So, I found possibly the best deal I ever saw on Craigslist last week. I found a Tree Lounge stand for $25.
So I bought it but it showed some signs of neglect of course and needed a little TLC. One side of the end extensions (where your feet go when setting)had been cracked long ago and a makeshift bracket screwed into the stand. So I removed the bracket and had a local welding shop weld up the crack and went ahead and re-welded the other side to be safe. Cost me $20 but I figured worth the cost.
So I had an old bowhunter adapter for a tree lounge that needed the plywood floor replaced which I did, then mounted all to the stand and did some painting to protect teh new welds and the new plywood. While at it I touched the whole stand up and gave it a decent breakup camo pattern.
Now my question, with deer season being about 4 weeks away here in GA, and the temps in the 90s each day, if the stand stays out doors would you think the paint would have cured beyond the point of having enough oder to alarm deer?
Usually I do this sort of thing after season closes so I have a full year but this was an unexpected acquisition and I would like to leave this stand on a hunting lease and use my other tree lounge when roaming or hunting public land.
Before:
(http://i.imgur.com/H6HPr.jpg)
and After:
(http://i.imgur.com/Hzlaa.jpg)
I think so.Most smell will be gone in a week.3-4 weeks should put you in good shape.
I think if you paint it now and leave it out in the weather until the season opens most of the paint smell should have diminished. If you can leave it where you plan to hunt a few weeks ahead of time the deer will get used to the smell, if any. Your presents on opening morning will have a bigger impact on the deers activities.
I agree...leave it outside and it will be fine...I have one of these and love it! Since I switched to trad, I have found that if you take it a couple days in advance to your hunting spot and set it about 3-4 feet off the ground and pile some brush around it it makes the best ground blind every!! Had a four point sniff my boots at like 3 yards 2 years ago and had no idea!
Not sure if the paint will bother them that much. Same as the rubber smell and such... everything has an odor.
Its the human or predator odor that turns them off.
Sl
Don't do it. Any paint worth putting on your stand will still be curing. Maybe you can't smell it unless you put nose to metal, but a deer could.
Now someone is going to come along and say its ok. Can they guarantee it won't smell? Can the guy at the paint store, home depot or hardware store? Your auto body paint shop?
Its your hunt. That stand is the least smelling its going to ever be RIGHT NOW. Don't mess with that 4 weeks ahead your deer season. LESS smell is always better than MORE smell.
Let it rest until after the season is over. That is your best bet.
Joshua
If I were going to paint it, then I read jhg's point above....bet your butt I'd leave it alone for this season. Why chance it? The paint is not going to help you get a deer, so maybe hold off?
Paint it. If they will smell the paint they will smell you. Hunt the wind, as always.
ChuckC
amen ChuckC.
Paint it- paint odor they will smell but if they smell the paint then they will have smelled you as well. As stated above- hunt the wind because the deer live by their nose!!
TIM B
I totally agree with Tim B while hunting, but does the stand stay in the woods when you're not there? I'm sure this is not a huge issue, but it could leave a foreign odor in the area.. just enough to sway mr. big. Deer move all over, not just on set trails. Just a thought to chew on...
if you used spray paint? 99% of all spray paints have a additive in them that makes the smell disapate in a few days, but either way id say your good if you just leave it out to air out as much as you can before season
I wish I could hunt where you guys do. The wind where I hunt changes direction.
Also, I actually painted a back pack camo a couple seasons ago. After 6 weeks it still smelled like paint. I hunt the wind too, but what a giant extra red flag . I have had whitetails come up to me to 3 feet. What do you suppose I smelt like?
Nothing.
But not wearing that back pack.
Now I know someone is going to say it does not matter, just "HUNT THE WIND". I was taught that less smell is better than more smell. I totally disagree with anyone who suggests it does not matter.
In my experience it does matter, because the wind is not always going to cooperate and if it ever does by some fluke take your odor to a deer, why not have a chance to take that deer because you smell almost neutral? (rather than a can of paint.)
OK, I'm done;0)
Joshua
jhg I have the same issues with wind as you. I always try to take advantage of "prevailing winds" but still during the course of any day the wind will change constantly.
YORNOC, I was planning to leave this stand in the woods, only taking it down if I needed to shift positions. I have other stands, just not as comfortable. So this one may wait till next season and use my API this year on my lease.
Karrow, yes it was spray paint. In all honesty after 48 hours I can't smell anything, but my nose is not a whitewails.
That is an awesome deal. I got a tree lounger off of C-list for $125 and that's even a great deal, let alone 25.
I think it will be fine.