Built this over the course of a couple days, total work time about 12 hrs. w/no help...wouldnt want to do it again by myself, about 150 trips up and down ladder carry lumber etc. The dimensions are 12 ft.top of platform, platform is 6`x5`..using a ladder to get up to top for now but going to figure out how to add stairs with my limited carpentry knowledge, will be kind of a pain due to the fact the ground slopes of from the back and the 12 ft. height, any ideas on this greatly appreciated..couldnt even shoot from it when finished due to the fact my tendonitis flaired up really bad from swinging a 24 oz. framing hammer all day...
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build a landing half way up, start the steps under the tower. the cat looks plumb give out. LOL. DB

Batman, hes just lazy, getting old...LOL.

Just curious, how much did you end up spending on that?

One of the first things I would do is complete the "X"s on the leg braces.  Especially if you won't be the only one going up there.  I like the idea about starting the stairs under the platform and using a landing to turn and go back to the top.  There is no law that requires the steps to be in the back so put them where you want them. I would be looking at puting them coming in from the side and not the back.

Matt, Ive got about 280.00 in it total, buying all lumber from a local yard instead of a big chain store...
wondered if I should complete the x`s but it is very sturdy the way it is, will finish them today..

Build the steps so you could shoot from them also. A six foot landing would be good to shoot from too.

I like the adding steps to the tower, it lets you shoot at a lot of different heights. If you would like a set of blueprints to build the steps like in the picture below let me know.    Glenn

Glen, now that I see it in a pic I think I can build one, thanks alot for the pic..Dean

Looks like a gallows Dean.  Where are those taliban guys 8^).

Guys I had thought about putting a trap door w/ladder up through the center of platform, it would of really looked like a gallows then.LOL.

Looks pretty good! Next time you take on a project like that, Look me up, I'm only 15 minutes from you.

So, IABS, now Flinger tells ya, huh?    

you would think of that, George..maybe he can have a small CD player playing the country song about "...beer for my hosses..." they got a couple lines about "hangin em high" if memory serves me! Great shooting moosic.  

...why not just put a self-climbing treestand up one of those trees?...

Snag, did that for years but its a pain in the arse if you have to get up/down to get your arrows everytime you shoot,plus all the trees that I can put a climber in close to edge of the yard are sassafras trees and it tears the bark all up and have to listen to the better half tell me they look like crap all summer long.

you know, shooting off the house roof would have been easier....  

True Bob but in 90 deg. temps its kinda hard on the roof and even harder  on me standing on a black/grey roof. LOL.

Wood butcher's little drawing there ain't worth a poop. Stairs to nowhere....thats pretty cool! Guess he earned his name, huh?
Well maybe he was trying to give a suggestion not necessarily blue prints. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

George, Thanks for the clarification.  I had planned to go shoot with Dean as he is only a half hour away.  Now I dont think that I want to.  Do you mind if I pack up my TimberHawks and come shoot with you?