Store bought ground blinds

[Bionic]

Hello folks.

I am finding that I would like a ground blind.  I was just up at our camp, and find that I feel like I would like to bounce around a bit.  I feel like a ground blind with some brush might benefit me in that area.  I just built a mini mansion tower at home, so I am thinking $150 roughly as a budget.  I am looking at Ameristep, and I see Rhino....I know how to google, but what are you guys, and gals using for store bought options.  I love the Ameristep chair blind, but I feel that the crossbow will be tight, and I do want to use my heater to take the edge off, at times. I like the camo screens on some of them, that you can shoot through.  I am excited for this, but want to make the right decision for me.  
 

thanks

[doebuck1234]

28 minutes ago, Bionic said:

Hello folks.

I am finding that I would like a ground blind.  I was just up at our camp, and find that I feel like I would like to bounce around a bit.  I feel like a ground blind with some brush might benefit me in that area.  I just built a mini mansion tower at home, so I am thinking $150 roughly as a budget.  I am looking at Ameristep, and I see Rhino....I know how to google, but what are you guys, and gals using for store bought options.  I love the Ameristep chair blind, but I feel that the crossbow will be tight, and I do want to use my heater to take the edge off, at times. I like the camo screens on some of them, that you can shoot through.  I am excited for this, but want to make the right decision for me.  
 

thanks

By no means am i a blind expert....

For an inexpensive blind with enough room,id go with ameristep.we picked up a doghouse blind for this season and cousin loves it so far for the price.kinda grew up with ameristep's as my grandfather/great uncle always used em.stay tuned for further opinions haha

[farmer 52]

Bought a barronet a couple years ago, main reason was i am 6'4 and i can stand up and shoot bow in it.Seems fairly well made and i believe it was less than 150

[Bionic]

Thanks guys, just looking for something in that price point because I doubt I will use it more than 5x a year.  Something to bounce around in.

[cachemoney]

I just got the Rhino 180 and like it so far.

[Pygmy]

Over the last 10-12 years I have hunted ( mostly turkey but some deer)  from Ameristep Doghouse blinds...

They are low end,, but usually you can find them for $75 or less and that is a reasonable price for a product that you can get 4 or 5 years service  from...  They are quick and easy to set up, keep me concealed and relatively well protected from the elements....

For the money I think they are a good option..

[NonTypical]

I have a doghouse blind as well. It works just fine for me. For the price, you can’t beat it. 

[Shoots100]

I just bought a rhino 75 off Egads for $60 shipped.

The lightest blind out there and perfect for quick set ups, plus it's pretty well built.

The fist thing I do is take out the shoot through screens and spray it down with scent and UV killer.

I'd advise you to use some type of tripod for holding your type of weapon above the bottom of the window, as it sucks when you try to rest the weapon on top of the window and make all sorts of noise.

You'll need to clear out all the debris from inside the blind after you set it up and before you open the windows, to minimize the noise.

Some type of folding chair and a seat cushion, plus bring some type of dark jacket + face covering, so you can match the inside dark color of the blind.

Your face will stick out like a sore thumb otherwise.

Remember to make sure the windows behind you and to any area you don't plan to shoot are up, as you'll be seen plain as day moving around inside and you might as well not even use the blind.

I usually zip up those windows till it's just a slit, and leave it so I can just pull it down with a finger to check out things if needed.

[Nytracker]

I just  bought 2 rhino 150 blinds they were 100 a piece . Haven't hunted out of them yet but they seem nice for the money . I have an older primos that's tall enough for me to stand and shoot bow in . Better made than the rhino but was 3 times the money . 

[Enigma]

I've used Ameristep Brickhouse blinds the past 10 yrs or so. Turkey and deer. Not sure the difference between the Doghouse and Brickhouse specifically but the Brickhouse has served me very well. Roomy for two and solid but heavy. Velcro mesh on the openings is noisy but the window height can be adjusted easily. They changed the carrying bag last year to a cheap one strap but it's still semi portable.

Unsolicited advice but if you're new to blinds a couple truths . . . If you're leaving it setup . .  Stake and tie that sucker down, hard. All points if possible. They will blow away. Purchase better stakes (heavy plastic tent stakes) the included one's aren't heavy enough. Blinds stick out like lipstick on a pig regardless of camo pattern and setting. Brush them in heavily for deer. Before snow hits make sure to cut a stick or pole to prop up the top center of the blind inside. They'll collapse under snow if not. Find the best chair you can. The cheap fold up chairs suck. Practice shooting from it before you put it out. Bring snacks. Have fun. 

[eaglemountainman]

I just bought a Muddy Infinity 2. Seems pretty slick. I'll set it up on the mountain, but will probably only use it if it's pouring down rain. I detest setting in one place waiting on deer to show up, but it will beat hanging at the cabin feeding the fire and drinking beer.

[Bionic]

12 minutes ago, Enigma said:

I've used Ameristep Brickhouse blinds the past 10 yrs or so. Turkey and deer. Not sure the difference between the Doghouse and Brickhouse specifically but the Brickhouse has served me very well. Roomy for two and solid but heavy. Velcro mesh on the openings is noisy but the window height can be adjusted easily. They changed the carrying bag last year to a cheap one strap but it's still semi portable.

Unsolicited advice but if you're new to blinds a couple truths . . . If you're leaving it setup . .  Stake and tie that sucker down, hard. All points if possible. They will blow away. Purchase better stakes (heavy plastic tent stakes) the included one's aren't heavy enough. Blinds stick out like lipstick on a pig regardless of camo pattern and setting. Brush them in heavily for deer. Before snow hits make sure to cut a stick or pole to prop up the top center of the blind inside. They'll collapse under snow if not. Find the best chair you can. The cheap fold up chairs suck. Practice shooting from it before you put it out. Bring snacks. Have fun. 

Thanks for your advice.  I am not 100% new to ground blinds, my dad has one which I have borrowed once in awhile.  I usually find them inconvenient, but for up at camp, I feel like it would be beneficial. I do not want to borrow his anymore, and I don’t know what brand blind we have off the top of my head, since my dad keeps it in his procession, so thats why I seek input on brands.  Appreciate your input, thank you.

Edited October 20, 2020 by Bionic

[cachemoney]

This is the view from the inside of the Rhino 180. Its pretty roomy, the window and door are very quiet to open and close with no velcro or zipoers. Buy some better stakes thoigh, the stock ones suck. 

[Bionic]

3 minutes ago, cachemoney said:

This is the view from the inside of the Rhino 180. Its pretty roomy, the window and door are very quiet to open and close with no velcro or zipoers. Buy some better stakes thoigh, the stock ones suck. 

That’s really neat.  Will take a look at that one, thanks 

[crappyice]

But does anyone actually shoot through the shoot through mesh with their bow? I imagine that’s not ok for mechanicals but even with a fixed head I’m not sure I would


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[Bionic]

1 minute ago, crappyice said:

But does anyone actually shoot through the shoot through mesh with their bow? I imagine that’s not ok for mechanicals but even with a fixed head I’m not sure I would


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You know how often I am presented with a shot...lol 

[Sir-diealot]

I have had MANY Ameristep blinds, best one they ever made was the Roundhouse and I wish they would put it out again instead of the Doghouse which costs about the same and has far less room than the Roundhouse had. I have also had their Doghouse blinds, Penthouse blinds (Loved these though not the window placements for gun hunting) I currently have the 2 man chair blind and it does not work well for me for turkey hunting because the barrel I have is long I guess and it is hard to not make a ton of noise and hide your movement because it is small. Oh I have also had their Outhouse blind as well.

I bought a Barronett Blinds Pentagon blind when they first came out and it has been the biggest pile of junk I have owned, from the very first time I put it up it had all these little pin holes in it, the corners were deteriorating to the point that I could see light through the corners including the one at the door. Mind you I love all the room it has but for the $229 I paid for it when it first came out I expected far more. Why did I not return it you ask? Simple, I bought it from Gander Mountain and the day after the blind was delivered they went belly up so I was stuck with the blind. I actually fell through the blind this past Spring when I lost my balance so it gave me an excuse to order another blind.

Now with all that said I understand they have improved greatly since then and just ordered the Barronett Ox 5 Hunting Ground Blind because it has all the room of the Pentagon blind and it is waterproof, not water repellent.

I was going to buy the new insulated Ameristep blind but read several reviews that said it leaks badly.

As others have said stake it down, don't use the ones that came with it, buy ones that are all steel and have a good head on them so you can use a hammer to drive those stakes into the ground and be sure to do the same with the tie down points, I always like to tie at least one guy wire to a tree or something else that will not moved, tied it to a old trailer 2 years ago, worked great.

I firmly believe in wearing black in a blind as the interiors are black, that includes gloves and mask and or face paint.

Before you set up be sure you clean the area of any sticks, twigs or leaves so that you do not give yourself away when trying to position for a shot.

I have NEVER brushed in a blind, set a blind up Friday night just inside the woods and had deer, turkey, squirrel, chipmunks and birds all around me less than 16 hours later I guess it would be. Nothing wrong with brushing in, I see no reason not to, breaking up your outline is always good, but make sure you set up in the shadows if you can, that will help as much if not more than brushing in because some of those blind fabrics are shiny and you don't want the sun on them both because it will destroy the blind eventually and the reflection can scare game away.

 

 

 

[mlammerhirt]

Am currently using a Cabela's Zonz specialist which is junk....but it keeps me dry and provides another option when my boys want to go out with me.

Am also using one Ameristep hub style blind that has taken a beating over the years and keeps ticking.

My top choice is a new Rhino 15o I picked up from Amazon this May for turkey season. Of the three the Rhino is the cat's meow. Windows and doors are awesome. Roomy as heck and an overall real nicely built blind for 100.00 price tag. Try an remember to add a center support when your not there....helps with ice and snow buildup. Either of those will destroy a blind and shatter the poles under the extreme weight. The center support will help the center hub from collapsing and collecting the snow or ice that will eventually lead to a bunch of damage.

 

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[Otto]

I’ve had the Barronet OX5 blind for 4 years now and it is very well built.   For archery, you need to be seated to shoot. I do practice shooting from a seat, but I’d rather stand.  I have a Gander Mt. (old company) snow camo blind that I bought when they were going out of business.   Nice blind, but it sees limited use.  

[Bionic]

Thanks guys.  Appreciate the input.

 

I ordered a Rhino 100.  Something to add in for variety.  

[Marion]

I love my redneck blind but it's also a few multiples of the budget. I've also had a few doghouse blinds before the redneck blind. They were great till the snow crushed them a few years and also a foot diameter tree once

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[Bionic]

2 hours ago, The Jerkman said:

I love my redneck blind but it's also a few multiples of the budget. I've also had a few doghouse blinds before the redneck blind. They were great till the snow crushed them a few years and also a foot diameter tree once

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Yeah i looked at the Redneck blinds, but like i said for a handful of times a year I will use it, it’s plenty.  I am not a whole lot deeper in cost for my full tower build than the Redneck softs.  I will yank the cheapy portable blind each trip, plan to use it up at camp, so I will haul it back/forth home to camp. I have my new tower, so I will be spending the majority of my sits in that.

Edited October 20, 2020 by Bionic

[Marion]

Yeah i looked at the Redneck blinds, but like i said for a handful of times a year I will use it, it’s plenty.  I will yank it each trip, plan to use it up at camp, so I will haul it back/forth home to camp. I have my new tower, so I will be spending the majority of my sits in that.

Then definitely the ameristep dog house will suit your needs perfectly and also won't have to worry about snow caving it in

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[Bionic]

3 minutes ago, The Jerkman said:

Then definitely the ameristep dog house will suit your needs perfectly and also won't have to worry about snow caving it in

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Actually bought the Rhino 100, looks similar to the Ameristep Brickhouse I like most.  Went with the Rhino due to faster shipping.  I like the straight walls, and wanted to try it.

Edited October 20, 2020 by Bionic

[Marion]

Actually bought the Rhino 100, looks similar to the Ameristep Brickhouse I like most.  Went with the Rhino due to faster shipping.  I like the straight walls, and wanted to try it.

Yup. that ones pretty much identical to what I had. You're gonna love it!

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