There are many kinds and brands out there and this is a discussion for all of them so feel free to tell us what your favorite stand is, or type of stand, or blind or whatever you use. Extra points are given for pictures
Myself, I tend to use permanent blinds mostly because I don't usually hunt on public land or land management area's, but to be honest the kid in me likes tree houses.
We built this one about 6 years ago and it's starting to show its' age, but is still solid and usable, though the floor is beginning to tilt down in the front, which was starting to give me an uneasy feeling when I would stand up from my chair due to the floor being a little out of level.
I put a tin roof over it for several reasons. Mostly to keep my stuff (and myself) dry and to keep the snow off of me, but I also use the frame around the bottom of the tin to hang a burlap blind in the warmer months and during the colder months, a thick brown tarp, which keeps the wind off of me and perhaps may be a little warmer.
I have very few pics of my tree fort, but here's a few of it in the background about 30 yards away:
Since that stand is beginning to show its' age, I was able to sell some gun parts that I wasn't using anymore and put that money into my first steel commercial 2 man ladder stand. I was able to pick it up at my local walmart for $94/tax which I thought was a really good price for its' size.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/36545660
It is an Ameristep brand and it came with 2 harnesses and everything needed to get it in the field. The only complaint that I have about it is that it came with plastic washers (instead of metal). I think the logic of using plastic washers is mostly for corrosion preventive purposes, but I like regular chrome coated steel washers myself. My other gripe is the mesh wire used in the floor and seat. It'll probably be fine, but I would prefer a thicker mesh, But overall, I do like the stand.
Before I place it up there (probably in the next few weeks), I have already built another tin roof to put over it, and will be setting it up in the same manner as my old one, though for now, I have a twin bed sheet that is in a realtree pattern that I am going to use wrapped around the section much like I did with the burlap on the old stand to mask much of my movements.
I may still use some burlap on the top section suspended from the roof to hide our (torso) silhouettes because we're going to be about 25 yards away from the trail.
I don't have any pictures of it yet because it's still in a dozen pieces in my basement, but I'm kinda excited to be able to finally get a "real" tree stand.
Myself, I tend to use permanent blinds mostly because I don't usually hunt on public land or land management area's, but to be honest the kid in me likes tree houses.
We built this one about 6 years ago and it's starting to show its' age, but is still solid and usable, though the floor is beginning to tilt down in the front, which was starting to give me an uneasy feeling when I would stand up from my chair due to the floor being a little out of level.
I put a tin roof over it for several reasons. Mostly to keep my stuff (and myself) dry and to keep the snow off of me, but I also use the frame around the bottom of the tin to hang a burlap blind in the warmer months and during the colder months, a thick brown tarp, which keeps the wind off of me and perhaps may be a little warmer.
I have very few pics of my tree fort, but here's a few of it in the background about 30 yards away:
Since that stand is beginning to show its' age, I was able to sell some gun parts that I wasn't using anymore and put that money into my first steel commercial 2 man ladder stand. I was able to pick it up at my local walmart for $94/tax which I thought was a really good price for its' size.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/36545660
It is an Ameristep brand and it came with 2 harnesses and everything needed to get it in the field. The only complaint that I have about it is that it came with plastic washers (instead of metal). I think the logic of using plastic washers is mostly for corrosion preventive purposes, but I like regular chrome coated steel washers myself. My other gripe is the mesh wire used in the floor and seat. It'll probably be fine, but I would prefer a thicker mesh, But overall, I do like the stand.
Before I place it up there (probably in the next few weeks), I have already built another tin roof to put over it, and will be setting it up in the same manner as my old one, though for now, I have a twin bed sheet that is in a realtree pattern that I am going to use wrapped around the section much like I did with the burlap on the old stand to mask much of my movements.
I may still use some burlap on the top section suspended from the roof to hide our (torso) silhouettes because we're going to be about 25 yards away from the trail.
I don't have any pictures of it yet because it's still in a dozen pieces in my basement, but I'm kinda excited to be able to finally get a "real" tree stand.