Double bow blinds?
 

Hi guys i had a great season and i hope you did 2. I was wondering if you guys could give me some input on the Matrix 360. I want it so me, my farther and maybee another person could fit in it. Can the birds see in/ ahve u been made while in it? And what about those rods/cables that you see that go up like a turkey foot -do i ahve to worry about hitting those? thanks

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

Hi. I have the Matrix 360. It is absolutely amazing. When you first use it you are going to think you are totally exposed, atleast I did. But the animals just cannot see into it! The black inner liner along with you wearing black, makes you disapear. And to answer your question about size........ we have fit 3 in it, with a video camera and tripod. Ver "roomy." The rods and cables do not get in the way of drawing your bow or shooting, and set-up is a breeze. I highly recomend this blind.

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

thanks.. i had the ameristep dog house and i had a big tom see my girlfreind move and i tested it with a hen and had her make me as well so i was wondering if they can see you in it. Has anyone used this for deer hunting, Do you have to brush in the blind or can you leave it out liek i do for turkeys.

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

I own 2 Double Bull Blind - Matrix 360s.

Why - it is just the material and craftsmanship as my buddies went cheaper and bought thecheaper knockoff tho they don't have the 360 capabilty but windows. I ahve helped them repair each blind several times - that material just sucks and is shiny and is just junk.

Now I am not a Pro-staffer forDB but I have found no other blind to match the dependabilty. I have used several other blinds. The window straps and support rods of the DB do not get in the way. You just need to be aware of them. Rarely do I use the full screen over my openings but willuse the screen as I position my viewing to screen only on the sides but leave the front wide open. Now my opening is only wide enough to cover my shot and I do use decoys alot but I position those usually less than 10 yards in front of me. The DB comes tih a video and shows the window opening as I use it. I just tuck the screen mesh up out of the way.

Now spooking birds in your other blind - if the bird saw movement the inner chamber was not dark enough. I hardly ever use the full 360 fiewing of the blind as I want it dark in there as psossible and no back light so no animal can see any movement. You are best to dress in black while in there but it is not all that important. Camo colors work just fine and rearely do I use a head net. I think the reason those birds spooked is what you surmised - they saw movement or heard soemthing out of the ordinary. If they saw movement did you have back windows open so actually they saw just a shadow that was not common? Think about that.

When I do get birds in I not going to shoot or are hens I practice putting gun or bow up - sighting in and then putting back down. As with anything slow methodical movement is the key. If the bird is wary or looks nervous I just freeze, let he bird settle down and then try again. Is really good practice and then you know just how much you can or can not get away with. I ahve yet to have a bird spooked while I was in the blind and I have beenusing them for 4 years now.

This year I had a Tom who would not come to front but was in range on the side.......I used the silent make the window bigger feature of the blind - slowly opened the side large enough to get my shot and then dropped that bird.

Now three people in the DB blind is a stretch - two can sit in there just fine - but three IMO would be a crowd.

Oh one other thing I do - the blind is square - so I point one intersection corner of the square facing out and then sit back in the opposite corner intersection side of the square. Think of it as a diagonal line drawn from corner to the oppostie corner.

This does two things for me.
1. Gives me the biggest dimension to sit and stretch out
2. Puts me int he darkest corner

One other thing on morning hunts - place the blind with window facing West and in a back drop if you can so the sun comes up from behind you. Keeps you in the shadows much longer and hot days much cooler - for evening hunts reverse this.

I also use a Rack-Pack to carry my blind an decoys. Very nice pack frame that once the blind is off the frame and set-up - the pack frame becomes a very nice high back chair and get this - with a head rest! Many a time since I am closer to 60 and am not seeing any birds - I take a nap! That was also a good investment for me. I can travel great distances - have both hands free and carry chair, blind and decoys comfortably and I place this Rackpack right over my vest. That way if I want, I can run and gun and then come back home to my base set-up to rest.

And lastly - the blind is great when it rains - you stay dry! No matter how hard the down pour or how long!

JW

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

thanks alot for all the info. Im 21 and right now 400 bucks is alot to shell out so thats why i wanted to know all about it. I didnt have the back or side windows openwhen that tom made us... i just think that blind lets in 2 much light. I have a gf that is now hunting and i was thinkn about this blind bc she proble is going to move at the wrong times..and i didnt want that to mess her up.

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

JW covered the topic very well, I might add that we cover the front facing part of our bows in black. I use a sticky backed velcro. I also wear a black glove on my bow handand black face mask. I have been busted once, but not since I started making everything black.
We have sat three in the Matrix a few times, along with video equipment. It's a full boat, but can be done.
My buddy shot his blind this year witha gobbler guillotine. He missed the turkey badly, and when we watched the video, you could see the arrow flying horribly. It wasn't until the next day when sitting in the blind again that he noticed a nice V cut in the fabric, from where two of the blades hit. Like JW said, just be aware of where that arrow will go and that it is well below your line of sight!

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

I am a Matrix owner.....and in MY opinion.....THIS statement is a stretch.

THAT statement is closer to the truth.

I had the same occurrence.;)

It's a great blind. It's not HUGE.....by any stretch. It's "adequate" for 2.

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

I understand about the price! Beleive me - but I for one beleive - you do your research and purchase the best you can - because you get what you pay for.

Top quality outdoor equipment is never cheap.

JW

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

i couldnt agree more with yah JW.

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

Great input here for sure!!Just let me add a few points IMHO!!!I do believe this isONE of the finest blinds on the market!Lot of blinds out there for sure and I've had the pleasure of hunting out of many.Durability,craftmanship,effectiveness,visibil ity,price,all have a role to play here,but believe me a good blind in a bad spot or a lack or laziness of understanding of how to use a blind,can give a good blind a bad name.I've hunted plenty out of this blind and a blind such as Ameri-steps Penthouse model and both will get the task done equally as well IMHO!!Its all in what one feels he/she needs and fits there ownpersonal hunting style and I do beleive just how much one takes to the field..:)Bob

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

Well spoken Bob!

I have a variety to fit what ever need of blinds the situation may call for - even running and gunning I have quick set-up rag blinds and keep a fold down 12 ftwhat I call rag blindin my back vest pocket always.

Many times now I try to go straight at 'em as long as the terrain allows me to. And yes I have a home base set-up during that lull period and positioned so I can wait them out.

One other thing I forgot to mention now that I think of it. I always place my door opening to the rear of the blind so if need be I can sneak out quickly to make an end around approach.

I never brush the blind in at all but use natural cover - maybe a low hanging branch and as I said in a shady spot. However the blind works great in wide open prairies and plowed farm fields - I ahe doen it both ways.

I just put my blinds away for the season - I put them up -dryed them, inspected for any wear and tare - found none and took them back down. I bagged tightly in plastic and they are now in the rafters of my garage and ready to go this fall or next year if so be it. I have even used them during the rifle deer season - nice sit when the wind is howling or the snow is falling - much better than my tree stands.


JW

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

JW how well do they work for deer? can u put them out in the open like you do for turkeys or do you have to brush them in?

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

Well - for deer I do brush them in a bit - and just this last year started using it as I am gittin old and did not feel that comnfortable in a tree stand......

Tho - in all my turkey forays - I hae had deer not pay attention to me at all - walk right on by - and in turkey huting I do not brush it it......

So I don't have that much Deer hutning experience in them as of yet.

JW

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

Is it hard to carry and set up ?
And is it something you would use on public land ?

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

They aren't hard to carry. They have a strap that you can put over your shoulder and I think they weigh 16#'s. They are tricky to set up at first, but once you learn how to do it and then do it a few times, it becomes a snap.

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

[/quote]
Is it hard to carry and set up ?
And is it something you would use on public land ?
[/quote]

Most of these blinds are mobile blinds not permanent set-ups,hence easy to put up and take down.Easier said than done though.I have in some cases had a more difficult time breaking them back down and puttingback in the packthan putting them up to hunt or video out of.Howler is right,you'll find its much easier handling the blind for someone who's done it before than a newbie.The Matrix is in the 20lb class,with the T2 and T5 models 3 to 6 or so lbs less.They are not hard to carry as they come with a carrying harness.There great anywhere imho,but I would definately NOT leave them out on public ground for obvious reasons[&:]!Bob

RE: Double bow blinds?
 

I do leave mine out on public and yes I may be askig for trouble - however - I have a cable to which I lock to a tree.

Carrying your blind



This is the rack pack loaded - Pack frame is heavily padded and has very nice quick release features so you can take off your load.

And this is what the Pack Rack does after you hae unloaded it! It becomes a very comfortable high back chair, Can double as a bench rest if you trun it around and use it. does have a high head rest I place against the blind to take naps -



What is shown does not have the head rest set up.

Now I also carry a Stearns ensolite boat cushion to which I have a gym bag strap hooked to each web handle. I place this on any chair I sit on as it just makes it more comfortable. And in comfort one can sit very still for long periods of time.

I also use this as when I leave my home base ( My blind) I have a cushion to run and gun in addition to my vest cushion. Just not enuf padding on the ole butt anymore!

Or another option I am playing with



Use an old golf cart like this guy did. Though I might want to put bigger wheels on it.

JW