Hunting Blinds
These days, "hunting blind" could mean almost anything. Triple Crown makes a hunting blind that's basically a camo umbrella. Another hunting blind from Chrono is known as a goose chair. Or you could go for the deluxe option, such as a 300-pound, 45 square foot aluminum framed elevated goose blind. If you're having trouble deciding, here are two hunting blinds currently among the most popular.
Double Bull hunting blind
Double Bull duck blinds are some of the best on the market today. A Double Bull deer blind is portable, lightweight, and spacious, with unique features that reduce your visibility while increasing your vision.
The T2 hunting blind and T5 hunting blind are made by Double Bull, but the Matrix 360 hunting blind is their premium product. The Matrix 360 gets its name from being the only hunting blind that allows you to see a full 360 degrees. Double Bull's surround sight window system lets you see out without prey seeing in. And with a shooting diameter of 76 inches and 5 by 5 feet of floor space, the Matrix 360 hunting blind is large enough to accommodate both bow and rifle hunting.
SCENTite hunting blind
Smell is the other way that prey can discern your presence. The SCENTite deer blind is designed for scent control, allowing you to hunt on the ground as you are. The SCENTite turkey blind releases air through a vent that extends about 30 feet above the blind. This scent concealment eliminates the need for lure scents and reduces the importance of visual cover.
SCENTite hunting blinds are available in a number of different models, including 2-person and 4-person blinds. Each hunting blind is made from a durable polyethylene shell with a carpeted floor for noise reduction. A SCENTite hunting blind can also work as either a ground blind or elevated blind.
Duck Blinds
Plywood shacks, clumps of grass, ground pits, and canvas-draped metal frames -- whether makeshift or manmade, there's no mistaking a duck blind (unless, of course, you're a duck). Two things make duck blinds necessary: a duck's great vision, and the cold weather in which ducks are often hunted. Here are some general tips on hunting from land-based duck blinds.
Securing a duck blind
Even in the off-season, there's work to be done for the duck hunter. Some states require a license or permit to build or occupy a duck hunting blind. If paperwork is required in your state, make sure you're not left out in the cold next duck season.
If you hunt every year on private land, give the landowner a courtesy call in spring or summer. Changes to land use can affect a hunting spot and render a duck blind useless. It's better to have advance notice in case you need to scope out an alternate blind.
Duck blind improvement and placement
If you're hunting from a permanent duck blind, hopefully its location was chosen by someone who scouted the local birds and their flight habits. Give your duck blind a quick inspection to make sure there's no visible erosion. Add camouflage or brush to any problem spots.
With temporary duck hunting blinds, location is key. If you hunt a regular spot each year, try to recall any patterns exhibited by the birds. Sometimes a change in the position or shape of a duck blind can make all the difference.
If your last hunting season was unsuccessful, try mixing things up this year. Use a layout duck blind for a day, or bring along materials to build a small, temporary duck blind at another spot. Some plywood, camo netting, and natural materials are enough for a quick (though often cold) improvised duck blind.
Boat Blinds
With the assistance a boat blind, more and more duck hunters these days are taking to the water. Rivers are natural feeding spots for ducks, and hunting from a boat allows hunters to scout out the best spots for setting decoys. Add a pop-up boat blind, and the birds will come to you. The following tips can help increase the effectiveness of your boat blind.
Hunting with boat blinds
It seems simple enough: if you want to hunt geese, find where they are. With land-based goose blinds, hunters are forced to wait for the birds to come to them. But with river hunting, the first step is locating the geese. Only then is it time to set up the boat blind.
If you flush a large flight, that's the place to be. Position your decoys with string and anchors appropriate to the water depth. Look for a good spot along the shore to hide the boat. Boat blinds provide a lot of cover, but shadows, overhanging trees, and natural vegetation will make your deception complete.
Hunting for boat blinds
Boat blinds can provide a number of different looks depending on which model you choose. Some feature a basic camo look, while others attempt to imitate the appearance and texture of natural grassland cover.
Besides appearance, your foremost consideration when buying a boat blind should be sizing. Know your boat's measurements before you buy. It's also worth it to spend extra dollars on boat blinds that are easy to install, such as the pop-up boat blind from Innovative Wildlife Specialties (www.popupblind.com).
If you need a simpler blind for a smaller boat, the easy-up duck boat blind is an inexpensive solution (www.flywayspecialties.com).
Year-round hunters should also supplement their boat blinds with camo covers for different locations and seasons.
Hunting From A Ground Blind
Many bowhunters look down on ground blinds -- pun intended. But a ground blind well disguised can be just as effective as an elevated blind or treestand. Concealment is key in ground hunting, both of sight and scent. Following these suggestions can improve your success when hunting from a ground blind.
Concealing a ground blind
A permanent ground blind on private land is the ideal setup for a hunter. Deer will become accustomed to its presence, increasing your chances of a kill. But in most cases, ground hunting involves disguising a temporary, pop-up freestanding shelter.
Breaking up your silhouette is critical when hunting from a ground blind. Even a camo exterior can stick out like a green thumb. Position your ground blind near trees, particularly downed trees, or trunks with overhanging branches. Some portable ground blinds feature additional loops for holding limbs, brush, and natural cover. Imitation cover can also be purchased from most blind companies.
Wind direction should also be considered when setting up your ground blind. Scent-concealing sprays and blinds can be used, but being downwind from your prey is always a wise decision.
Decoys are another way to take attention off a ground blind, particularly during rut or in more open areas.
Advantages of a ground blind
If you haven't hunted from a ground blind for a while, you might be surprised at the advantages one can offer. Darkened interiors and see-through netting enable you to observe your surroundings without being observed. Ground blind screens are designed so that bowhunters can shoot through them, which helps blind windows to blend in.
Above all, ground blinds are the best choice for tandem hunting or hunting with your family. A ground blind will give extra cover to impatient young hunters, or enable you to bring useful equipment such as heaters and video cameras.