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Hi All,
I'm looking for some advices regarding grind blinds. I finally decided to buy one for the coming turkey season, I'll be using for deer too, gun and xbow, up to two guys maybe....
What are the features I should be looking for? What size? Or brand?
Hope you can help,
Thanks
Seabast
I wanted to buy one at Pro Bass that was on sale for like $120 dollars but the reviews were really negative. What should one budget for the blind?
I would recommend buying one that can be pegged to the ground. I had a few circumstances last year where the wind kind of lifted the blind off the ground a bit. I bought the thing to conceal movement not create movement. Lol. Other than that make sure it has maximum viability and enough room to move a bit without touching edges. Good luck. Paul
I've had great luck with an Ameristep Dog House. It's light, easy to put up and take down, and quiet. I have an Ameristep Bone Collector hub blind as well. For me it's a pain in the arse to put up and take down when I'm alone. It also makes a lot of noise when putting it up, and is quite a bit heavier. The dog house is good for two hunters and gear. It's my go-to blind.
If you have the opportunity, get inside one in the showroom and shoulder a gun and/or bow (or something of similar size). The first blind I bought seemed to be a good size, but I couldn't shoulder my gun without poking it out the window first. You will be surprised how much space you need.
When I bought my second blind i actually cut off a 2x2 peice of lumber to match my shotgun when shouldered. Worked perfectly and the new blind fits me much better without being overly large.
Another "trick" I learned this year. I leave my blind out the whole season. This year I put down a mat that I cut to fit the size of the blind. Sometimes my kids come with me and I wanted them to be more comfortable. Lucky that I had it as when I was packing up at the end of the season I realized that there was a considerable amount of poison ivy in the grass. It was only the mat that stopped me and the kids from getting in a bad situation. It also dramatically cut down on the number of ticks and other bugs we had to deal with.
testing
So do you know the brand and size of your blind?Quote:
Originally Posted by scarkner
I use the Ameristep bone collector and really like it.
[COLOR=#333333]Ameristep bone collector.
I have one and plenty of room inside.
Get a comfy chair as well.
I would go as big and tall as you can afford. I bought a Bone Collector and I'm happy with the foot print and the quality but not a big fan of the height. I would prefer to be able to stand for bow shots. Just me.though.
I did by a cheaper one from Le Baron that is a one person really but says a it's two. with a backpack a chair and my size it's one person.
I have a ground blind but prefer to use my gilli suit instead.
I've harvested deer and turkey out of my ground blind set up on field edges, in forest. There are so many variety of brands and styles, different things to think about. Depending on type of hunting, ease of set up for relocating, climate (wind, snow) pegged, strength of material (snags of branches can tear them), types of window openings, frame strength, removable screens or not, camo colour, zippered/Velcro doors. Height/width is also important, adequate space for xx ppl, heater, ease of gun/bow/crossbow movement.
So by the sounds of it a big Ameristep isn't a bad choice?
I'm not going to move that blind a lot, mostly on private property and two weeks on secluded crown.
Damn, you made it even more complicated but that's why I posted that thread. I looked the Ameristep web site and I couldnt find a real diference between must of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by bush24
I'm not a bow hunter so I guess it should make the choice a lot easier.
Check out some of Altan blinds at Sail. You should treacly go and see some that are set up so you can get an idea of how big and portable you want to go.
I have and have had many different ground blinds. My go to blind is the Ameristep Bone Collector. Tough, roomy, exterior brush straps and all round great value in my opinion. I usually set them up in spring and take them down after deer season ends. Ya gots to be careful with snow load and such but with a little care they will last for years.
outback
If it is just you then the Ameristep Doghouse should suit your needs.....I have 2 of them that I use and leave them set up for weeks at a time...good luck
I'm kind of in between this two:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/525...tree-xtra-camo
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/560...tree-xtra-camo
Same size but the Carnivore is supposed to be built to last longer, so heavier.
I has one like that a few years ago and it was okay (until a bear torn it apart), but I'd like more space.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brampton Mike
Did you look at the new Mancave from Ameristep ? It's reported to be the biggest blind on the market.Quote:
Originally Posted by seabast
Wife said if I got this one I could move into it permanently. Don't see what the big deal is....
Attachment 32292
Looks awesome but $5500 bucks. wowQuote:
Originally Posted by mbhunter
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbhunter
And only 350 lbs!Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter John
No, I haven't but I think I need to go to the closest store and try them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
Thanks
I purchased a Cabelas brand ground blind a few years back and it is easy to put up and take down. It has the pegs for windy conditions and good windows to shoot out of. I have used it a few times for turkey hunting but primarily use it for deer hunting on Manitoulin Island, getting up in age so can't take the cold sitting in a tree stand anymore
If you don't mind spending some coin I understand the Primos double bull blinds are top notch
I had a ameristep G3 and liked it but loaned it out and the wind blew it away. Now I have the Bonecollector it's roomier and is a nicer blind.
I purchased this one on clearance at BP:
http://www.biggametreestands.com/product/the-charger/
I leave it out for the month of spring turkey and it has yet to fade or show signs of wear. It's large enough to shoulder my shotgun and crossbow. My only complaint on this one is the access. It zippers along the corner rather than a doorway. It's not exactly quiet to enter or exit especially trying to get the limbs of the crossbow through the door.
Aside from that I've been happy with the quality and it's very easy to set up and take down. Comes with a carry bag with shoulder straps.
A little off topic, but here's a tip for you guys that have had wind blowing your blinds away - there's only one solution. Forget the metal pegs, they're OK to use on the corners of the blind so that it doesn't lift up but that's it. If you try to use them with those thin cords on the outside as guy-wires for wind stability, anything over 20 km/hr is just going to pull those pegs out of the ground an the blind will sail away.
Cut yourself 4 stout stakes (like 1" diameter and 16" long) from saplings, tie 6' lengths of rope to the loop on the outside of the hub, pull tight, loop the rope around the stakes and hammer into the ground on an angle. Do this on all 4 sides. These act as strong guy wires and the blind will stay put in an open field in gale winds.
Of course, that's not a guarantee...:cool:
For years I always hunted deer from a tree stand - both for archery and rifle seasons - then a few years ago my kids started giving me a hard time about using a tree stand at my age - so I thought that I'd try a ground blind - boy I just couldn't get use to it - seems like I was cooped in and couldn't see what was going on around me - it may be different if you have a bait pile right out in front of the blind but we can't use bait down here - well anyway - I still climb into a tree stand now and if for some reason I want to hunt from the ground I built a blind out of sticks and brush and put a chair in the middle of it - just my head can be seen above the side of the blind which encloses me - I find that a lot better than a fully enclosed blind that you buy
One trick I did with an Altan ground blind that I bought on sale from TLC store (it didn't come with tie-ons) was to sew 18 inch lengths of duck decoy cord along all the seams so I could tie on weeds, branches etc. Worked well for last fall's deer season.
I agree on STRONG anchors on all corners + anchor ropes if you plan on placing it anywhere where wind gets at it. The wimpy metal pegs that came with it pulled out within a week, and I replaced them with long metal tent stakes, and anchor ropes on the upwind hubs.
I have 4 ground blinds as I set up various places on public land. 2 are the Ameristep doghouse and 2 are the Ameristep G3.
I prefer the hub style if you aren't moving it around a lot. More room and sturdier. I prefer the spring steel if I'm moving it more often. It's a little faster/easier to pack up. One thing to consider is snow. I have had heavy snowfalls ruin the spring steel blinds, but aside from caving in the roof (that I just pushed back out) of the hub style, I haven't had one break yet.
Well, just ordered the Bone Collector. I looked around for the best deal and ended up bying it for Midway USA, 141UDS all in so roughly 190CAD.
Thanks you all for your subjestion.
Seabast
Great choice..........hope you have good luck with it!
I'm thinking it might be a good place for a nap....Quote:
Originally Posted by huntnmachine
good choice you'll be happy with it just seal the needleholes with seamsealer.Quote:
Originally Posted by seabast