I am in the process of narrowing down choices for a new blind. I was wondering what is your favorite model of blind and why? I would expect ease of setting up, durability, weight, bulk, water resistent, size/# of windows, and ability to withstand wind are all great features. Are there any other important features?
Are some of the lower priced blinds just as good of quality w/important similar features to higher priced blinds? There definitely appears to be a price gap difference between blind manufactures. I will likely be using my blind for everything from turkey hunting in NE to antelope hunting in WINDY Wyo so want something that will stand up to gail force winds...and would be willing to pay more for something that will withstand the test of time...and mother nature!
Thanks for any comments!
for all the more i use it im happy with my ameristep nice blind not a bad $
cannt help, tried blind's don't like them, but do use camo netting works great.
I've seen quite a few favorable reviews for the Double Bull Dark Horse. Does anyone have any good or bad comments on this or any others? Sounds like some of the older Double Bulls that no longer are made are tough to beat.
my wife and i hunt out of a blind all the time...we have huntd out of my old ameristep doghouse blind and my new hub blind.....i like to hunt out the ameristep, just unfold it and go...i do not use the tent poles or stakes,i leave all windows unzipd that i have intended the direction the turkeys will come from, i have cut slits thru the mesh windows to poke the barrel thru, that way we get away with a lot more movement,as she can sit still and likes to read and text, too...
i do all the work with blind set up and decoys, so i put in extra time to allow set up every morning and still have a hour to sit in the dark and listen to GOD's daily creation unfold...
hope this helps....good luck russ
The double bull ,yes it cost more but well worth it ...
double bull
My buddy has a double bull dark horse and it is awesome. Expensive though
Big ol' pine and the shade of a dogwood
Another vote for the double bull. This is my 3rd season with mine and couldn't be happier
If the wind blows where you hunt, get a hub style blind. The Ameristep Doghouse and the like are NOT good in wind. The walls will flap and run every deer out of the field...trust me.
I faced the same choice last fall when I decided I was going to use my bow this spring season and leave my 835 turkey killing machine in the gun safe.
I looked at almost every possibility out there. I only wanted a blind for turkeys so having a carbon coated interior wasn't needed or desired. But I did want something that was big enough to allow me to move and something small enough to be able to be setup quickly and quietly.
One other factor was price...... Yep.... I'm cheap! I loved the idea of owning a DB Blind but the cost was way more than I was willing to part with.
I looked at Ameristep and Killzone and was leaning towards the Killzone and then Dicks had a sale on the Field and Stream hub style blind and I bought that one. It had every feature I was looking for. It is light enough to pack in and sets up very quickly and quietly. It shooting windows are placed perfectly for turkeys with a bow. The window screens are slotted for gun hunting.
And the best part...... it was only about $115 with tax. Did I tell you I was cheap?!?!?
So far there have not been any turkeys killed out of it.... limited time contributes to my problem. I've had quite a few Jake's that could have been killed but I am holding out for a good Tom to get close enough. I can't seem to get them any closer than about 35 yards and I would like them at 20 or less.
Good luck with your decision..... buy the best you can afford and don't buy something because you see it pushed on a TV show.
If money is not a problem, a double bull would be my choice.
If anyone sees any killer deals on any Bull's please post a link! There sure are a lot of positive posts on DB's but I'm trying to pinch pennies and find a good used one or one on sale. I hunt areas w/extreme wind so probably ought to invest something pretty stout. Thanks for the suggestions!
Double bull or rhino.
just to add a thought on mobilty and quiet setup. the doghouse style is a lot lighter about half or better. the spring style setup can be set up within close distances of roosts or gobblin toms and very quietly with a little practice.the hub style like to pop when you set them/ the round carry style has a better profile for carry in the woods also. get rid of the velcro on whatever you get. buy quiet and you can still gun -n- run if you want or need to. check the price too.
Took this hen with my x-force this past fall. I love the double bull blinds
Double Bull
I rarely use a blind..the doghouse blind is the perfect blind for me.
If I were in the market for a blind, personally I would have to look hard at the new Ameristep Lightspeed Razor. Looks like super fast set-up and very roomy. Just my $.02
A one man blind for gun hunting.......... Double Bull gunhunter is a great deal. You can buy one now for 80 bucks.
I have a ameristep doghouse. It works fine. Only like using in the rain. Thinking of getting a new one because as much as I try I can't master folding this thing! Watched videos, tried having friends show me. >:(
Thanks for the posts guys! I still haven't made up my mind. I've hardly heard of anyone that doesn't like double bull or primos. I've done a little bit more searching around. Although the Blind Bull seems to get rave reviews I am also considering a Primos Double Wide. I think I read in other posts that the DW has made a few small improvements over the already good Blind Bull? I don't think the BB is even made any more and may be difficult to find new? Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the DW vs BB?
Just a couple of considerations on blinds. Weight and size can be an issue if you have to carry them around. If you anticipate a rain and hunt on private land you can set them up ahead of time and leave them. Secondly is the issue of setting them up. Most are fairly easy to set up. The Ameristep Razer is quick as is the Ameristep Doghouse. Hub style blinds are not difficult but take a little more time to set up (talking about Primos and Ameristep hub styles), but they seem to be more sturdy. They are also more bulky and not conducive to carrying around. So there are advantages and disadvantages of each style.
I like to use a blind if there is bad weather and I set up ahead of the hunt based on the weather. If I had to carry one it would be the Ameristep Doghouse. It is light and if you practice it can be coiled up in just a couple of minutes and carried like a back pack. The Razer rolls up be is still around 4 feet long and more bulky.
The only way to really decide what kind of blind to use is to get a couple of different types and decide for yourself.
Those are some great suggestions ads1! It would be nice to have a couple blinds. I have a few antelope waterhole blinds that I built myself out of mesh wire, t-posts, burlap, and lined with black weed fabric that I can set up for several months at a time. They withstand wind and rain very well...but obviously take a while to set up. It would be nice to have several portable blind options! I'll have to keep my eyes open for sales!
A possible third option is a stake out blind for "run and gun" style hunting.....that I tend to do quite a bit. It would be even quicker to set up in a moment's notice. I would be curious if anyone has any particular stake out models they had success or failure with? There are umbrella and material that is stretched between posts. I imagine it wouldn't be to terribly hard to make my own but they are pretty reasonably priced to begin with.
Here is a Primos stake blind that is 2 feet long and telescopes to approximately 4 feet. It has ample length and each end has eyelets for tie down. It is light and rolls up in less than a minute.
Here is the blind rolled out on the floor.
Ads1, Have you used the stand up blind much? Do you think it would go up quicker and easier than say the doghouse blind? It sure would be nice for hauling around with possible quick set up.
Here's another standup blind that I found. It's called a rhino cut and run. It's almost a hybrid between a stand up and hub blind. I imagine it wouldn't flap in the wind like a regular stand up blind plus it has shooting holes/mesh that would work well for bowhunting. I imagine each different blind has it's advantages! http://www.boatmartusa.com/products/Rhino-Blinds-Cut&Run-Ground-Blind.html
I have used both. The stand up blind works better than a doghouse. I use a doghouse when there is bad weather. Otherwise I like to snuggle up in some vegetation and a stand up blind. Good luck.
The more I look the more confused I get! I guess I should get one of each! Here's another standup style that looks great for running and gunning! They have a 1 or 2 person. The 1 person only weighs around 2 lbs. Some of the reviews complainted that they don't stand up very well in high winds...which I doubt any standup type would do very well. I would expect the hoops to possibly do a little better than some of the standups that have material sewn onto stakes. http://www.ameristep.com/blinds/jakehouse.html
I love my ameristep Tom Taker II blind in the realtree APG HD camo ! ;)
Sounds like 3 different setups would be just the ticket! A Double bull for when weather is rough (wind, rain, etc). Great for not hauling very far and staying for extended periods of time. A stand-up or Ghost-blind setup for run and gun hunting for quick, quiet set up and hiking long distance with less bulk and weight. A third portable blind such as a Doghouse or other hoop for semi-mobile hunting in rougher conditions....not quite as mobile as standup blinds but more mobile, quiet, light weight than a hefty hub type blind. I guess a 4th option would be no blind at all.....tougher to hide movement and easier to spook wise toms and hens but quickest and easiest!
I hunt a bunch out of blinds with my young girls. We used a Double Bull 360 until It took a tree thru the top and now have a Double Bull Double Wide Door. Not one regret. Hunting by myself, I'm never in one but for the kids, it's a big help.
I love my Doghouse! Easy n quick to set up. Light weight and easy to pack when run n gunnin. Also there's enough room in the bag for folding style chairs w/ back rests. Use the stakes n line in the wind.