hunting shack under construction

[davetclown]

what do you do when gramps wants to go hunting, cant take the cold, packing gear any distance is out of the question, climbing a tree or platform is a hazard in it self.

how about a drive up hunting shack....

It has 5 sides, windows on 4 sides and a door on the other.

a small heater keeps gramps worm and comfy.

windows open and close as to gramps needs, meaning when it is wormer he can leave them all open, when it is to cold he can close all the windows untill he needs to shoot.

building in top of a snowmobile trailer you can pull it up in to any field drop it off and block up the corners to stableize it and make it quiet.

you got a nice place in the woods where you can use the ability to see in all directions, the 5 sided design is your ticket to seeing all around.

using an office chair, it is quiet, it spins around to any window, and most important it has padded cotton seats and a back on it so that comfort is at a premium....

In the next few weeks I will be posting the construction of this hunting shack.

if at the end of this some one needs a little more directions than what I post here, I will be happy to supply blue prints, parts list and directions on how to at a more than reasonable price... With this you should be able to build this shack in a day and a half two days max....
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[davetclown]

I am attempting to build this shack with all used lumber and not spend more that 25 dollars maximum. it is going to be close. I have a lot of materials on hand. nails and screws from jobs past. lumber door window roofing is from left overs or reconstruction.

all walls are 48x84 inches.

lay out your floor plates and cut your angles then cut cut your top plate.

then you need to cut your 2x4x37 inch for 24 inch center. then cut your window sill plate and measure the top to 40 inches,. you will have to match your angle to the bottom plate.

cut your plywood to height

then assemble the 2x4 frame then attach it to the plywood.

dont bother cutting out your window just yet. the sill plate is in place and that is all you need at the moment.

for the wall that has the door in it, you will need to either build a door or find one that will meet your needs.

my door is a 22 inch closset door. Ya it is flimsy, it is hallow. it is what I had. I can up grade it at any time should I choose. on that wall frame you still have to have a cross member the same as the windowed walls. this cross member shoud go about a couple inches below or above the door knob. this will keep your door wall steady as a rock with out having to use a king stud. For this design a king stud is not needed, but if you want to spend the 3 bucks for a couple extra studs you can if you want.

after the walls are constructed you need to make a top plate out of 2x6. this will give you the minimum over hang you will need to keep the water running down off the edge of the shack.

this is as far as I have gotten so far. here are the pics to show what I am doing.

I have constructed the walls at home where I have all the tools and power. from here it can be taken out in to the woods and set up....

Click on photo to see larger image.
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7618/size/big/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]I patched the hole in the door with liquid nail, once it drys I will paint it to some what match the color.[/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7619/size/big/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]the walls studs top and bottom plate is painted with Bear weatherproffing to make this shack last long enough for the grand kids to use when they reach that age.[/center] [center] [/center] [center]I used 1/2 inch chip board "plywood" for the walls, it was what was available for free. they got rained on yesterday before I was able to get them in to the farmers barn. the water beaded off well.[/center] [center] [/center] [center]these two peices of plywood is screwed in to the wall plate to keep it from shifting around during transport.[/center] [center] [/center] [center]I move them out to location and they rode nicely. I did not go any faster than 50 mph nor did I pull any "G's" going around the corner or curves.[/center] [center] [/center] [center]The walls were wedged in between the wheel wells. you may not have that luxury with a full size truck, but then with a full size truck you will be able to close the tail gate.[/center]
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[davetclown]

a tally of my expences so far.

two hinges for the door matching what was left from the old door 1.97 each and one tube of liquid nail 1.45.

so far ruoghly with tax 5.50.

I wont even guess the price of materials any where else, but if there is a real intrest I can quote it out for what it cost here. but with the parts list you wil be able to quote out the job at your local lumber yard pretty easy....
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[RILEYFISH]

Looking forward to some phptos when you finish Dave.

Thanks
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[davetclown]

[center][font "Arial"][size 2][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7626/cat/602"][/url][/size][/font][/center][center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7627/cat/602"][/url][/center][center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7629/cat/602"][/url][/center][center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7630/cat/602"][/url][/center][center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7632/cat/602"][/url][/center][center] here are the money shots. [/center] [center] [/center] [center]this shows how to assemble the five sided roof. unexpected bonus, I was sitting in my chair in the roof perimiter and I noticed there is enough room to do some hefty ice fishing. [/center] [center] [/center] [center]the roof is not complete yet as you can see, I still have a few more peices to place on the roof before I can finish it, I ran in to a stand still when I ran out of liquid nail. [/center] [center] [/center] [center]note every thing is screw, nailed, glued and strapped together to make sure there will be no comming apart while crusing down the road...
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[davetclown]

I finished workin on the roof, well the construction part any ways, I still have to put on the trim, and the roll roffing but I wont do that untill it is mounted on top of the shack...
if you remember I said I was building it with out buying any thing, well take a look at this roof with the plywood attached, every thing on the shack is from used lumber...
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7648/cat/602"][/url][/center]
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[davetclown]

here is the next set of photos.

I have begun assembly of the shack.

today I set up the walls, mounted the roof and hung the door along with calking all the seams.
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7705/cat/602"][/url] [/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7706/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7707/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7708/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]this one shows how the angled wall studs come togther.[/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7709/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]this one is confusing, it is looking out the door and in to a cargo van. this photo shows the strap rapping aound the door header.[/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7711/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]Floor laid on trailer floor before setting up walls[/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7710/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]Straps mounted to walls[/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7703/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7704/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7705/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7712/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]roof mounted[/center] [center]photo dose not do justice to the angle of the walls, from the inside you can see out and shoot 320*, If I chose put a window on the door I would gain the last 40 degrees.[/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7714/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]Cushy Swivel Chair and wood step to get up on the trailer when set out in the woods.[/center] [center] [/center] [center]I have not yet taken a photo of the door installed,[/center] [center] [/center] [center]next step is to mount the shack to the floor with hex bolts, install windows, put on the roofing and paint all unpainted areas in side and out.[/center]
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[davetclown]

[size 1]there is something I should mention, that roof weighs as much as a deer, but if you have a wench from an old boat trailer you can use that to lift the roof if you park the shack under a good branch. or if you can barrow a buck pole you can lift the roof then back the shack under it. You could even toe nail a couple 2x4's to the top of the shack for rails and slide the roof on that way.

You could build the roof right on top of your shack, I didnt have that option.

what I am saying is if you have a way to lift the roof, it is eaiser to to build it on the ground and lift it in to place, I am not a big fan of working on ladders...

two six foot people can lift it and slide it on top of the 7 foot shack. I could reach the top but it was well out of my range for putting the roof on. It is a bit of a strech for guys our size so I think you may want to go for a six foot shack. If I make another one, I wont go any taller than 6 foot.. I got lots of head room, I got room to do jumping jacks in side this shack...

I did put the roof on by my self, I first rolled it in to the back of my truck, drove it out and then lifted and slid it in to the back of the cargo truck, then I grabed the trailer and backed it up to the cargo truck and lifted one side on top of the roof and went to the front of the cargo truck and entered the back through the door between the seats then lifted the back side of the roof and slid it in to place.

I then went in side and turned the roof to expose the corners and removed those corner braces I had put in place and then lined up the roof from the inside.

starting in the back over the door I used 3 in deck screws and ancored the roof. once I had the roof ancored I pulled the straps down and used roofing nails, two on the side and one on the bottom. I will get another picture of the strap if that isnt clear.

like I mentioned I had not acored the shack to the trailer, well I had nails and other things in the back of the shack and when I took the trailer loose from the truck the tong pointed in the air. the shack is mounted well over the axle with just enough weight to keep preasure on the tong. so it is important if you store any thing in the trailer you keep it to the front. Any way the shack slid back 4 inches. I will have to push that back to the bow of the trailer.

I will be using two ancor on each wall, If I were planning on taking it down the road any time soon I would put at least 4 ancors on each wall. I am glad I had not calked around the floor yet, [/size]
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[davetclown]

here is the next set of photos...

[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7743/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]here the door is mounted, the hole patch still needs a paint touch up.[/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7744/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]the windows run nearly the full lenth of the walls. the choice was made to use plexiglass insted of the tinted glass ones.[/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7745/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7746/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]the windows will slide up and down in to the track cut out of the 2x4 and a secetion of the cut out was tacked on to the inside to make the slot run along the bottom of the window to help keep the wind from blowing in.[/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7747/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]trim and insulation strip was placed all around the door to keep the wind from blowing in from that direction and dispercing any sents.[/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7748/cat/602"][/url][/center]
lacking the proper tools to do the job, I again made do with what I had,

to set in the hinges and door latch catch I used my circular saw to cut in the depth, I still have a little paint left to do the touch ups. [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7749/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [left]like I said the whole shack can be built in a day or two.[/left] [left] [/left] [left]I put the roofing on using roll roofing and plastic cement along with roofing nails making sure to plastic coat over the nails.[/left] [left] [/left] [left]the windows are done and laying to the way side with the glue drying. I used a piece of lath board to glue across the top of the plexiglass for a handle to grab the window. I wanted to drill and put in studs though the wood and glass but was not allowed the time to do it. I will have to make another trip out and sneek them in. the studs I am speaking of is roofing nails. drill a hole and push the nail in to the hole filled with liquid nail. this way you know the lath board will never come off. especialy if you put the head side on the glass side, you will have to cut off the nail shank from the wood side and file it down, so if you use aluminum roofing nails that job will be a snap.[/left] [left] [/left] [left]Yes there are more photos to come....[/left]
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[davetclown]

[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7764/cat/602"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7765/cat/602"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7766/cat/602"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7768/cat/602"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7767/cat/602"][/url][/center]
this is the lay out of the roofing. looking at pic four, you can see three strips, I put on the ou side strips first then cut the third strip in half and layed it back I cut the center of the front strip up to the point where it would cross the center board and overlapped the the end peices. doing this allowed me to lay the roofing flat. the back center strip only come up to the center.
[font "Arial"][size 2][/size][/font] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7763/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7768/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7769/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7770/cat/602"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7771/cat/602"][/url] [/center]

I used old vinal to trim the corners and facia trim. I had forgotten to take my roofin nails so I ended up using button screws. "thats what I had. and you know I could not leave those white flags standing so I used the last of my paint to cover all the white. I had enough to paint the cut edges of the window and put a second coat on the out side of the door.
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this is the finish product
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7773/cat/602"][/url] [/center]

to keep this shack from flying off the tralor I used 3 1/2 inch lag bolts with fender washers one on each side of the corners and one in the center of each wall.
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7775/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7774/cat/602"][/url] [/center]

here is what I looked like going down the road [font "Arial"][size 2][/size][/font]

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7778/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7777/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7776/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7779/cat/602"][/url]

the sun had just set when I took these shots, I had to lighten them up a lot in order for you to be able to see the shack. in pic number three you can see that the shack disipears in to the skyline during twilight hours. the color looks black, it is actualy a realy dark green. when the leaves fall and all it left but bark this shack will be almost invisible. I guess

I forgot to take a pic of the window from the inside. I will try to remember to do that the next time I am on the island. I still have to find a rug for the inside and go back out with a jack and level the shack.
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[RILEYFISH]

That is one nice set up Dave. Thanks for taking the time to post up the photos and the story. I hope you get plenty of time to go out and Enjoy it this fall.
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[davetclown]

there is still a few tweeks to do to it, there is the true docking mount to be placed on the trailor so the shack can be taken off and used for ice fishing and remounted.

carpeting needs to be put in, a heater needs to be located just incase winter desides to show on time.

as mentioned in an earlier post, I wont be the one using it.
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[davetclown]

[size 1]I owed you a few pics, window pics to be more percise, so here they are.

well, it is set up on harsens island. It was a riot taking it on the fairy, every one kept asking me what it was, I replied it was a pigeon coup.. LOL

pulled up between a rose bush and an oak tree sapling near a ground hog hole in a hay feild next to a few over grown oak and christmas trees.

and yes it is on privet property. I want to make that vary clear, in michigan it is not leagle to set out hunting structures on state land.

the farmer was only to happy to have the shack set up on top the ground hog hole.
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7791/cat/602"][/url][/center]
[center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7790/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center][/center] [center]windows in place, dont let the glair fool ya, you can see out the plexiglas just fine, note I painted the top half of the shack a dark chocolate. any dark color is beter than the natural color of the plywood. against the natural color any movemnt of your head can be seen from out side the shack. with the near white color it may act like a deer white flag so it is best to eliminate any white flashes.[/center] [center][/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7787/cat/602"][/url] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7788/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]an unexpected perk is the cubbies I made by placeing the wall brace just below the door knob is that the windows fit right in to the slots. so insted of making something to hold the windows open I will place a little bit of something across the cubbies to hold the windows from falling out, wire or a peice of lath board any thing small but firm.[/center] [center][/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7789/cat/602"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7792/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7789/cat/602"][/url][/center] [center]here is a a sample of what they will be looking at when the season opens. [/center] [center][/center] [center]I fell asleap while waiting for the paint to dry, Upon awakening I sat up and the chair squeeked and I saw a great big white flag pop right up just out side the window. in my moment of lapsed aleartness a deer had wondered right up along side the shack and lay down.[/center] [center][/center] [center]I wonder if I should be recording my snores, I seem to see more deer after a short nap.[laugh][/center] [center][/center] [center]the window on the left the feild has been hayed, the secton on the right wont be cut for a couple more weeks. "straw"[/center] [center][/center] [center]the chiar was removed and a more suitable one will be found in the next couple months.[/center] [center][/center] [center]wont be long now. [/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7793/cat/602"][/url][/center][/size]
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[davetclown]

[size 1]word of caution, this time of year areas frequented with deer may be infested with tics fleas and mites. especialy if he area has been dry for several days. Fleas drown easily, ticks dont. The month of july agust and september are the best time for hitchhikers.

spraying your pants with a quality insect repellent or wearing stiff denam geans will aid in reppeling these critters

this is impotant, you dont want to bring these critterss home especialy if you have carpetting in your house. they can be difficult to get rid of once they have been introduced to the inside of a domicile.[/size]
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