Although some people take a more hands-on approach to stand building, most hunters decide it’s easier (and safer) to buy a treestand than to build one. The following is an excerpt from my book “How to Build a Treestand” which can be purchased in its entirety through Amazon.com or Createspace. I hope you enjoy and your treestand stands the test of time!
Ranging from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand, homemade tree stand concealment, how to build a tree stand between 3 trees, treestands come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Some are made of aluminum, others from square tubing, still others from wood.
How to build a treestand
Tree stands are a great way to get an elevated view of your hunting territory. But they can be expensive, and some models can be hard to carry into the woods.
If you want to save money, or if you just don’t have time to order one online, here’s how to build a homemade treestand.
Homemade tree stand concealment
One of the best ways to avoid spooking game is by making sure your stand is well hidden from sight. Here are some tips for camouflaging your homemade stand:
Put it between two trees — The more solid the wall behind the stand is, the better it will blend into its surroundings. If you’re building a platform style treestand, then consider putting it between two trees instead of on one side of one tree. This way, you’ll need less material for the frame and no extra supports needed for that weaker side of the structure.
This is a simple DIY tree stand that will cost you less than $20.
This is a simple DIY tree stand that will cost you less than $20. It’s easy to build and requires only one piece of lumber.
Homemade Tree Stand
For this project, you’ll need:
A 1/2″ x 3″ x 8′ board (like a 2″x4″)
One 5/16″ carriage bolt (1-1/4″ long)
A nut for the carriage bolt (3/4″ diameter)
Two washers for the carriage bolt (1/2″ diameter)
How to build a tree stand
Step 1: Choose your tree
Selecting the right tree is essential for building any stand. Before you head out into the woods, get familiar with the trees in your area by looking at maps or driving around and identifying various species of trees. The best trees are large (at least 12 inches in diameter), have low hanging limbs and lots of branches to conceal your stand (Figure 1).
Figure 1: A good tree has plenty of limbs to conceal your stand.
Step 2: Gather materials
The tools needed for building a treestand include:
A saw (hand or electric)
A hammer
Drill or drill press with a bit that matches the screws you will use (Figure 2). For example, if you are using 3/8-inch lag screws, use a 3/8-inch drill bit. If you don’t have a drill press, use a sharpened 2 x 4 as an improvised guide for drilling holes in your lumber prior to assembly.
Building a tree stand is not difficult, but it does require some basic tools and a little bit of know-how. If you don’t feel comfortable trying to build one yourself, you can always hire a professional with experience in building tree stands.
Here is how to build your own tree stand:
Step 1: Choose your location
First, you need to find the perfect spot for your new stand. Look for an area that will provide cover from wind and rain while still allowing you to see game approaching from all directions. For example, if you’re hunting on public land where other people may be hunting as well, look for spots that are hidden by trees or brush so others won’t see you climb up into your stand.
A treestand is a platform used by hunters to hunt from a raised position.
It can be built from wood, or even PVC pipe and cable, but the most popular are those that are commercially made.
There are several types of stands available, but they all have the same basic components: a seat, a footrest and a safety harness. For archers, there’s also an arrow rest and a bow holder.
You can buy a ready-made stand from your local sporting goods retailer, but you’ll pay more for it than if you build it yourself. The cost of materials for this project is about $100 for two stands; however, if you’re handy with tools, the cost will be less.
Homemade tree stand concealment
Homemade tree stand concealment is a great way to keep your tree stand safe and secure in the woods. This guide will show you how to build a tree stand between 3 trees, how to build a ladder, and how to make homemade tree stand concealment.
How To Build A Tree Stand Between 3 Trees
Building a tree stand between 3 trees is fairly easy. You will need to find 3 trees that are relatively close together and about 20 feet high. The closer the trees are together, the easier it will be for you to get in between them. Once you have found 3 good sized trees that are close together, look for a branch that hangs over all three of them. You can throw a rope over this branch and hang your hammock from it. The hammock should be high enough above the ground so that animals cannot reach it easily or even see it if they try climbing up the tree. This method works well because animals will look up at branches hanging over 2 trees but not necessarily look up at branches hanging over 3 trees because they think there is nothing there!
Homemade Tree Stand Concealment
A properly concealed tree stand is an important part of hunting safely and successfully. Here are some methods to conceal your tree stand so you can hunt without fear of being seen by other hunters or animals you are trying to hunt.
How to Build a Ladder
If you want to conceal your ladder, build it between two trees that are close together. Then use rope or cordage to attach the bottom rungs of the ladder to two trees about 10 feet apart with plenty of slack in the rope or cordage so that when you climb up and down, those rungs will not be visible from the ground. This works well if there aren’t any branches between those two trees where you want to put your ladder.
How to Build a Tree Stand Between 3 Trees
If there isn’t enough room between two trees but there are three, you can build a small platform using wood and nails or screws. The platform should have three legs attached with hinges so that it folds up against one tree when not in use and opens up when needed (like when climbing into your tree stand).
Homemade Tree Stand Concealment
When hunting, you want to remain as concealed as possible so you can get the most out of your hunt. Many hunters choose to build a tree stand concealment that will keep them hidden from their targets. The best way to do this is by using trees as a natural camouflage for your tree stand.
In order to build your own homemade tree stand concealment, first select three trees that are close together and have branches that overhang each other. You will need to use rope or cordage in order to secure these trees together at their bases. Once this has been done, begin building your ladder for climbing up into the tree stand by wrapping rope around each tree’s trunk and attaching it to the next tree’s trunk below it. This will form a ladder-like structure between all three trees which will allow you to climb up into your tree stand without being seen by any game nearby.
How to Build a Ladder
You can build a ladder out of just about anything. It doesn’t have to be made of expensive lumber or even look like a ladder at all. A ladder is just two legs, with the top rung being higher than the bottom one.
Tree stands are usually built between two trees. If you want to conceal your stand, you need to build it in such a way that it blends into the surrounding area. Here are some ways to do this:
1) Hanging Decoys – Use decoys on the ground around your tree stand location so it looks like there are several other hunters in the area. This will make it harder for other hunters to notice that someone is actually hunting from a tree stand. If possible, hang them from branches or limbs so they don’t look like they were placed there by humans.
2) Camouflage Netting – Hang camo netting over your tree stand and spread leaves and dead branches around it if possible. This will help conceal your location even more than hanging decoys alone if done right!
The video shows all of the steps that go into making this ladder. It’s a very simple design and should last for years if you take care of it.
I cut two sections of 2x4s, one at 24″ and one at 14″. Then I screwed them together so they form a rectangle with dimensions of 24″x14″. Then I cut two pieces of plywood to match this size (24″x14″). The plywood should be 2″ wider than your 2x4s (so mine are 2″ wider on each side). Then screw the plywood onto the top of your ladder so that it forms a shelf for your feet to rest on while climbing up and down.
Once your shelf is attached add some scrap lumber across the back so it can support another shelf on top of it. The second shelf will hold your rifle case or bow case when you climb up into the stand.