Heater in Blind
 

Anyone ever use one in their pop-up or hub-style blind for bowhunting? I'm considering getting a Mr. Buddy Heater for this late season.

I'm thinking safety, noise, and odor would be the big concerns. For safety, the Mr. Buddy Heater looks relatively safe. I could keep it away from the walls of the blind pretty easily as I have one of the bigger hub style ones out there. In fact, I think its the largest made commercially. I also think that ventilation shouldn't be a problem given I'll have several windows open and there is a window on top of the blind that could be cracked open too. Plus the heater is supposed to have an automatic low oxygen shutoff.

The ad for the heater says its quiet and odorless but does anyone know how true that is. I'm thinking a very low hum or noise wouldn't be so much of a concern as I hunt in a somewhat noisy area (near roads and houses and farms). It would be more a matter of smell coming from the heater. But again, the box and ad say its odorless.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

As far as I know, and have read, they are not a good idea to use in blinds.
I have heard stories of that kind of material catching fire and it spreading within seconds. Also, it drips when it melts, and sticks to your skin, and keeps burning.
That said, I have also heard of people who have done it with no problem.
Why not just do jumping jacks, or push ups, or up-downs?;)

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I have always wondered the same thing. It gets cold in there sometimes.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

Any heater with an open flame should be avoided while in a pop-up blind for obvious reasons , though a catalytic type such as you mention should be ok since it will be away from the walls by a good margin . Just for safety's sake I'd test it out now and see if immolation is an unreasonable possibility . Take special care to determine what the temperature near the roof is while the heater is in operation , if it exceeds 120 degrees at any time do not use the heater . There is also a strong probability of the heat permanently damaging the shell or frame , do your test on the lowest possible heat setting . "Odorless" and "silent" are relative terms when a whitetail is in the picture , I can smell a Mr. Buddy burning , so it's a good bet that they can too . They should also be able to hear the hiss of the gas feeding the burner better than I did , draw your own conclusion .

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I would be more worried about the odorless killer, carbon monoxide. Any type of burning lets off the stuff, and being in an enclosed space like a blind would make it more unsafe. I'd just take my hand warmers and call it good.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

Come on now chucker34, it doesn't get cold enough for a heater in your blind until maybe the first part of December. In fact it is suppose to be up in the upper 40's this coming weekend in MN.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

"Come on now chucker34, it doesn't get cold enough for a heater in your blind until maybe the first part of December. In fact it is suppose to be up in the upper 40's this coming weekend in MN."

It was 15 degrees this morning when I would have been in the blind or on stand if I didn't have to work. And it will reach 35 for a high today. Minnesota temps are weird and unpredictable this time of year - even if it will be in the high 40s during the afternoons this weekend.

Most of my body stays warm as in temps like this I switch to wearing insulated overalls, a parka, and a thick hat and gloves. But it always seems to be my feet that can't stay warm and that's murder. I've got really good insulated boots that are a size bigger for good circulation. I wear the right kind of socks and even have tried heat packs but eventually I start getting frozen toes after a few hours.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I used the exact heater that you are talking about in an Ameristep Dog House for the cold parts of last season. Honestly it didn't keep anything warm. The pop up isn't enclosed enough. If your set up is about the same I wouldn't bother.

Tom

RE: Heater in Blind
 

just stick your hands down ur pants...lol:D

RE: Heater in Blind
 

Chucker34, I am your fellow Minnesotan, even from central MN, so I had to rib you a bit. By all means do what you must to be comfortable. I have been checking weather reports on a daily basis for rifle opener this coming weekend, and so far it seems to indicate 40's for Satuday/Sunday, but rain possible Monday. This is for central MN and where I will be up by Hill City way. Good luck staying warm and getting one or more.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

LOL. Our high school football coach honestly gave us that advice during cold Friday night games. He also told us to wear long, thick socks and pull them up as far as we could to stay warm. The cool thing to do at the time was to have them low. "Sure you'll look like idiots," he said. "But you'll be warm idiots."

RE: Heater in Blind
 

On one piece of property we have a portable building (approx. 10ft by 15 ft) and we have a nice size heater in there with two bunkbeds and a table. It is really nice for hunting when it is really cold. Can't shoot a bow out of it, but you can a rifle. We have had that thing running full blast and had several deer at the feeder which is about 25 yards away and the deer didn't seem to be effected. We have been doing this for several years now.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I used a catalytic propane heater in a pop up last year for the first time. It only seemed to do much if I put it between my feet and caught the radiant heat coming off it. It sure didn't warm things up enough to take off your coat or anything. None of those blinds are insulated or windproof enough to get really warm. When it gets really cold here I guess I will try it again this year but I'm not sure it is worth the hassle or expense.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I have a Mr. Buddy Heater and I use in my pop up blind with no problems. It has a built in carbon monoxide sensor and if it falls over it will cut off. We use it while duck hunting. Set out the decoys, pop up the blind , cut on the heater and wait till shooting time......

RE: Heater in Blind
 

If it's your feet that is getting cold, try those battery-powered socks. No REALLY. Yes REALLY. I have a pair and they are awesome! Their only downside is they will eat batteries pretty quick. But that is the price you pay for staying warm.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

Red Lion, I know. No hurt feelings here. I am probably being overly-sensitive but it makes it hard to stay on stand or in the blind the amount of time I should be if I'm cold. Good luck this weekend. I'll be hunting with my bow on gun opener where the gun hunters can't so I'm hoping their pressure will prove to my favor. It did last year but every year is different.

As for those battery powered socks, I've heard they don't work all that well and that they make your feet sweat and actually get colder in spots if they don't heat evenly. Also, what about scent? How do you wash those things if they have a heating element in them?

RE: Heater in Blind
 

Chucker34, I have limited opportunity to bow hunt this year, and missed my only shot, but would continue to bow hunt the Sherburne wildlife refuge during rifle season if this rifle opener had not become a yearly ritual with a few buddies. Good luck to you.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

c'mon, be a man! a heater in your blind?! that ain't huntin'!

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I hunted at 9,000 feet the 1st week of October, the temperature was 18 degrees, I spent 2 nights in my blind with the wind blowing in excess of 40 miles and hour. I used the Mr. Heater in my brickhouse with the total scent control fabric which held the heat in when needed. With the thermometer reading 18 degrees when I woke up, within 10 minutes or so, my blind was 80 degrees inside. The heater heated things up and I was sweating, of course I had to turn it off and things cooled down pretty fast after that, But it sure was nice when I climbed out of my sleeping bag. I found a heater at cabelas that is much smaller and is around 800 btu's. That would be my choice as it has a 27 hour run time on one bottle of propane. I am fixing to spend 6 nights in the blind in a week or so, and I will sure have some heat in mine. The forcasters are predicting snow every night for the next 5 days or so. I love hunting migating mulies in the rut!!!!

RE: Heater in Blind
 

We have used little buddy in our double bull and works good. It has plenty of vent and not worried about fire it's not up against the wall. It does help when you live up north like I do.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

My Mr. Heater Buddy doesn't make much "hum" at all with the battery-powered fan on.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

last year two hunters died in Michiganfrom one mr. buddy heater. I would say yes only if you absolutly have to have it on. I only use one if it gets in single digits and then i keep all the windows open in my blind. If I even think im getting a headache i immediatly turn it off. this is during gun season of course. Im not saying that you shouldnt but just be extremely careful. I had a great uncle who died of carbon monoxide poisoning so im a little leery anyway.

RE: Heater in Blind
 

I don't think is a good Idea but anyway you can try once and you'll know!