How Hunting Blinds Work

You got up in the wee hours of the morning to go hunting with some of your friends, but it hasn’t been a successful day. You’re looking for a buck, but not even a squirrel has come past you. The three of you are staggered behind three large trees. Suddenly, you see it. It’s huge — a giant trophy buck with more points than you can count. You silently position your gun and take aim. You can see one of your hunting buddies out of the corner of your eye. He’s wiggling his nose. No! This can’t be happening. And then he does it — he reaches up and scratches his nose. In the process, he swings his gun out from behind the tree. Just as quickly as it appeared, your prize buck is gone.

Perhaps nothing is more frustrating to a hunter than being discovered. When a target sees you, smells you or notices you moving, it won’t be long before it disappears. One way to get an advantage over your prey is to use hunting blinds. Hunters use blinds when hunting a variety of targets, including waterfowl, deer and turkeys.

Native Americans created blinds by digging pits in the earth and covering them with tree limbs [source: Anderson]. Over the years, hunting blinds have evolved into the kind you might recognize today: a boxy or curved hut covered in camouflage. These mechanisms can greatly increase your success when hunting and boost your confidence level.

In this article, we’ll take a look at different types of hunting blinds and discuss how you can build your own. Then we’ll explore ways you can use and move your blinds. Read on to learn which type of hunting blinds you need for your next hunting adventure.

There are many varieties of blinds out there on the market, but they all serve the same purpose: concealment. Types of hunting blinds include:

To entice hunters, blind-makers have added comfort to modern designs. Blinds can come with adjustable padded seats and headrests, doggie doors, multiple cover options and waterproofing. They can also be designed to blend into wooded areas or to look like stone piles, hay bales or haystacks [source: Wildfowl].

But if you don’t want to spend money on hunting blinds, you don’t have to. Read on to learn how to make your own hiding place.

Gooseview Industries has created a con cow. Trademarked as the Confidence Cow, this Black Angus replica comes with two viewing ports and a handle for easy carrying. The idea is that other animals will feel comfortable knowing the cow is standing there — an “all’s well” from the cow, if you will. This clever contraption folds up for easy storage and can come with an optional wind stake system. It is recommended for hunting big game and geese [source: Gooseview Industries].

Building your own hunting blind can be rewarding, and it’s a great way to get children involved in the hunting process. Before heading out, consider bringing along some helpful items:

Once you’re out in the hunting grounds, look for a location that already has a naturally hidden feel to it — like a small patch of trees or an incline. You can use tree stumps, hollows or large boulders as a good starting point. Gather tree limbs and leaves to use as cover. By breaking off fresh limbs instead of gathering dead ones from the ground, you can help to cover your own scent. When the limbs are broken, they will release their scent into the area [source: Hunting Blind Plans].

If you’ve seen hunting blinds at local stores or online, you can try to copy their shape or style. If you’re building your own blind, however, you’re probably ready to let your creativity run wild. Some things to consider when building:

Now that you have some ideas for hunting blinds, read on to learn how to use them properly.

In the movie “Star Trek: Insurrection,” Starfleet officers use a kind of hunting blind to observe a race of beings known as the Ba’ku. Rather than using camo and twigs, Starfleet builds their blinds into an existing rock face and uses holographic images to hide the location. Unfortunately, they’re discovered when something goes horribly wrong, and the holographs fail [source: IMDb]. The moral of the story? Make sure your blinds stay covered.

The key to using a hunting blind is to find a proper location. Placing a big contraption out in the middle of an otherwise empty field will be quite obvious. You also need to consider the natural behavior of targets.

When you are choosing a location for your blind, try to place it where animals will naturally wander in search of resources. Look for:

It is also helpful to look for bedding areas and travel routes. Ask the locals where they see deer or turkey wandering on a regular basis. You can find a travel route on your own by looking in the right places, such as creek bottoms, the edges of forested areas or areas where two types of vegetation meet.

Once you are ready to set up, try to clear the area of anything that might unexpectedly move or snap. Remove weakened branches and large piles of brush and leaves. Then set your blind so that it’s at the optimum range for your hunting weapon of choice. For rifles, you’ll have roughly 300 yards of range; for bow hunting, about 30 yards [source: Hunting Blind Plans].

Inside the blind, there are several more factors you need to consider:

If you don’t want your blind to be permanent, you’re going to have to take it with you when you go. Read on to learn about transporting hunting blinds.

Be sure to check with your local Department of Natural Resources about hunting blind rules and regulations. Some states require you to attach orange material (or some other identification) to the blinds or remove the blinds after you’re done. [source: River Valley Outdoors].

You either move hunting blinds or you don’t. Permanent blinds and towers will stay in their location until you choose to disassemble them (or as laws permit). The good thing about most modern blinds is that they are easily portable.

Pop-up blinds usually come with a custom carrying case for easy transportation. They can weigh between 6 and 25 pounds (3 to 11 kilograms) and can be set up in just a few minutes. Other portable blinds come with backpacks or attachment rings for hauling. You can move these items to your hunting location in your vehicle or ATV.

If you’re moving your hunting blind around, it’s important to remember to bring only what you can feasibly handle. You’ll be bringing along all of your hunting gear, food, water and any additional supplies you may need. Try to find a hunting blind that won’t break your back.

Now that you’ve learned about blinds, try taking some along or building your own on your next hunting trip. They can increase your chances of hitting a target by offering you a safe, quiet place to stalk. And, if all else fails, they also provide a nice place for a nap. Happy hunting.

When you’re hunting from a high location, such as a tower blind or a tree, it’s a good idea to use a safety harness. Hunting gear manufacturers produce a variety of harnesses, from simple cords and belts to full-on swings. It’s easy to become distracted from your perch, so take a hint from the Boy Scouts and “be prepared.”

Another thing to consider is that other hunters may be in the area. It’s a good idea to mark your hunting blinds in some way so that others know you aren’t a target. In November 2008, an Indiana man died when he was shot in the back — while he was in his hunting blind. A woman who was hunting nearby accidentally shot him from her set of blinds [source: Field].

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