A few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds light and variable..

A few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.

Frank Ellison and Clayton Dukes, of Complete Industrial Supply in Kankakee, secure a tarp as a roof for a pallet rack hunting stand. The simple concept can be transported in the back of any pick up truck, set up in minutes- at any height, and enclosed in camouflage tarps to provide cover. The minimal expense is far less than the expensive alternatives.

Frank Ellison and Clayton Dukes, of Complete Industrial Supply in Kankakee, secure a tarp as a roof for a pallet rack hunting stand. The simple concept can be transported in the back of any pick up truck, set up in minutes- at any height, and enclosed in camouflage tarps to provide cover. The minimal expense is far less than the expensive alternatives.

The customers at Complete Industrial Supply, on Kankakee's far south side, are usually farmers, or buyers for warehouses and businesses, such as Big R Stores. They come to CIS for the heavy duty shelving that holds pallets full of seed corn and other weighty matters.

So, why couldn't those racks hold other things, something more than inventory?

Rhonda Pustmueller, the office manager and marketing chief at CIS, wasn't necessarily looking for ways to expand the company's potential market, but she found it, online, at a Michigan site for deer hunters. They were using pallet racks, just like those stacked outside her office at 55 W. Issert Drive, for deer stands.

"There are a lot of hunters in my family, and I know how they are all about these things," she said. "They're always looking for a better way to do things. They'll spend money, but they expect a good value."

And she feels thinks her kits are offering the type of deer tower blind that will provide hunters some unique perks. She can rattle them off:

• The popular outdoor products superstores offer a range of free-standing models that top out close to $2,600. Converting a pallet rack would cost more like $500.

• The standard manufactured towers come with a weight limit about 850 pounds. And that might be enough for three or four hefty hunters. The pallet rack comes with a capacity of 5,000 pounds.

• Some of the larger, plastic models require some extra effort assembling it and getting it into place. The pallet racks will lie flat in a pickup and assembly would take little more than 20 minutes.

"And they're going to be secure in the wind," she said. "You just set them where you want them, or you can use some concrete and make it permanent."

Statistics show that tree stand falls are the No. 1 cause of serious injuries or death to deer hunters, but a pallet-style tower will add stability, Pustmueller said. A hunter still would have to negotiate a ladder to climb up to the tower and use a safety harness, but the elements are not going to weaken this structure.

Tim Blumenthal, the owner of CIS, never imagined the potential that was stacked in his storage yard. He is aware, though, that he can offer multiple options to hunter/customers. The racks can go the standard 16 feet high, or any variable of four feet.

"We leave the finishing touches to the hunters," Pustmueller said. "We'll get you started with the 10-12 pieces you need for the rack, then you can add plywood for the floor. You can pick out the camouflage for the canvas and equip it any way you want."

The CIS offices are open 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, but staff members will come in Saturdays if shoppers call ahead. For more information, or to set a Saturday appointment, call 815-939-3900.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.

Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription

Would you like to receive local business offers? Sign-up today!

Receive our daily headlines. Sign-up today!

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.

Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.