can be camoflagued with alternating splotches of green and brown spray paint. Oh, don’t forget to bring a good-quality rachet strap for securing (through the eyebolts) the stand to the tree.And if you’re not hunting in unorganized territory, the law requires that your name and phone number be visible on your stand.

V. Paul Reynolds is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].