Hunting Blinds?

[steelyonfly]

Looking to buy a couple of pop-up blinds for my hunting group.  Some of us will use them and others still like to "chase".  This is something totally new to me, so I need help.  Does anyone have any suggestions on features, brands, rain protection, placement of windows, etc.  Our group includes both rifle and archery hunters and may be used by both methods.  Looking to spend less than $150 per blind, but willing to pay more if makes sense.  Is it worth it to buy the blinds priced less than $100?  Thanks.

[jackelope]

Make sure you try and draw a bow in one before you buy it.  There's not a lot of room in them if you're a big guy at all unless you spend the big bucks.

[lokidog]

Some have magnetic fasteners to hold the "shoot through" screens in place, very good idea! 

[Austrian Hunter]

Make sure you try and draw a bow in one before you buy it.  There's not a lot of room in them if you're a big guy at all unless you spend the big bucks.

   I hate the small ones, you have to have half of the arrow sticking out the window to be able to draw. 

[jnevs23]

i say make your own.  I shot a white tail doe from 14 yards out of one i made in 15 minutes witha down fallen tree and a saw this year.  I personally think that the pop up ones stand out too much for archery.  I could be wrong tho

[robb92]

Ameristep or primos double bull blinds are two of the better ones, but you will pay some money for them. I would just make your own easier cheaper and you don't have to lug it around with you. I have a pop up that I leave in one spot during bow season in Maryland but behind my house I just use the natural brush.

[SpokaneSlayer]

i say make your own.  I shot a white tail doe from 14 yards out of one i made in 15 minutes witha down fallen tree and a saw this year.  I personally think that the pop up ones stand out too much for archery.  I could be wrong tho

I beg to differ.  I've had deer at 15-20 yards from my blind and they barely even noticed.  I was sitting in it one morning and a spike stepped out at 21 yards, looked right at me, and went back to feeding.

[KimberRich]

i say make your own.  I shot a white tail doe from 14 yards out of one i made in 15 minutes witha down fallen tree and a saw this year.  I personally think that the pop up ones stand out too much for archery.  I could be wrong tho

I beg to differ.  I've had deer at 15-20 yards from my blind and they barely even noticed.  I was sitting in it one morning and a spike stepped out at 21 yards, looked right at me, and went back to feeding.

I've had the same things happen when I was sitting in a ground blind I built out of down limbs and logs.  I don't think it's as much about the blind as being still.  But the full blind definitely helps mask the movement of drawing a bow or the wiggling of youngsters.   

[bow4elk]

Double Bull Matrix 360...you won't look back.  Flapping fabric is a no-no in ground blind hunting.

[tazz]

i have the double bull dark horse and the 360 love them both i got an aswome deall at the bargain cave at cabelas but primos also makes the matrix which i believe is alot cheaper but dont skimp it is well worth the extra money. my  good luck

[bowhunterforever]

i have the double bull dark horse and the 360 love them both i got an aswome deall at the bargain cave at cabelas but primos also makes the matrix which i believe is alot cheaper but dont skimp it is well worth the extra money. my  good luck

I have been thinking about getting a dark horse or a 360. Which one do you like better and how do you like the shoot though mesh?(does it mess with arrow flight at all)Thanks

[steelyonfly]

Thanks everyone.  I was looking at the Ameristep Bone Collector and one by Primos at Cabela's.  I looked inside all of them setup in the store and noticed that some of them have pretty big pin holes in the seams where they sew the panels together.  Looks like there could be a leakage problem with these.  The Ameristep and Primos ones I looked didn't have large sewing holes.  I haven't decided yet, but will be looking around more.

That's a good question about the shoot through mesh - how much does it effect arrow flight?

[robb92]

I know on my blind it has the shoot through mesh, the mesh panels are held in place by velcro and I will adjust the mesh panel so that I don't have to shoot through it.

[croix]

Here's what I think of my Ameristep Doghouse TSC (Total Scent Control):

-it's under $100 (i've seen it for as little as $65).
-reasonably lite - and includes shoulder straps
-REALLY easy to set up - pop up design so you just basically throw it
-Can be a pain in the a$$ to take down and stow - it's like some oragami torture puzzle
-completely waterproof - i've been in torrential downpours and i've had 4" of snow on top of it - always dry inside.
-Floor zips out, can be a handy feature. i've set mine up over a stump and sat on the stump
-Shoot through mesh attaches with velcro which is CRAZY noisy to undo or move. Also, since it is scent control the mesh is backed with a thin plastic which is crinkly and noisy - I've never shot through it an normally don't install them. I only use them when there is a lot of wind and rain to keep the inside dry and the wind/rain masks the noise. Otherwise, if you are pretty good about scent control and don't give up the wind then there is no need for the shoot through crap.
-I don't think I would recommend it for use with a bow although you might be able to get away with it. I just don't think the windows allow much verticle movement because they are kind of high on the blind and not very tall.

Bottom line for me - great price, keeps me dry on the wet side, forget the shoot through windows