Printable View
Does anyone have any recommendations regarding ground blinds when hunting with a crossbow? I sat in one last season that had an integrated seat but it was awkward as hell, especially when "nature called". I also found it very tight inside, what with the width and depth of the blind.
I have used the Ameristep Doghouse and the Bone Collector very successfully in past years. I have shot bears, deer and turkey from them. Set them up at home before the hunt then get your desired seat, bow, gear and do a few trial sits. You will come to see your limitations and distances for the limbs, your arrow and screens, among other useful tips for your setup.
outback
What Outback said. The type of crossbow you are using makes a big difference. The non-matrix excals are really wide and can be tricky.
Compound crossbow works for me but with my excalibur I need a hub blind. So hub would be ideal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Species8472
I have 2 ameristep bone collector blinds very happy with them lots of room to use a crossbow even with 2 people in there I can even stand up and stretch out in it to
I shoot an Excaliber Equinox and my son shoots the Axiom from these blinds. The Bone collector has a hole in the center of the shoot through mesh. When I look through the scope I will open my other eye to be sure the arrow will clear the hemmed seam around the hole. Takes a few times trying to get your sight lines figured out but pays off in the end. I don't like to shoot through the mesh, haven't yet but don't trust it.
outback
I use BigDog blind with my Exomax.Never had a problem shooting, and A1 customer service.
As mentioned above, the Ameristep hub-style blinds have ample space for a crossbow. I've used an Exocet in mine with no problems. My only complaints would be that some of the windows (on the model I had) were a little high but you could remedy that with whatever seat you decide to use. I prefer a lower seat so that I can rest my elbow on my knee to shoot. The corner windows were lower and I would just set the blind up with one corner facing the main trail.
The other problem was that snow load would collapse the roof hub and make for a very, very noisy job when you arrive in the morning darkness. I fixed that by cutting a pole to the right length and propping it under the center hub when I wasn't using the blind. Of course, that's not a problem if you pack it in and out with you each time.
I used the past tense when referring to the blind because it got completely destroyed in a wind storm just before last year's gun opener for deer. I guess I'm in the market for a new one as well.
I hear ya GW11. My Bone Collector is in pretty bad shape as I had left it out all winter and it collapsed. I cleared it off a few times and popped it back up however the last few wet snows shattered a coupla the poles. I was out a few days ago and busted up the huge chunk of ice that formed on the top then poped it up. I took a bungie cord trough the top pullout handle and wrapped it around the overhanging branches. Looks like she's ready for another possible turkey spot. Gotta see if I can pick up some of the fibreglass hub poles to replace a few broken ones. My Ameristep Doghouse has been setup on the same property for 2 full years and has never collapsed under the snow load. This winter the snow was up almost over the window.
outback
a medium style hub blind should be the ticket