We already had two tower stands on food plots, but with the huge increase in plot size we created last year, we added four Sportsman's Condos to food plots. However, with the great acorn crop we had last fall, deer weren't on the plots in daylight much, but my daughter was the first to shoot a deer out of one of the new Sportsman's Condos - a 2 1/2 year-old 6-point, the morning after Thanksgiving. She LOVED hunting out them, especially on very cold, windy or rainy days.
As Gatodoc pointed out, getting the plywood in as a single piece is tough. We did it (on SC-2s), but it was a nightmare. In fact, I doubt we could ever get them back out in a single piece. However, they are sturdy. And we went a slightly different route than bolting them down. We laid 3" wide by 3/4" thick strips of high-density foam across the floor of the stands and just laid the plywood on those. The plywood does not touch the head of the floor bolts, and the foam-strip base provides a very sturdy and quiet floor. We put carpet over the plywood.
If you want to increase the time that your exposed wood lasts, brush on a good coat of Thompson's water seal or a similar preservative at least every other year. Even with that, the wood will begin to weather and turn gray, especially with constant UV exposure.
Good idea! Is this the same pre-fab shooting house from Rural King that you posted about several times last year? That looks really good on the inside.
Yup. Sportsman's Condo SC-2. We got four of them. probably get another one or two so we have all our big food plots covered. Also frees up some 2-person ladder stands that had been covering those plots. We primarily hunt out of them on rainy or very windy days.
I like that handle idea, I've had several close calls with back pack and gun Getting in!
Handle is a great idea. Thanks for sharing. We've let the 2x4 on the x bracing on the side stick out about 18" on the 4x4 to use as a handle but I love your idea...
I know this is an older post but i have a quick question....did the "stick on" sound deadening foam sheets hold over time? Just wondering in the hotter months, with the blind being black and absorbing heat, have you seen the adhesive peeling away from wall? Hope not....because I'd like to do this in our blinds...been looking at the black eggshell foam....not cheap to do multiple blinds but I think it would be a nice addition...if the adhesive will hold in that environment? Appreciate any input or suggestions..Thanks.
I'll let you know when I finally get around to installing mine! I plan on using the adhesive egg crate sound insulation, at least on the lower foot of the walls all the way around. Accidentally kicking the side of the condo is quite loud!
We're planning to do the plywood floor with carpet immediately...or as soon as they are set up...then eventually add the foam on walls.
The plywood and carpet make a HUGE difference! And we went a step further by elevating the plywood off the floor of the condo with strips of high-density foam laid down before we installed the plywood, leaving an air gap between the two. Because the plywood is not in contact with the plastic floor of the condo, it makes moving around inside MUCH quieter.
Great idea...appreciate the input!
