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Elevated shooting house.

twireman

Senior Member
2,929
149
Kingston, OH
With my daughter turning 6 and my son now 4 my focus is starting to turn to providing them and myself memories in the field. One thing I did last year was establish a 1/2 acre food plot overlooking a deep ravine that was clear cut this past fall. Next on the agenda was to build a permanent shooting house up there that would serve for many years to hunt shotgun, crossbow, and compound out of. This past summer I helped my brother-in-law tear down a huge 100-year-old Plus barn. I was able to secure a lot of old lumber.I can't think of a better way to repurpose it then to build a nice house to create memories for years to come.

As the rain pounded down again today I couldn't stand being inside and decided to build the first wall of the blind. It's amazing how the old wood is already camouflaged. It is going to be pretty basic and nothing fancy but should work well I hope.

We have secured four telephone poles from a friend and we hope to get this approximately 12 foot in the air to the floor. Stay tuned!
 
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hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,720
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Ohio
Fantastic start! Curious. . . .do you plan to finish it with something to protect/preserve the wood? Not sure how it will hold up if left alone? Not judging or being smart. I honestly don't know. Just curious for educating myself.
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,629
201
NE Ohio
As I've gotten older, the tree stands have been hung lower and ground nests utilized more often. I tell myself I should build 1 or 2 elevated shoot shacks for taking the grandkids hunting a few years down the road... but truth be known, I'd just love to have a little man cave In the woods for myself. Years of all-day-sits, still hunting in the rain or snow for deer have given me years of memories but at this point in the game, I'll make the deer come to me. Spending the last half of season in a cozy, elevated man-made shoot shack sounds pretty damn good to me.

Congratulations!
 

twireman

Senior Member
2,929
149
Kingston, OH
Fantastic start! Curious. . . .do you plan to finish it with something to protect/preserve the wood? Not sure how it will hold up if left alone? Not judging or being smart. I honestly don't know. Just curious for educating myself.

good question.Yep I will seal it with something... my parents have a bunch of log home stain/sealer or i'll get thompson's or the like. maybe even used motor oil lol. Also i'm putting a metal roof over it and plan to make it really overhang on all sides for more protection as well. i can splurge a little for all I have in it right now money wise is two boxes of coated exterior screws.
 

twireman

Senior Member
2,929
149
Kingston, OH
but truth be known, I'd just love to have a little man cave In the woods for myself.

Congratulations!

Funny you mention that. My dad and I were discussing dimensions on this shack and he wanted me to make it bigger so he could maybe put a cot in it. I'm like what the hell dad lol. I just hope he get's out with us in it and shares the memories. He wouldn't shoot a deer if you gave him $1000. He loves the trail cameras and just being in nature anymore. I can see myself going down that path to as I age. it's really not about the kill to me anymore. Im ready to get the kids out and involved. I'd say there will be many good lies and conversations inside this thing.
 
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Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
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Pretty cool man. There's this old fella that deer hunted a property Alex and i turkey hunt. He built a blind in the side of a hill. Quite literally took a small trackhoe in there and dug a square hole in the side of the hill. It has walls and a dirt covered roof and a single large window facing the hollow downhill. Reminds me of a dug in fighting position. You wouldn't know its there until you're right on top of it. Sticks out way kess than a box blind. Interesting setup and i bet its killer. The only scent that could ever escape would have to come out of that one front window, and i bet it keeps the wind out like nobodies business. Ill get some pics of it this spring.
 
Looking good!! Elevated shacks with kids are perfect to have. It gives them the feeling of being up in a fort yet out of the weather to actually hunt. I'm not sure what you are planning to do for the platform but we used Elevator brackets to get our shacks up on the ends of 10 ft. 4X4's and can't see why 12 footers or higher would work in them. Just have to build a way to climb up that high that is safe too though. Here is a link to the Elevators on SG. Might be able to shop around and I know there are other similar manufacturers:

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/steel-elevators-4x4-set-of-4?a=355434&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6aSo4PPD2QIVS7XACh0HPAeKEAQYAiABEgJEJPD_BwE
 

Buckmaster

Senior Member
14,362
191
Portage
We've got 2 of them setup. One my 72 year father is almost exclusive TOO these days.
 

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twireman

Senior Member
2,929
149
Kingston, OH
Thanks everybody.

I had an epiphany at work today... my brother in law has a big stack of metal roofing that came off that barn.. he has no use for it and mentioned scrapping it. Im thinking about throwing that up on the walls for waterproof. Its galvanized so I assume the critters would get used to it...

Built the backside last night.

 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Funny you mention that. My dad and I were discussing dimensions on this shack and he wanted me to make it bigger so he could maybe put a cot in it. I'm like what the hell dad lol. I just hope he get's out with us in it and shares the memories. He wouldn't shoot a deer if you gave him $1000. He loves the trail cameras and just being in nature anymore. I can see myself going down that path to as I age. it's really not about the kill to me anymore. Im ready to get the kids out and involved. I'd say there will be many good lies and conversations inside this thing.
Love this train of thought!
 
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