So I wanted a new ground blind. Previously I only owned a Ameristep Dog House. Although it was adequate, I really never was truly happy with it. I did miss a couple fall gobblers and took my birthday buck from that blind but I never felt concealed. The inside wasn't black and I felt it filtered in too much light and I was visible. So I went ahead and made a purchase from Cabelas. Primos Ground Max Predator Den Blind I chose this blind for both cost effectiveness, size, usability and shootability. I've hunted out of several Double Bull Matrix blinds and although very functionable, I consider them poor for shooting. Ask those who have sent a broadhead through the blind itself. I'm not a fan of the movable openings because if you open them too much, you allow too much light in, if you don't open them enough, your shooting window is merely a slit. Again, from experience from these blinds that make me not a huge fan, more than adequate yes but for the $$, there can be other choices. Right out of the box: I was surprised that it came in a nice carrying sack with back pack straps etc. I don't know why I was surprised but I was. It weighs in at 17 lbs and on the back, it's not even there. I went ahead and pulled it from the carrying case in the basement as it's still cold with a ton of snow outside. Right out of the bag, It opened very easily, identical to the Matrix or more expensive Primos (Double Bull) blinds. A negative if you will would be the net windows. I won't ever use the mesh/net as a shoot through so most likely I'll just remove them all as they are Velcro. On a hunting blind, I feel Velcro is a no no as it's so loud. I'm a big fan of the windows. They are more than adequate to shoot from and film from. Another negative perhaps is the top of the windows. They do not zipper all the way to the top allowing some light in however they have a nifty little elastic holder if you will to keep them in place. It does allow for peeping 360 deg around the blind. Total review, I'm impressed with the blind and seeing it's very large, very dark inside with more than adequate windows for shooting, I'll be anxious to put it through the paces this spring, not to mention it's $200 cheaper than a Matrix. I could by two for the price of one. Great blind, I recommend it.
Great review Rob, im in the market for a ground blind myself. I'll take this one into serious consideration!
Very nice review Rob, I have a Ground Max with their camo and it is a pretty good blind, I took my turkey out of it last spring. The windows are nice, but they definetly could have been improved on. They work great for turkey hunting, but I felt that the space in between the windows could have been a little smaller to help improve on your view. The velcro on the shoot thru mesh is a little loud, but I wouldn't take them entirely off. I found that they work great for viewing through. Last season I kept a few windows open with the mesh on and the area where I expected to shoot didn't have the mesh on. It worked great and it is nearly impossible to view anything through these mesh windows. One other thing that I noticed is that if you leave the blind set-up in the rain, the pockets on the inside of blind fill up with water and if let sit for awhile it can start smelling pretty bad. Other than those little things, I think these are great blinds, especially for the price. I still think that the Ameristep Brickhouse is a better blind, but they are a little more expensive.
Dan, it says on the cabelas' review as well as on the box, The blind material is tough, weather-resistant, 600-denier fabric. I don't know if that's a cheaper nylon material or not. ? I also felt it looked shiny with the flash of the camera. I'll see on the next sun shiny day if that's the case in the sunlight. Hey, I'm not here to push nor sell you the blind. I'm just giving an honest opinion. I hunted out of a DB Matrix and T5 in KS. I definitively prefer the T5 windows just like I prefer the windows of this blind over the Matrix. Every Matrix I've been in, we've fought to open the windows slide enough to accommodate both sight picture and arrow clearance without allowing too much air in. The gobblers in the video I showed in Dubbyas' thread, the NC Miss spooked because of either the blind or my drawing my bow inside the blind. I heard the unmistakable putt by the second gobbler which alarmed the first gobbler. I'm saying it's because of allowing too much light into the blind. Again, of the DB's I personally prefer the T5 although a pile of turkeys have been taken from the Matrix. Personal opinion. Thanks NY/AL. It's one to consider but shop. I'm just trying to show this one. If I find flaws as I play. I'll let ya's know. It's not the mecca of blinds but so far, so very much likey. LOL Thanks BM, and thanks for the insight as well. I'm very new to this blind but so far these are my findings. I don't care what anyone else spends on their blinds but some are a name and no matter how expensive, improvements can be made. I was thinking of RJ's blind when I made the broadhead comment. I'm sure he'll tell us about that one. Sorry Matt. :d
Rob, I don't know if its a cheaper material or not....I was just going on looks. Regardless of price, I never have and never would buy a blind that has any type of shine to it. Not saying that this blind does, but it appears to. I am curious as to how it looks in the sun as well.....let us know. As far as the other DB blinds, I have hunted out of/owned a T2, T5 and a Matrix. Of the 3, the Matrix is my last choice. Mainly because it is hard to get a decent sized shooting window without letting in light in the "small slits" to the side of the shooting window. I have killed a turkey out of a T2 with my bow and 2 of us in the blind. What I really like about that blind is the size of the shoot through mesh. I shot my bird at 18 and 35 yards through the mesh with an expandable. (thought I missed the first shot) Anyways, what I really liked about the DB blinds is the material. Tough, quiet and no shine.
So do tell us Jeff, why did the gobblers spook, one of two things, the blind or my drawing and I simply mentioned that above in my reply to Dan. I wasn't making any kind of a stretch, it has to be one or the other now doesn't it? It's my personally opinion is that they saw me draw, Period. My experience in NY, KS and in PA out of a Matrix, to open the window high enough to shoot out of, it lets in too much light. My KS bird also spooked when I drew my bow, unfortunately for him, it was too little too late. I didn't experience that when I hunted out of a DB T5 and took my second KS bird. I felt it was darker inside the T5 than the Matrix and I'm not the only one who feels that way. Money is no object with me, ever. I'll wait to see if this blind is everything I want it to be. I gave an honest assessment of this one thus far and my experience with the Matrix. I'm sorry you feel the need to belittle my purchase and defend your Matrix but whatever makes you feel better. I'd spend $500 if it's the right blind. If both the Matrix and this blind both cost $200, I wouldn't choose the Matrix. My experience with it in 3 states showed me that. I'm explaining my experience with both. How can they be competitors, they are made by the same company. Your the only one making this a competition. I'm allowed to compare them right? I have experience with both and after all, it's my thread. I've giving a viable option over spending unnecessary money and so far, I'm correct. Future use will dictate if I made the right decision. It's an option. I'm sorry your so sensitive over your personal equipment. When I referenced the Matrix, you were the farthest from my thoughts as I've hunted out of many, not just yours. Now who's stretching. Is that really even relevant or necessary? Yet to be determined. I've seen them spook on Ameristep and Matrix's. Sorry the finish is so unacceptable to you, it's what I found when I opened the box. I made reference to Dan that it looks shiny because of my camera flash. I'll have to play with it in the sun to see. I didn't say anywhere that this is the Holy Grail. To everyone else reading the thread for what it is, a comparison of my new blind over it's more expensive brother (same company) of which I have experience with and what can be determined as many years of turkey experience, I'm not saying this blind is the best in the world. It was a simple purchase and I'm offering a review. I'll continue to share my experience both good and bad with said blind. I don't have stock in the blind and I could care less what blind you ultimately decide to purchase for yourself. Hopefully you can look past the nonsense and see it as a simple review. Nothing more.
I can say that the inside of the blind isn't as shiny as the pics make it look. When set-up, there really isn't any differance between them and the Ameristep blinds, the Ameristep's may actually be a little more shiny. As far as material, it definetly isn't the toughest material, but I would say that it yet again, matches right with the Ameristep line-up. Rob, make sure that whatever seat you have is pretty tall, as was mentioned before, the windows in the blind are very high and make it pretty hard to shoot if you sit low. As far as the blinds camo/material/durability/ect.... I can't speak for Rob, but I personally don't really care much. I use the blind throughout turkey season and I always pack it in and out for each hunt. For me, it isn't as large of an investment as a treestand or any other major hunting tool so I don't need/expect the highest quality, and I am surely not going to pay top money to get the top of line blind. I can't justify spending twice as much money on a blind that will do the exact same thing for me as the Ground Max, it works for what I intend to use it for. Rob, one other thing that I can mention is that the camo on these blinds seems to hold up pretty well. I actually set-up my blind in August for an observation spot for scouting deer and it is still out, the camo looks as good as it did when I set it up and it has held up to all of the heavy snow/ice.
Thanks for that review Dan. I did not know about the shine until I unpacked it and it didn't show until I took the picture. So I have two choices, send it back or utilize it and see how it goes. Had I known about the shine, I may not have purchased it but seeing it was only $149, I'll give it a go and see what happens. It may not be so bad in the sun but I'll play with it. And, what I feel the same way and you explained exactly the way I said about opening the window. I appreciate it.
Thanks BM. However, I think we're referring to the shine on the outside of the blind rather than the inside. We'll see how it looks outside, maybe tomorrow in the sun (if it comes out.)
Okay Rob, gotcha, all I can say is set it up in the woods and I can guarentee that you will be more than impressed, the more the blind sits out the more of the shine that disappears but the colors stay. I will take some pics of mine tomorrow as I plan on doing a little shed hunting in that area.
No problem dude. Like I said, let us know how it looks in the sun. One other thing. Run your fingernail or something similar across the material. How quiet/loud is it? I can't stand hunting with any material that sounds like a fat woman wearing cords.
Will do Dan. And I'm glad you didn't have to explain yourself for saying the same thing I did. Again, not the mecca, I may end up with a T5 myself. And I have to apologize, I may have hunted out of a T2, not a T5, which one came out before the Matrix? In fact, here's the picture of the one I took my second KS bird from with my outfitter. Is that a T2 or T5? Other than shape of the windows, it's identical to the one I purchased. Should be, they are all the same Co.
So am I. I never did shoot anything out of the Matrix.....but I used it very little because of the ammount of light it lets in. Both the T2 and T5 came out before the Matrix. The one in your picture is a T5 and is bigger than the T2. The thing I liked about the T2 is the size of the shoot through mesh window. The only downfall to it is the smaller size for bowhunting. I have done it with 2 of us in the blind, but its tough to draw. Here's a link to the T2..... T2 Blind
Ah yes, so I was in the T5 blind. I mentioned like you, I preferred it over the Matrix for the same reason you stated. This one here I purchased, if shine isn't an issue may be what I wanted in the T5 for much less but....that's yet to be determined. Thanks again Dan.
Dan, the sun came out beautifully today so after I shoveled off the patio and deck I took this blind outside in the sunshine as well as the shine off the snow. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that the sheen wasn't as noticeable as it was with the flash inside my basement. I also did the "run the fingernail" across the material. It may appear to be a little louder than the material used in the DB's. I honestly forget what material that is. I did like how little light there was inside the blind with the sun shining directly on it as well as the light from the snow. I'll be anxious to put it in a green environment this spring. Again, it may not be the mecca of blinds but it's another alternative that so far I'm happy with it. Time will tell if I upgrade to a Primos DB T5. It's an honest review, (Pros and Cons), so far the pros have it, take it as you will. 10 yards: 20 yards: Up close:
Rob, thanks for taking the pictures and doing the review. I am looking for a couple blinds I can use bear hunting this fall at camp. If I use the DB blinds, there is no way I could leave one out overnight, because of the price. I may get a couple of these and won't feel nearly as bad if a bear happens to rip one up. Thanks again and let me know how well it works this spring.
I got out and managed to snap a couple pics of mine, seems a mouse decided to get in and chew on one of the mesh windows. Otherwise, my Ground Max is still fine and is awaiting for turkey season to see some action. Here is what mine looks like after sitting out since August.
Rob, thanks for the new pictures. I am seriously considering this blind as I am gonna desperately need one for turkeys come springtime. Since it if my first turkey adventure, I am in desperate need of getting some materials rounded up. A blind is one purchase I need to make, decoys are another. After that I need to add a few more calls, find a suitable head, and then all I need to do it learn me some turkeys. I think that blind would suit my needs and the price is hard to complain about.
