Thanks for all the ideas and replies guys. I had another idea this morning. If i build the platform 5 x 5, I could fit my Doghouse blind on it. In that case, for safety,I'd still build a railing around the platform about 3 foot tall so it would sit just under the shooting windows and portholes.Any thoughts on that or anyone tried that? I'm thinking that if I'm 12 foot off the ground. I could probablyzip the larger windows down without spooking the deer so much and have a better range of view.