Ground Blinds
#1
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,295
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From: Mississippi USA
What do you think? I've had good luck in past years, as has my son, with a few Ameristep Penthouse blinds. Tomorrow I'm going to a local guy who is wholeselling a hub blind that's approximately the same size and same retail as the Penthouse. The only bad thing with the Penthouse is it's spring steel--Chineese arithmetic is easier than getting one folded back up to go in it's pack.
Heard good stuff about the Yukon, but it costs more and is smaller--can't see any benefits to it over these. I plan to get at least one of these new ones and put it through the paces.
Heard good stuff about the Yukon, but it costs more and is smaller--can't see any benefits to it over these. I plan to get at least one of these new ones and put it through the paces.
#3
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,295
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi USA
Takes me forever to get the twist going in the right direction to get a Penthouse back in it's case. Counting on the hub blind to be quicker/easier to set up and take down.
No problem using a 66" longbow from mine, but always looking for something better.
No problem using a 66" longbow from mine, but always looking for something better.
#4
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,295
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From: Mississippi USA
Got a couple today--so far, I love it--even better than the Penthouse blinds I've been using for the last 5 or 6 years. Seems to have a little more room, window flaps are held up with magnets instead of velcro, goes up and comes down much faster and easier. Methinks we have a winner!
#5
I saw some serous natural ground blinds this last week end at a ranch were I was dove hunting. They were amazing, they were built with T-post and chicken wire with cedar woven in, they has shoot through mesh they take down while hunting. they were the size of most bedrooms. I've done the pop ups before, but the last five years I've made natural ground blinds. I love em. I'll never buy a pop up again.
Now if you're hunting several places a year I can understand the pop ups, then I would buy a double bull.
Now if you're hunting several places a year I can understand the pop ups, then I would buy a double bull.
#6
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,295
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From: Mississippi USA
I've tried several natural blinds. The last one I made I spent hours cutting rivercane and weaving it together between branches I screwed to saplings. When I got it finished, it looked like something off of Gilligan's Island--it was most impressive to my buds when I showed it off. Unfortunately the deer weren't the least bit impressed--they could still pick off the tiny bit of movement, then when the cane dried and started "shedding" it really opened up. In short, it was worthless. The blind I set up there has been great though--my son killed 3 or 4 deer from it last year.
I've never used a DB, but my best friend has one. He likes the blind I got a lot better. It's bigger, MUCH faster set-up/take-down (took me a tad over 40 seconds to set it up, 38 seconds to take it down and put it in it's bag--and I'm slow and clumsy), and cost about 1/3. I'm loving it so far.
I've never used a DB, but my best friend has one. He likes the blind I got a lot better. It's bigger, MUCH faster set-up/take-down (took me a tad over 40 seconds to set it up, 38 seconds to take it down and put it in it's bag--and I'm slow and clumsy), and cost about 1/3. I'm loving it so far.
#8
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,295
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From: Mississippi USA
It's big enough for me and 3 more just like me. Two can easily hunt from it, even with bows.
I may need some practice setting it up and taking it down. Takes me around 40 seconds to go from in the bag to ready to get in, or vice-versa.
I may need some practice setting it up and taking it down. Takes me around 40 seconds to go from in the bag to ready to get in, or vice-versa.
#10
Dominant Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 26,274
Likes: 0
From: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
I have yet to find a good pop up blind for a longbow. I have had my best luck just making them. I love to clear out a cedar tree and stack junk around it. If you have tumble weeds, their great to build ground blinds with. If you can find a juniper or cedar tree to build around or in, they are great because of the cedar smell they let off. I dont get to fancy. I just stack what ever is around, as well as junk I clear from the ground on the inside.



BUT IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL, AND WITH A LITTLE PRACTICE YOU CAN HAVE IT UP AND DOWN IN NO TIME FLAT
