tree stand seats

[Arrowcraft]

I was wondering if any one had any ideas to keep
rodents etc. from chewing up tree stand seat on
new ladder stand with a fabric type of woven mesh
seat.Because it is incorporated into stand itself
it cannot be removed ????
  --------Black Wolf 67"57#@28"--------
  --------Tall Tines 60"52&45#@28"-----

[BAK]

You might try soaking the fabric with a cayenne pepper solution.  I know it is used as a deterrent for seed in bird feeders.

[TooManyHobbies]

Cut it off. Cut a piece of conveyor belt to fit and bolt it on. I did it to one of mine that the seat was dry rotted. It's more comfy now than it was before. Next time I'm in the woods, I'll try to remember to take a pic.
But I didn't bolt it to the frame itself, I cut it long, wrapped the ends around the frame and bolted it to itself. You'll need strong hands or a clamp to hold it in place to put bolt through it. It's been about 7 years since I did it. It will never rot. And being black, snow and ice melt off pretty quick.
Go to any gravel yard and they will probably tell you to take all you want from the pile of used belt. I used it for one of my hang-ons as well.

[kevsuperg]

If it can't be removed your probably SOL. Maybe wrap it in tin foil or some other metal type cloth.
 If it has web straps to secure to the tree I'd be worried about them too.
 If the seat is held in with a web strap you could cut the straps, replace with straps n buckles from and outdoor, tractor supply or craft store.

[La flecha]

TooMany, where to you get conveyor belt?

[TooManyHobbies]

Originally posted by La flecha:
TooMany, where to you get conveyor belt?

Your local Sand & Gravel pit. They have to replace belts all the time. If they don't put them in a dumpster, they throw them in a pile. Just ask if they have any. Take a big piece, it comes in handy for other stuff too.

[TIM B]

That's a great idea Too-Many!

[Jerry Russell]

Check out Hazemore add-on seats.  Comfortable, will not absorb water or rot.  I love them.

[Tom1958]

Last year we drew for Iowa. We went out in March to scout and hang stands...stands that I just replaced the worn out seats with new plywood and comfortable closed-cell foam.
When we showed up to hunt in November, the seats were so badly destroyed from chewing rodents (I presume Red Squirrels) that I couldn't sit on them. A couple had 75% of the seat GONE, plywood and all.
I think that squirrels chew plywood because of the glue they use to  make it. My latest repair was to replace the plywood with composite lumber. I got a great deal on 5/8"x11"x12' facia composite (it was a special order that a contractor returned 1 piece, so I got a great price).
I decided to try it for one season without foam attached. I had no squirrel damage.
I plan to glue closed cell foam to it and I'm not as concerned if the foam gets chewed because I can still sit on the seat...not so when the plywood base of the seat is chewed to nothing.
But if the squirrels do start to chew, I'm gonna make a slip-on/off cap made of hardware cloth. And I suspect that the cap doesn't need to be removed to sit on it. The hardware cloth is thin and will conform to the foam. I doubt I will feel it.

Originally posted by Tom1958:
Last year we drew for Iowa. We went out in March to scout and hang stands...stands that I just replaced the worn out seats with new plywood and comfortable closed-cell foam.
When we showed up to hunt in November, the seats were so badly destroyed from chewing rodents (I presume Red Squirrels) that I couldn't sit on them. A couple had 75% of the seat GONE, plywood and all.
I think that squirrels chew plywood because of the glue they use to  make it. My latest repair was to replace the plywood with composite lumber. I got a great deal on 5/8"x11"x12' facia composite (it was a special order that a contractor returned 1 piece, so I got a great price).
I decided to try it for one season without foam attached. I had no squirrel damage.
I plan to glue closed cell foam to it and I'm not as concerned if the foam gets chewed because I can still sit on the seat...not so when the plywood base of the seat is chewed to nothing.
But if the squirrels do start to chew, I'm gonna make a slip-on/off cap made of hardware cloth. And I suspect that the cap doesn't need to be removed to sit on it. The hardware cloth is thin and will conform to the foam. I doubt I will feel it.

I like the idea of the hardware cloth, but I'll but my bottom dollar that your butt will feel it, and not like it very much!

Bisch

[last arrow]

Just as a note, conveyor belt makes a good target backstop too.

[TooManyHobbies]

Here ya go. I went for an other weapon coyote hunt with a dual purpose of taking some pics for you.
Pics were in the dark, hope they come out OK.
As you can see, the belt sags just right for a comfy sit. The hang-on stand seat folds without a problem. Durable, will never rot, squirrels don't chew it. Not every stand has the right form for it, but these two worked great.

Hang-on

 

 

Ladder

 

 

[Tom1958]

 

Originally posted by Tom1958:
Last year we drew for Iowa. We went out in March to scout and hang stands...stands that I just replaced the worn out seats with new plywood and comfortable closed-cell foam.
When we showed up to hunt in November, the seats were so badly destroyed from chewing rodents (I presume Red Squirrels) that I couldn't sit on them. A couple had 75% of the seat GONE, plywood and all.
I think that squirrels chew plywood because of the glue they use to  make it. My latest repair was to replace the plywood with composite lumber. I got a great deal on 5/8"x11"x12' facia composite (it was a special order that a contractor returned 1 piece, so I got a great price).
I decided to try it for one season without foam attached. I had no squirrel damage.
I plan to glue closed cell foam to it and I'm not as concerned if the foam gets chewed because I can still sit on the seat...not so when the plywood base of the seat is chewed to nothing.
But if the squirrels do start to chew, I'm gonna make a slip-on/off cap made of hardware cloth. And I suspect that the cap doesn't need to be removed to sit on it. The hardware cloth is thin and will conform to the foam. I doubt I will feel it.

 

Originally posted by Bisch:[/b]

I like the idea of the hardware cloth, but I'll but my bottom dollar that your butt will feel it, and not like it very much!

Birch [/b]

I may feel it. That's why I plan to start off with the hardware cloth so it's just a removable cap. I'll use the thinnest hardware cloth I can find, so it's not like I'm sitting on lath. I believe metal window screen could also work.

But my hunch is that with 3 or 4 layers of clothing on, and sitting on 1 inch foam that will allow the hardware cloth to seat itself into, I may feel it, but it probably won't be overly bothersome. It'll definately be more comfortable than sitting on a seat that was half destroyed by squirrels.