High Seats & Platforms for Deer Management

High seats are basically elevated platforms from which areas most commonly used by deer can be clearly observed, the deer feeding there can be studied and selectively controlled, while creating a minimum amount of disturbance to the surrounding environment.
For many decades high seats have been widely used in Britain and on the Continent and have proved indispensable for effectively managing wild deer in forest areas. They are especially useful in situations where at ground level young trees obliterate the view, or on flat land, or where public usage is high and margins of safety are low. High seats increase the observer's visibility over the trees and provide a comfortable and stable shooting position and allowing a safer shooting angle towards the ground.

Access -Most high seat are accessed by a ladder which in the majority of cases constitutes a major part of the actual structure supporting the seat. This ladder must be safe and easy to use with the distance between each rung being no greater than 13-14 inches to allow for less agile persons.
Depending on design, access to lean-to seats can be either up the front or the back of the ladder. Generally access up the front tends to be easier as the ladder is at an angle to the tree however it means that as your back is turned towards the control area you would be unable to see any animals during the ascent, which were not visible from the ground. Access up the back of the allows the control area to be observed continually enabling the stalker to detect the deer's presence and ease himself slowly into the seat for a shot. This can be further aided by covering the outside of the ladder and the seat with a light camouflage screen.

Accommodation & Comfort - As most woodland stalking is undertaken alone or with a guest, nearly all high seats are designed to accommodate 1 or 2 persons with only very large structures (generally free standing) being capable of accommodating any more people. The design of the seat should provide a fair degree of space and comfort, as it may be necessary to occupy if for several hours at a time. Consideration must be given to the size difference of stalkers intending to use it, this may greatly influence the seat and foot rail positions and the height

of the shooting rail or in the case of an enclosed box type structure, the height and position of the shooting window.

Noise -
As deer have a very acute sense of hearing the design of the seat should not exaggerate any noise being created by the occupiers movements either climbing up the ladder or obtaining better shooting position in the seat itself. Solid wooden structure tend to be the quietest in operation whereas the very lightweight aluminum seats can often emit 'creaks' with the slightest movement of the occupier.


Materials Used -
The materials used generally reflect the life expectancy of the seat (durability); the style of seat required (portability) and the budget available.

Timber: Permanent seats are most commonly constructed from wooden poles. As they involve a relatively high degree of effort in their construction (thus their cost can be quiet higher) the timber used should be selected carefully. Freshly cut, unseasoned straight poles from the forestry will deteriorate over just a few years making them unsafe, whereas using pealed (de-barked) and seasoned larch poles or better still preservative treated timber will provide many years of service if carefully maintained and occasionally treated with preservatives. To avoid injury, all timbers used should be relatively clean and free from splinters and the remains of branches, and all protruding wire and nails should be bent over and flush.

Metal: Smaller portable seats are usually manufactured from lightweight mild steel or aluminum. Steel tends to be heavier than aluminum but are cheaper and more easily constructed by any small engineering yard or 'budding DIY enthusiast'. Although highly portable, aluminum seats are generally very expensive and unless well constructed tend to 'creak' with any movement of the occupier. They are also less resistant to the attentions of vandals and are prone to 'developing legs of their own' so it is advisable to secure them with a sturdy lock and chain. Apart from the weight difference steel has a further disadvantage in that unless galvanised or painted it will rust. It is important therefore that they be regularly inspected for signs of deterioration especially inside the tubes, which are allowed to fill with water.

Positioning of High Seats & Platforms -

Safety: The shooting position provided by the location of the seat should a good solid backdrop (not in the direction of pathways, roads or areas commonly used by the public).
To reduce the risk of ricochet the downward shooting angle should not be less than 8 degrees to the ground and areas of expressed rock should be avoided.

Wind Direction: Deer have a highly sensitive sense of smell and although the elevated position of the seat should assist in carrying much of the occupants scent above the control area it is important to position the seat on the downwind side of the seat. Consideration must be given to the effects, which 'swirling', or 'funneling' in glades or ridelines can have on wind direction and scent.

Access: The direction of access to the seat position is greatly influenced by the prevailing wind direction, especially in relation to the deer's 'lying-up' areas. To ensure a quiet and undetected approach to the high set position, access paths should be brashed through surrounding stands of trees and the ground cleared of any of these brashings. Strimming and spraying may also be necessary to reduce the build up of vegetation, this is especially important for pathways through relevantly open, pre-thicket stage compartments.

View: A clear, un-obstructed view of the control area is essential, the seat should be positioned in order that as much of the control as possible can be seen.

Direction of the Sun: Consideration must be given to the frequency in which the high seat is to be used in the morning/ evening and the positions of the sun at these times must be taken into account to reduce glare effecting the stalker.

Background Vegetation: A good backdrop of trees will prevent the high seat and its occupant from being silhouetted against the skyline, this will aid concealed access and also enable small movement which may be necessary for a better shooting position to go unnoticed. If the seat has to be positioned clear of the edge of the trees to improve visibility, or in the case of free standing seats which are erected in the open, timber, canvas, netting, branches or other suitable materials may be used as screens to camouflage the stalkers profile and movements.

Public Awareness: One of the most important considerations in regard to the construction and positioning of all high seats is public safety. All structures of this type will attract a degree of public attention, in other to reduce disturbance by the general public, all high seats should be positioned discreetly so that they are not obvious from roads, footpaths etc.

Safe Use of High Seat:

· Rifles should always be un-loaded while climbing up and down ladders.
· Special care must be taken in wet, windy and especially in freezing weather conditions when descent of the ladder can be hazardous after a prolonged period of sitting stationery.
· During long periods between use, restrict public access by removing the ladder or lowering structures to the ground.
· Ensure all shots are taken in a safe manner towards good backdrops, these should preferably be of solid earth.

Wild Deer Association of Ireland accept no responsibility for damage to property or personal injury resulting from the construction, erection, use or maintenance of high seats or similar shooting platforms, described or shown in this article.