How To Pick a Hunting Blind

Ground blinds are the most commonly used form of hunting blind. They are popular because of their portability, ease of set-up, and the added shelter and concealment that they provide. Ground blinds give hunters the most room to operate inside of the blind while remaining completely out of sight. This is advantageous to bowhunters, who require room to freely draw a bow, and also to rifle hunters needing to mask the sound of chambering a round.
Ground blinds are versatile for many hunting applications. For deer and boar hunting, you can choose versions with many windows that can be zipped open when needed or closed for more concealment. These windows often have a shoot-through mesh screen. This feature is great for bowhunters who need room to draw a bow without being seen.

Another reason that ground blinds are so popular among hunters are the types of performance fabrics being used to manufacture them. These can be stretched, cut, or scraped and still last incredibly long. Several companies are using durable space-age materials that further shield hunters from the elements. Many of the fabrics are not only waterproof and beatheable but highly wind resistant as well. This is a plus for most hunters because weather is often unpredictable and having a ground blind that can be used in a variety of conditions is advantageous. Several brands are now including 3D camouflage patterns that enable them to blend in better with their surroundings. Scent-locking fabric provides even greater concealment by masking human scent from wary deer and boar.

Included with ground blinds are the many types of duck blind varieties. There are some varieties that are designed to fit over and conceal duck boats allowing two or more hunters and their dogs to hide from view. Waterfowl, as with most bird species, have a very keen sense of vision so blending in with your surroundings is a must. Many goose hunters will prefer layout blinds as they are perfect for open field hunting. These need to be insulated from cold, wet weather so material choices such as Denier and Gore-tex are preferred. Also important to hunters using layout blinds is sufficient padding in the bottom to make long hours feel more comfortable. Still, many duck and turkey hunters prefer simple wall blinds. Many types of wall blinds include attachment points for adding brush or reeds to them for better blending with surroundings.

Whatever type of ground blind you choose, make sure to grab all the extra accessories to make your hunting trips more successful. Comfortable seating is a must in any blind as hunters and photographers will spend several hours at a time in there. Having gear pouches, gun or bow holders, and a small cooler are a few other items to keep around on those long days in the blind.

Depending on your environment, layers of warm clothing will allow you to endure a cold fall morning and still be able to remove clothing as the day becomes warmer. You can treat the exterior of the blind with a water repellent spray if you will be using the hunting blind in wet weather. If you hunt in a tree stand, it may be necessary to pick up extra equipment loops and hooks for your gear. Remember, preparation will go a long way to providing you with success.

Tree stands have grown in popularity recently with several advances being made to help reduce weight and increase strength. There is now a tree stand that will fit every hunter's body type and every budget too. With all the types available, there are many factors that hunters need to consider before selecting a tree stand. Bowhunters and rifle hunters will each take advantage of the added concealment that you get when placing yourself 15 - 20 feet off the ground. Folding seats, large platforms for bowhunters, and sturdy gun rests for rifle hunters are now found on many models that cost under $200!

Climber style tree stands offer the most portability for those who trek deep into the woods to seek out deer and other game. They are made from lighter weight materials such as aluminum and feature lightweight cables and ratcheting straps to firmly attach to trees. With a little practice, a hunter can climb a tree and get in position to hunt even in the darkness of early dawn. Many of these tree stands feature the same large platforms, gun rests, and folding seats of the fixed tree stands variety. Climbing tree stands are a great asset to the hunter who wishes to carry the least amount of equipment and still provide them with a great opportunity for success.

There are other types of tree stands that simply attach to the tree after climbing a 15 or 20 foot ladder. These fixed tree stands are less labor intensive to get set up and better suited to those hunters who may wish to leave the stand in place for weeks at a time. Several models of these stands come complete with ladders attached.

These ladder stands provide climbing stability when ascending into the blind. Even better, there are ladder stands that have over-sized platforms allowing two hunters to sit atop the stand. This can be quite useful when instructing new hunters, hunting with your spouse, or even for filming a hunt.

Whatever type of tree stand or ladder stand you settle on, it is very important to use a safety harness. Sometimes, fall arrest systems are included with the tree stands. There are many companies that focus solely on climbing and safety gear and offer a wide variety to choose from.

Hunters can find a product that will fit varying physical builds, allow freedom of movement, and attach quickly and comfortably. Many safety harness systems include universal fit straps that can be lengthened or shortened to fit over clothing. It is also good to look for products that offer some kind of foot loop to allow a hunter to comfortably remain suspended after a fall and make a call for help.

You can never put a price on safety so this is a category that hunters should not ignore. Search for safety harnesses that fit well over your clothing and can be adapted to use on hunting trips at different times of the year. Live to hunt another day!

There are many choices for hunting blinds and several factors will determine which is best for you. You may need to try several different types before you find one that you have the most success with. Physical attributes come into play when you're researching which hunting blind is best for one's build. If you have a large build, you may prefer the comfort of a ground blind over a tree stand.

Stay tuned to my hunting blind lens as I will be posting more in-depth sections with further information. I will also be linking to specific lenses on the subject of hunting that I am currently working on. These will provide you with more detailed information on everything from hunting blinds to game calls. There will be useful tips and information on what works best for hunters when hunting deer, wild boar, turkey, and other game.