Pop up blind help
 

This might be better suited in the gear review section, but oh well...

I need some help from you. I am going to be turkey hunting with the bow this year here at home. I didn't get drawn for a gun tag, so I have to go with bow. But I need a blind. Any suggestions on which one to get?? I may never really use this blind for anything else other than turkey hunting, so I don't want to spend a ton on it. But I would like it big enough for two guys, because I'd like to video my hunt. Obviously...the more room, the lighter it is, the quieter it is, the easier it is to setup and shoot through windows would be perfect...but I know at the price range I'm looking at, I will have to compromise on a few of those wants.

Thanks!

RE: Pop up blind help
 

I've got this one http://www.ameristep.com/blinds/doghousetsc.html and you can usually find them pretty cheap. The TSC is a little larger than the regular one. You can get 2 guys in it and its big enough to bow hunt from. I took my son out last year and bagged my first gobbler with a bow and should have had a couple more. It comes with a backpack and is pretty easy to tote and set up. Don't read the instructions and you'll be able to take it down pretty fast after a few tries.:D

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Actually this is the right forum. The "Review" forum is to review products you have experience with. Right now it is not being used properly...thusly the moved threads but I digress....

I have little experience with blinds. This past fall was the first I've used one with success mind you but I bet I was only in one oh, 6 times..I have the Amerstep Dog House reversable or something like that...it's plenty big for 2 people and to shoot a bow from. I successfully took my fall archery buck and my friend and I bow shot "at" turkeys from the blind. The only downfall this blind has over say the Double Bull line is that it lets in too much light and I believe turkeys can spot movement inside it because I did spook birds but I had windows open on all 4 sides...thus the easy slide of the no noise slide windows of the Double Bull...it's pricey but I bet worth it over some others....if you want a blind for life, go with the Double Bull, others will do the job but like you said, you give up alot with the cheaper models like my own.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

To be totally honest, if you're just hunting turkeys, and don't plan on the blind being you're primary method of deer hunting, it just honest to goodness doesn't much matter. Them dern birds pay no attention to them at all. You don't need to run out and get a $400 blind to hunt turkeys, though they sure are nice and have their benefits. I have the Trophy Den from Hunter's View. It is a hub style blind and has plenty of room for drawing your bow. I sit on a camp chair, have a 30" draw and have no problems. We shot several turkeys out of these blinds, both with gun and bow. Bout $80 a piece. Not bad. But there are several out there that would work. Personally, I don't like the doghouse but only because I don't have enough room. I have to poke the arrow out the window to get drawn.....turkeys are stupid, but you just aren't gonna get away with that. The Brickhouse would be good......OH......I just happened to think....Cabelas started making one, the Full Draw. It resembles a Double Bull T2, but at $100 it is much more affordable.
Do some checking around. Ebay, BassPro, Cableas, Eders and the like. Shoot, do a google search and you'll be amazed at what you come up with. There are hundreds out there that will work and not break the bank.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

I have a Eastman Outfitters Carbon Express, plenty of room and pops up easily, IMHO! [8D]

RE: Pop up blind help
 

You might also want to check out Ameristep's new Signature line of blinds. They just came out and they offer (almost) a 360 degree line of view and a silent magnetic window curtain so you can adjust the shoot through mesh area to your liking from the inside. I haven't been in one but they have photos on their web site. Cabelas is selling them both for a little over $200 if I am not mistaken. I think its their attempt to incorporate some of the aspects of the double bull. Don't get me wrong, the Double Bull is the way to go if you have the money. But my doghouse worked just fine for deer hunting this year. Thinking about buying a bigger hub style blind though as I have been in them and they are more comfortable. Ameristep has those too. Good luck.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Big Game makes a nice blind and they didn't seem all that pricey! how do like that xtec!! good luck!!

RE: Pop up blind help
 

So many on the forums, as well as myself, have tried many different "cheaper" blinds. You'll then end up having to order a good blind eventually, buy a Double Bullblind in the first place so you'll be assured a quality product that will stand up to MANY years of hard hunting abuse and any weather condition. Do it right the first time. Inow have a DB T5 and aDB Matrix and they are awesome products that don't even begin to compare to the cheap flimsy blinds that some folks swear by. The only reason some folks are happy with these other blinds is simply because they haven't had the chance to use a Double Bull. You get what you pay for. Best of luck to ya this year. Good luck and good shootin'

RE: Pop up blind help
 

IL-Cornfed, I'm sure you are right and the DB's are the cadillac of blinds. Not had to tell just by looking at them. However, I couldn't afford a DB when I purchased my Doghouse. But I can also tell you the Doghouse does the job quite nicely. It conceals me, it has a floor, its easy to tote, easy to set up/take down, has multiple windows,...... Pretty much does everything I bought it to do. Will it last as long as a DB? Probably not but I don't know for sure. I do know I can buy 3 of them before I can buy 1 DB. I don't know if I 'swear' by my 'cheap' blind but I do know that turkey wouldn't be any more dead if I had shot him out of a DB.:D I may buy a DB someday but right now I can buy a cheaper blind that does what I'm looking for just fine and use the extra $200 bucks to buy something else. JMHO

RE: Pop up blind help
 

I have the ground max DX that I purchased from Basspro. Its large enough for 2 hunters, you can easily draw a bow inside it and it has windows all around. Very good value for the money. What I liked about it is the fabric has no "shine" to it like many cheaper ones do. I shot my biggest buck this past november from it and he never even looked up at it. I plan on hunting turkey out of it this spring.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

This is also an issue for me... I am heavily considering shelling out the extra buck for the double bull. Having said that I have hunted with the cheapest of cheap ameristep small pop up blind the last two years and have had no problem bagging 2 huge gobblers and 2 decent jakes out of them. They could care less about the blind!

Things I hate about my cheap blind though...
1) if feels cheap, I can't detail this much more, but it does.
2) it is loud as a 747 when the wind blows and not very stable.
3) It is as shiny as a highly polished red corvette.
4) it leaks like a sieve in the rain.

I haven't hunted deer with it and would probably never waste my time. But for Turkey it has done it job. Now that I am thinking about hunting deer this year from a ground blind I will probably invest in a double bull matrix blind. But then again, I have more money then I have had in the past to "throw" around.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

This question has been posted before, but I have never read an answer to it. Do most of you who have double bulls leave it out all season? I pretty much leave my blind in the same spot pretty much all season (and a month before) so the deer get used to it.

I'd be worried about spending $400+ and having the fabric be wrecked after a couple of seasons. I guess for well under $100, I'm not concerned about my doghouse. The material - although somewhat "shiny" only in blinding sunlight - seems pretty weather resistant and showed no signs of wear when I packed it away for the year.

A sidenote on the material, I also doused it pretty good every know and then with muddy water and surrounded it with all sorts of thick brush. Most of the many deer that walked by at 10-15 yards didn't pay it a second thought.

Also, the metal hoops have retained their spring. And when I use all the included tie downs, the blind barely moves and is absolutely silent in heavy winds. I say this because these are two common complaints I hear about the doghouse, right before the person gives their glowing testimonial for the double bull.

Given this. I might even buy a few more doghouses to place in "permanent" locations during the season. I know, I know. I'm an idiot for not going with the double bull.

But I think its all a matter of personal preference. You can go from point a to point b in a ford or a mercedes. The ride's a little nicer in the mercedes but they both get the job done. I would not hesitate to hunt deer from a dreaded pop-up blind.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

chucker, I'm pretty much with you. I knew the DB was obviously a good blind and better than the Doghouse TSC that I got but I really can't complain about the Doghouse. It has done exactly what I wanted it for. I never even stake it down and its fine. The ONLY thing I don't like about it is the velcro shoot thru mesh. Its too loud for me but once I figured that out I just get it all set and don't have to mess with them or I don't use them. No big deal.

newguy23, what kind of ameristep do you have?

RE: Pop up blind help
 

I tend to agree with the 2 posts over mine. I'm sure the double bull is great but I have 4 pop ups & all do the job & stay out all season (4&1/2months here) with no bad repercusions. 2 doghouses, a hunters view lodge & the newest a Yukon tracks commander. I took deer from every one this fall & 2 turkeys from one. The birds are real easy from a blind if they come by. Deer can be spookier but once the blinds there awhile they pay it no mind. I paid way under $400 for 4 blinds that keep me dry all season & cant see that being a dumb move. I'v got one hub style as well but havent used it yet.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

I got a Yukon Tracks Dominator from sportsmans guide. It was under $100. I left it out all season through all kinds of weather and it is holding up well. I'm 6'2" and weigh 200lbs and I have plenty of room to draw my bow. It will fit 2 people comfortably and has much larger shoot through screens than some other models out there. I will be in it in April for gobblers and I would certainly buy another if I wear this one out.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Amerastep Doghouse. We have 2 of them hunt deer, turks, yotes and even geese once. They are cheap (at $75) fairly durable and extreamely simple. 2 thumbs up from this guy!

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Just dont get an outhouse unless your a 20" or so draw. I got one of those first & they are too tight for a bow.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Have to agree, I did look at the DB when I was considering a new blind when I had trouble with the zipper on my Ameristrip....... I received a Eastman Outfitters as a gift from the Mrs. to replace it....... it was cheaper and it does the trick and I can draw the bow, and be comfortable inside with two people. If it lasts 4 or 5 more seasons then it was worth it........ love to have a double bull, but an old soldier traveling the world, hard to spend the money with something more reasonably price is available, and it works!

RE: Pop up blind help
 

I can't exactly remember the name, but it is an older one (3-4 years). It is the one that "pops-up" doesn't have the hubs. I just really don't like the thing... I am going to replace it this year. I think I will go to Dick's today to see what they have. I don't really want to buy a DB if I don't have to, but in my experience I will be disappointed if I don't get the "better" product.

For instance I finally got a high quality AR this year (a RRA Varminter) to replace my old H+R single shot .223. All I can say is they are obviously not comparable. With the RRA I shoot a ragged one hole at 100 yards, with the H+R I was lucky to get under 1". Will both kill a Coyote, yes... But do I have warm fuzzy's now that I have the RRA, yes!

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Thanks for all of the info guys! I'm just going to have to get out and look at them and just see what happens. Sure would be eaiser if I knew someone that worked at Double Bull. LOL


Pat

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Well you might contact them,I did a few years back and they might have some factory seconds or something...... but still it was out of my budget! [8D]

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Get an Eastman Outfitters carbon venture. you can get one shipped to your door for $125 right now at www.midwester-shooters.com. Or you could wait and be patient and get it a little cheaper off Ebay. Either way, DO NOT GET THE POP UP VERSION. Stay away from the spring steel hoop style blinds. The hub style is far superior and you will be much better off.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

linky no worky

RE: Pop up blind help
 

It is what I got and think it was a little cheaper at the sportings good shop, I like it and will use it till it falls apart! [8D]

RE: Pop up blind help
 

My dad and i use a Double Bull blind and we get atleast one turkey every year and we video eachother in it so thats prob the best option.

RE: Pop up blind help
 

ameristeps in closing sale here https://www.jesseshunting.com/osComm...acturers_id=38

RE: Pop up blind help
 

Sorry about the link it's www.midwestern-shooters.com

RE: Pop up blind help
 

CHECK ON CABELAS THEY HAVE GOOD ONES!