Warm enough deer stand for Nov in MN?

I don't have anything to help with your problem, but wanted to say thanks for looking out for our next generation of hunters. A bad experience at that age can turn them off to the outdoors forever.

You could probably use a pop-up blind with a Mr. Buddy heater. That, and some warm clothes, and she should be OK.

I'd pick up a GI surplus sleeping bag, the real deal ones, that would keep her warm.

Or anyone else for that matter.

You could always just build something to fit your need. But honestly any enclosure would be better than dealing with the wind. I'd look at those plastic shelters Cabela's sell.

Go with a pop-up blind and buddy heater. It'll be just like ice fishing.......you could strip down to a light shirt if you wanted.

I would make sure that there is an adequate amount of blaze orange on the outside of the blind.

Best of luck.

I hunt in N. Central Minnesota. I made/sewed up a poncho from a double layer of fleece fabric - blaze on one side and Realtree on the other (in case I ever get drawn for turkey). Its knee length when walking, so when I sit it covers my boots. With one of the Therma-Care back wraps and a pair of boot heaters I stay cozy all day long...matter of fact I'm usually fast asleep by sunup! The deer stand naps are the best naps of the year!

It probably cost my $30 or so, including the can of Scotchguard to waterproof it.

I have used a good pop-up blind with my kids and just lit a couple cans of sterno fuel. It does not give off a scent and makes no noise. Just be careful with the open flame. Really no more of a hazard than those Mr. buddy heaters though. Heats up that small area after 20 min or so.

Box blinds are easy to build. You could even get creative and insulate it. Plexiglass windows are popular, either slide or pull up out of the way for shooting.

The idea of sterno in a nylon tent/blind is kinda scary. I'd go the catalytic heater route, myself. They sell 'em now days that use propane bottles, no mess.

there's an old friend of the family that still enjoys hunting, but the cold and wind and snow became too much for him. his solution was to buy a small utility trailer, and then build a hunting shack on it. he set the floor height about 10' above the trailer deck, and it is big enough that 2-3 men can be in it at once, w/ rifles and gear. he has propane heaters for it.

the stand is very warm, portable, safe, and probably the best way to shield young hunters from extreme elements.

to move the stand he just hooks it up to his pick up and moves it. i seriously doubt it is safe at highway speed, but should be fine for travel to maybe 45 mph...

I built a 8X8' cube out of steel, bolted on 3/4" plywood and carpeted the walls floor and ceiling. (mainly to cut noise) It has 360 degree sliding plexiglass windows, a urinal that flows 25 feet down the telephone pole base and into an underground bucket. The cube has a trap door to facilitate entry and exit, 2 office chairs, a gun rack, fold up card table, and a heater and lantern. On the coldest Nebraska days we can keep it warm enough to shoot deer in a T-shirt. You could really simplify the build and turn it into a weekend project. Ours has definitely added to the enjoyment of the kids we take afield. (and grown ups too!)

to move the stand he just hooks it up to his pick up and moves it. i seriously doubt it is safe at highway speed, but should be fine for travel to maybe 45 mph...

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.......here in Wisconsin, anything with wheels on it is considered a vehicle. Don't matter if it's a car/truck, gravity box or portable stand on a trailer, if it has wheels on it, it is illegal to shoot from it. Removing the wheels makes it legal, even if it's a car/truck.

.....them Lil' Buddy heaters work well, Two cans of propane will last all day. The ones without a fan don't make much noise(not near as much as chattering teeth), but they will blow out if exposed to much of a breeze.

I guess what's really important is protection from the wind, so go with some kind of enclosed ground blind. And a small heater, they are quiet enough, and it'll really make a difference. Keep her out of the wind and turn that heater on every once in a while, and she'll be fine.

Edited to add: lol, and I forgot to think about the typical 9 year old. As in, they can't stay still for too long! The blind will cover movement, too.

I built a 8X8' cube out of steel, bolted on 3/4" plywood and carpeted the walls floor and ceiling. (mainly to cut noise) It has 360 degree sliding plexiglass windows, a urinal that flows 25 feet down the telephone pole base and into an underground bucket. The cube has a trap door to facilitate entry and exit, 2 office chairs, a gun rack, fold up card table, and a heater and lantern. On the coldest Nebraska days we can keep it warm enough to shoot deer in a T-shirt. You could really simplify the build and turn it into a weekend project. Ours has definitely added to the enjoyment of the kids we take afield. (and grown ups too!)

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"Okay, I'll call and raise you 20...wait, gimme my rifle, think I see a shooter"....

Heck, I can beat that!......

Now THAT'S a stand.

I always said if I had to hunt in Minnesota, in the winter, I wouldn't do it.

I built a platform that stands around 8' off the ground, then I placed a ground blind which I bought from Cabelas "Primos Ground Max Vision Hunting Blind" on the platform. I have a 360 view, and a roof over my head to keep me dry in rain/snow. On those really cold days I turn on my portable heater Camp heater that runs on 1 gal propane tank. (Also from Cabelas) One tank lasts about 7hrs. not bad for a $1.98 tank.

Warm enough deer stand for Nov in MN?

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Not for me there isn't. I have a hard time staying warm in central GA in Nov./Dec. (and that's with a heater).

Wyman

I use a ground blind -- you can get them from Cabela's, Gander, Sportsmans Guide, Wal-Mart, and so on.

I operate on two theories:

1. Prior planning prevents p*ss poor performance, and
2. A comfortable hunter is a good hunter.

I scout thoroughly, locate and service scrape lines, use scent lures and so on. I set up my blind overlooking a good scrape and cut firing lanes carefully -- don't crowd the trail. Then I stock the blind with a folding stool, plastic jug (in case nature calls) and so on.

I dress cold and carry warm -- wear as little as possible while hiking in, but carry warm clothes in a your pack. I take off my old, sweaty shirt and undershirt, put them into a plastic bag, and put on layers of warm clothing. Don't neglect your feet -- that's the first thing to get cold.

If hunting with a child, I'd do the same thing. You can pre-stock the blind with the sleeping bag if you're carrying too much gear in.

I just built a ground blind an hour ago:

Thats Awesome MCGUNNER, I thought I was the cats pajamas for shooting my deer in a tshirt, and here you go and shoot them in your swim trunks.

A tip of the hat to you my friend!

I hunt the U.P.,sometimes....

the cold has caused me to improvise. I now use a pop-up blind, I like the "Outhouse" as I can stand inside. I use a buddy heater if the temp is below 20. If above, I fire up a butane ultralight stove every hour. The buddy heater makes it shirtsleeves warm in about 10 minutes. Yes the naps are great and many many deer have survived when they must walk to stay warm while I sit and nod off. I took my son when he was 10 and although the snow was high and the cold, very, he was so amped up, he didn't get cold until about 3pm. I didn't have the popup then but lit a small campfire and as I mentally gave up the hunt to clear the space and let him light the fire I failed to notice the doe that walked up to our apple pile (baiting was legal) and only when my son told me "don't move fast" did I turn and shot the deer at 30 yards. Goes to prove that if the wind is in your favor, you could be making sauerkraut and still be hunting. I guess the previous post shows you can do it while slow cooking an old guy.

I deer hunt in Minnesota until January 1st, Fox and Coyote's well into March. Never used a blind or any kind of heater. I'm not trying to sound like a bad-azz, I just know how to dress.

I do have dreams of building one of these "blinds" like the ones shown above. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Dress right and you won't need it.

My Boss and I are building some really killer stands. Aluminum frames, aluminum skin inside and out with 1" styrofoam insulation in the walls, and 1 1/2" in the celing. 3/4" plywood floor, carpet, sliding windows, on a 10' high stand built from 1 1/2" angle and 1" square tube. We also found a use for those broken fiberglass ladders, take the paint bucke side off and bolt it to the side of the stand. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow and post em'.