j-bird
Well-Known Member
Ok - I have a buddy who is getting me some building materials (we are re-using some shipping crates) and I have built 2 shooting houses before. I have made a pretty decent improvement from the first to the second one....but as an Engineer by profession I want to really make this next version pretty awesome. As such, I'm turning to you guys for what has worked and not worked so well for you.
I do have a few things I have done in the past that I plan on doing again.
First of all it will be a modular construction. The walls and roof will all be made as panels to assist in assembly in the field. I figure I may have to put it up by myself as I did the others and making it modular really helped to do that.
Secondly I plan on building the towers as well. I have a set of the pre-fabricated metal brackets, but to be honest I am not sure I will need them.
I certainly want lexan type windows. My first design didn't have them and the second design does and it is great to be able to leave them in to knock the wind down. They are not real windows.
Full height interior is a requirement. My first one was not and it sucks.....make that mistake only once.
They will be 4 x 6 to accommodate 2 people.
I have done both hinged and guillotine type wooden window/window opening covers
Some things I am not sure about:
The 2 I have built the door opens into the blind - I am considering changing that.
The 2 I have built have a flat roof - other than when the frost melts on the inside I have had no issue with that. So I am not sure a sloped roof is really needed.
The 2 I have built have been for gun hunting only - I plan on these being used in gun areas, but may make the roof where you could bow hunt from that height or the tower portion like a ground blind. I'm just not sure how close the deer will realistically get to a structure like this to justify bow hunting. I don't plan on placing these right on top of plots.
The 2 I have built all had a typical platform and door for access - I am not against a "trap-door" type set-up but I am not sure there is an advantage to doing that.
I am figuring the floor at least 8 feet off the ground maybe as much as 12 but I don't see the need for more than that.
So if you have some insight on any of this stuff or some brilliant ideas of your own please share with me. I won't be building for a while yet, but I want to try to capture some ideas.
I do have a few things I have done in the past that I plan on doing again.
First of all it will be a modular construction. The walls and roof will all be made as panels to assist in assembly in the field. I figure I may have to put it up by myself as I did the others and making it modular really helped to do that.
Secondly I plan on building the towers as well. I have a set of the pre-fabricated metal brackets, but to be honest I am not sure I will need them.
I certainly want lexan type windows. My first design didn't have them and the second design does and it is great to be able to leave them in to knock the wind down. They are not real windows.
Full height interior is a requirement. My first one was not and it sucks.....make that mistake only once.
They will be 4 x 6 to accommodate 2 people.
I have done both hinged and guillotine type wooden window/window opening covers
Some things I am not sure about:
The 2 I have built the door opens into the blind - I am considering changing that.
The 2 I have built have a flat roof - other than when the frost melts on the inside I have had no issue with that. So I am not sure a sloped roof is really needed.
The 2 I have built have been for gun hunting only - I plan on these being used in gun areas, but may make the roof where you could bow hunt from that height or the tower portion like a ground blind. I'm just not sure how close the deer will realistically get to a structure like this to justify bow hunting. I don't plan on placing these right on top of plots.
The 2 I have built all had a typical platform and door for access - I am not against a "trap-door" type set-up but I am not sure there is an advantage to doing that.
I am figuring the floor at least 8 feet off the ground maybe as much as 12 but I don't see the need for more than that.
So if you have some insight on any of this stuff or some brilliant ideas of your own please share with me. I won't be building for a while yet, but I want to try to capture some ideas.