Semi-permanent Box Blind

[yoderjac]

In years past, I built some elevated box blinds. I started building them large so I could take kids out but find as I get older, I'm more comfortable in them than most treestands. Here is the last one I built:http://www.habitat-talk.com/index.php?threads/foodplot-stand-transfered-from-the-qdma-forum.5529/. They are expensive and time consuming to build but less expensive and better than what I can buy commercially.

Before I go to the expense of putting up one of these, I usually put up a popup ground blind and hunt it for a year or two to make sure it is worth it. I also like these for turkey hunting. Turkey season is not too far off. I lost one of these popup ground blinds to a heavy snow fall. Even with my blind support idea, http://www.habitat-talk.com/index.php?threads/supporting-the-blind.10396/, I lost one this year. I guess the support slipped out. I stopped by Cabela's on the way to the farm and picked up a replacement. The one I got is this: https://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-The-Zonz-Specialist-XL-Ground-Blind/2338425.uts?slotId=0. For the price, I was impressed with the size and window configuration. It is almost as large inside as the smaller box blind I provided the link to in the previous paragraph. The ground foot print is 67" x 67" and the pop-out sides make it larger hub-to-hub.

I'm considering building something like the elevated box blind above but only putting on a floor and roof. I would then place the large ground blind on the platform. With just enough roof to protect the blind from heavy snow, I think it would last many more years and reduce the cost of building one. If I build one this summer, I'll document it here. Just passing on the idea for now.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Rit]

Jack,

I have never hunted out of a home made build like your first link. I have hunted out of several pop up hub style blinds. I don’t really like it too much. I think it’s just because of the view compared to a tree or ladder stand. I have also made a few natural blinds that I like better than a pop up but still don’t love it. With all that said I have been considering building a blind like in your first link so I can take my young kids out a few times a year. How would you say that it hunts compared to a pop up?

 

[yoderjac]

The one shown in the link is a 6'x6' It is fine for me alone, but would be too tight for me and a kid. For hunting with a kid I like 6'x8'. It is very comfortable with room to move and instruct. I use the same construction technique. One key is getting the windows at the right height. You want a kid to be able to see out of them without sitting right up at the window where they can be seen, but you want them high enough to mask most of the kids fidgeting. The fold out windows help by shading.

Hunting from an enclosure is not the same as hunting from an open stand. I always feel more connected when in an open stand because you are less isolated. On the flip side, you will see animal behavior from an enclosed stand that you will rarely see from an open stand. They also help with scent control but you still need to be clean. Elevating the box blind like the one shown in the link helps them hunt better. It provides a downward shot angle which promotes safety and provides a low exit wound when bowhunting for a better blood trail. I dislike archery hunting from the ground level because the arrow entry and exit wounds are at the same height and most of the blood pools in the chest rather than exiting.

With a box blind, you don't need height to get out of the line of sight of deer or for scent control. I just use height to give me the visibility I want. So height of my stand vary with surrounding terrain and vegetation. I want the bottom of the window to be about 10' minimum for a good downward shooting angle for archery.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Rit]

Thanks Jack for the detailed reply.

 

[Cap'n]

I hunt in homemade blind quit a bit out of nesssesity. My daughter hunts with a crossbow and is in a wheelchair, and even the bigger hub style blinds are really too small and the doors are too hard to get a wheelchair through and they would only last us about 2 seasons before they needed to be replaced.
There is a fence company next door to one of my customers and I kept seeing these 6’ x8’ fence panels that they remove when they put up a new fence. The owner said take all you want so I made blinds out of them.
It takes 6 t-posts , 5 panels , some black plastic to staple inside, and a tarp on top of the panel for the roof. I set them up in my backyard and cut everything the way I want it then take it to the property and rebuild it. I wire it all together with aluminum wire. To me fence panels are ready made walls and a roof. All you need to do is block the cracks with plastic and a good tarp on top for a roof. Very roomy and inexpensive. Quieter to get into and out of and blend in with the woods way better than any other blind.

 

[bjseiler]

Can you post a picture cap'n and explain how you do the doors? Sounds like a great idea.

 

[Cap'n]

When I pick up panels I usually dig through them and find the gates. They usually still have the hinges and latches still on them. So on all of mine I have a 5 foot hinged gate/ door. I make the roof slope about 3” from front to back. I double the t-post in the corner that the door hinges on. .

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