Fixed Tree Stands

• A platform stand is essentially a small tree house. The only real difference is in the construction of walls. Many platform stands even feature a roof to keep you dry in inclement weather. A platform stand's main advantage is comfort. It offers more room so that you can move around if hunting for extended periods of time. However, a platform stand offers no mobility since the wooden beams and boards are nailed or drilled into place. As a result, do some preseason scouting to find a location for your tree stand in an area regularly trafficked by game. To build the stand, use pressure-treated lumber, either 2-by-4s or 2-by-6s, as crossbeams between joined limbs of significant size. Select quality plyboard for the flooring, and regularly inspect the wood for structural soundness between hunting seasons.
  
  

Climbing Tree Stands

• More commonly seen in manufactured models, homemade climbing tree stands are another option. "Climbers" must be well crafted or they can pose a safety risk. This stand has two parts: a top seat portion and a bottom floor portion. The materials are part wood and part metal. The metal sections are made of a V-shaped forward piece that fits around the side of the tree farthest away from you. Use bolts and wing nuts to lock this piece into place to two straight bars that are directly attached to the wooden seat and flooring section. Once both pieces are attached and tight against the tree to be climbed, you sit on the seat and place your feet in secure loopholes on the floorboard. You then climb by alternately lifting your legs, making the flooring snug against the tree and standing once more until you reach the desired height.
  
  

Ground Stands

• Many hunters prefer staying on the ground to hunt but still want the advantage of prefabricated concealment. This is best accomplished by building a small blind in the shape of a square or triangle. To minimize weight, use PVC pipe to build a frame and then fill in the spaces between with camouflage netting. Enter the blind by merely tipping it over, sitting down and then returning it to an upright position.