soarkrebel

I will have to agree with other posters who say to go with metal. if i go off the ground it's on metal. i weld my own and have built and sold many stands. my towers completed out will weigh less than your wooden ladder stand and be 10 times stronger.
if you don't weld either find a person who knows what they are doing and buy one or buy a company manufactured stand.
now i am working on a stand for my box blinds that i use on the ground. my ground box blinds are wood and get heavy! but i am going to build a metal stand for them to carriage bolt to . but i have a tractor with a front end loader to lift them onto the stand and i will need it. i like wood in a stand but not elevated unless on steel and bolted.

also i always paint my wood it seals it and helps slow rot. you can buy mistint paint at lowes or home depot cheap. i have some pictures of one i just finished that when i get them developed i will try and post.