Wooden platform things as seen in the countryside

So, what are those wooden seats on four stilts with a ladder up to them that seem to be on the edge of every field and all over the forests (in Brandenburg at least, and probably all over Europe (except the UK) for all I know)?

For getting a top-down view of the field to make sure everything is growing ok?
For game hunting?
For bird-watching?
For looking out for advancing armies?
For having a picnic?
For co-ordinating work-gangs planting the crops and chopping down the trees?
For scaring the crows away from?
For Stasi observation posts?
For burning sacrifices, to ensure the fertility of the land?

I've never seen anyone actually up one, and have been too embarassed to ask anyone also out walking when I have seen one in case there is a totally obvious function for these structures and I am a total doof to ask. So, under the anonynimity of TT where doofness is common-place, can anyone please enlighten me?

yes

I like this one

NO! Really? But this is in Barnim Nature Reserve; surely hunting is banned? And I've seen them deep in the thick of forests where the line of sight can hardly be a few metres.

Sorry - for all you serious posters out there, I didn't mean you. Just the blondes like me and the newbies

Yes, even in nature preserves there's a bit of culling going on when the wild boar or deer population gets too big to be sustainable.

Salami-tactic again - you did not state this in the OP.

See: Hochsitz

Hochsitz ...

Sure they aren't ex DDR platforms?

Yes I know they aren't in her area.

Thank you Miwild, i'm sure you've got it there.

Now, as a hunt-saboteur glad to have finally seen the criminalisation of fox-hunting as a 'sport' from England, I shall be sharpening my axe and setting out into the Brandenburg heaths and forests tomorrow and chop down those platforms. Maybe.

Naw, just get a dog and make sure you take the paths that go near the hunting platforms. The scent of the dogs will scare game away, and it's fun to hear the hunters' sighs of disgust as you innocently walk by and wreck their chances in that spot.

Hmm, I have four cats, no dogs. Will that work? Our tomcat thinks he's a lion, so maybe his scent will scare the game away? There might be a bit of a problem 'herding' cats though.
No, but really, these platforms are for shooting from? They seem to be on the edge of every field. (warning, bad taste comment coming!!!) but I've not seen any around schools. Oh me bad.

They have these in Bavaria too. See the earlier topic: Wooden watchtower platform things seen in fields

Thanks for the earlier link Editor Bob. I hadn't a clue what to do a site search on and googling just tended to throw up references to DDR look-out posts which these obviously weren't.

I am still rather amazed that they are so prevalent, and in a nature reserve ffs, but there you go.

BTW if they are so ubiquitous then why have I never seen a shop selling hunting guns? Not that I want one, but the recent Amoklauf in Winnenden has got me wondering what the gun laws here are like.

Oh, they are around. 10-15 shops in Brandenburg state. Plus there's plenty of trade going on both online and traditionally through mail-order. There are about 350.000 licensed hunters in Germany.