18 replies to this topic

[Brubaker]

I need to build 2 ground blinds in the spring. Looking for some ideas as to what size. I need them to be vertical & cross bow friendly. Thanks!

[ynot]

burlap hase been working for me, stinks to me but deer dont seem to care, its cheep 12' for 8$, you need atleast 20' to get around you though. i use those green darden stakes to suport it, have seen many guys use horse fence pannels to hold blind up, they cost 1$ a foot or so , but are harder to move and bend yet last for yrs.

[briarpatch]

build mine with pvc....use 'T's to attach to a tree...four more elbows to make the corners...then one 'T' and an upright to keep it steady....all pieces are screwed together so I can take them apart....buy burlap and attach with wire ties...oh...I also paint the pvc first....just climb underneath to get in....

as far as size....I'm short so I can use a small chair and they only need to be 5 ft high....make them about 40 inches wide and 55 - 60 inches deep

[Brubaker]

Thanks guys!

[ssw]

good post

[Sporty87]

I use a pop up ground blind from Sportsman's Guide (under $50) and it works great.  This is the third year for it and it's still holding up well.

[Brubaker]

Was thinking about building something kinda permanent. Maybe 4x4s and a roof so its there yr round. To many choices  

[deerfoot]

I build 4’x5’ boxes from 1x6x6 dog eared fencing and 2x4 framing.  They work better on a 8’ platform, but I have used them on the ground.  The ends, sides and roof are assembled at home and the panels bolted together in the field. The roof hangs over on one side to give it some slope.  It is attached with hurricane clips.  These are primarily used as gun blinds, but I killed two deer and a turkey from them this month.  They won’t work with old fashioned vertical bows, so tell those guys to go climb a tree.  If you put it on any kind of a platform, with a floor, you can use a office chair and be really comfortable.  My oldest stands, on steel bases are about eight years old and are holding up fine.
Now if you really want to do it for cheap:
1. Buy bent or split board for half price or less, you are going to cut all but four of them in half any way.  
2. Use for framing, the treated 2x3 spacer boards that come between stacks of lumber.  You will have to piece them together, but they are free.
I will attempt to attach the panel plans.

Attached Files

•  blind.png   48.31K   5 downloads

[Brubaker]

deerfoot, on 19 November 2011 - 05:11 PM, said:

  They won’t work with old fashioned vertical bows, so tell those guys to go climb a tree.  

Those guys pay my property taxes, gotta keep em happy. Thanks for sharing plans!

[Aimo]

I m thinking to leave my small cheap camo tent some where and let the grass grow arround it..i hope i can do it next time i go out.

[Buckeye_Bowhunter]

My duck hunting group built a few permanent blinds this year out of 4" round x 8' tall fence posts, 48" tall pasture fence, some 2x4's and plywood.  We used a post hole auger to set the posts, wrapped the pasture fence around the perimeter and used large zip-ties to secure it to the posts.  Then you weave any natural material through the fence (brush, cat tails, etc.) and back it with burlap to keep the interior dark and you're set!  Here are a couple pictures of the outcome...they obviously work for ducks and geese!

[Brubaker]

That is sweet blind Buckeye!

[Buckeye_Bowhunter]

Thanks!  Very easy to build and you can customize them to any configuration or terrain that you want.  And you can build a lot of blinds for not a ton of money.  We have built two blinds that are 20' long x 6-8' wide and have 1/3 of the roll of fence left over.  And the supplies are readily available at any farm/ranch supply.

[snowman485]

Use hog or cattle panels bend them in a u shape and hang all the artificial Christmas tree branches you can get for free on them.Makes a great blind and you dont need to redo them every year.

[pa crossbow]

The best ground blind is natural cover a blowdown, bushes, pine trees and the many other things that mother nature provides us. Im not saying the other suggestions dont work Im saying mother nature is best and deer are much better at detecting things out of place then humans are. Use a ghillie suit along with mother nature and you blend right in. But thats just my opinion.

[bowhunter-57]

here are a few of my blinds,

[ripstik]

I have hunted out of ground blinds for the last three years. It has worked well for me, but now I am at the age where putting up a blind is a chore. I have 225 acres of private property. This summer I am going to get my sons to help me build a couple of permant  blinds. I will use posts made from downed trees and plywood for the sides and roof. It's a great feeling to sit in out of the weather with a heater going and a comfortable chair to sit in while waiting for that shot to show up.

[Downeaster]

In Maine, generally there is enough deadfall, and blowdown material to construct a blind easily out of
natural material.  I have for years created many ground blinds that work well.  I have in the past two
weeks created another out of old logs and limbs, intermixed with leaves and breakup material.  I
won't be using it for another 6 months but it will only need a little doctoring to be in a ready to go
situation once archery season starts.  I like to build my ground blinds during the off season so that
deer are totally accustomed to seeing them, without alarm.

[Hardawaypoints]

I find a suitable tree to sit up against and haul limbs and branches to pile up around it year-round.  I also transplant cedar trees and honeysuckle around it that will give me cover as it continues to grow.  Big downed trees with large rootballs make great starting points too.  Take some wire along to tie limbs and branches together and to force limbs out of the way without having to cut them and lose what they provide for cover.

Another good way to go is by taking parachute cord and tying it between trees, then drape whatever fabric you intend to use over the cord.  You will need to stake the bottom of the fabric to the ground to keep it from flapping in the wind.  Then I add some brush in front of the blind to help break up the outline. Expect the cord to be higher up beside the trees and for it to sag near the middle like a tennis net.

Jim