I have never hunted or have any experience with ground blinds, but I am wanting to give them a try. I want something to bow and rifle hunt out of for deer and turkey. I did some Google searching and noticed they have a big price difference. After looking a while, I am thinking about the Ameristep brickhouse or doghouse. Although I want something well made, I would like to stay under $100. What makes one ground blind better than another?
Personally, I like the ones that basically just pop up. No poles needed, although it's wise to stake them down. However, they can be a pain to get folded back up. I don't own one, but both of my uncle's do. I've borrowed each and really liked the simplicity of "unfold-pop" and it's up.
The size and what it's made out of makes it price different. The big thing with ground blinds is to make sure you can drew your bow back. It's hard is some blinds. I have found that you do not want to use a bag chair bc you sit to low. For a bow that is.
I use to own the ameristep outhouse and it was a good blind. The doghouse is a much better blind in my opinion. Ameristep makes good quality blinds that are easy to set up once you get a feel for them. I have done a great deal of blind hunting and I personally think that it is better suited for bow hunting turkey "not" deer. You simply can't see or hear near as much from a ground blind as you can from a tree stand.
I purchased a Barronett "Big Mike" last year for turkey hunting. I really like it because it is 80in tall and I can stand up straight in it and even shoot from a standing position. I had a Doghouse before and really didn't like it. For me personally I don't want a blind that I can't stand up straight in. It's just too hard on an old man's back. Blessings.......Pastorjim
I've had my eye on the primos eclipse ground blind. It's big and you can find it for right around $100. I'll be picking one up after the season when everything is on clearance.
I own an Ameristep Doghouse and I love it! For $69 and easy to set up and take down. You literally take it out of it's carrying case and throw it up in the air and BAM! Pops up and your ready to hunt. It does have 2 tent-like poles but they are just for keeping the roof from sagging. Takes 45 seconds to put them on inside the blind.
I have a Barronett Grounder 350 Blood Trail blind. I hate it for bow hunting and regret the money I spent. it's all a preference for me, but I wish i would have saved the amount i blew on this and got a second tree stand instead. It's comfortable, tons of space, keeps you sheltered pretty well from the wind and light rain, but after you set in a tree stand for so long, then convert to one of these, you feel so constrained. If you do get a blind though, make sure it has shoot through mesh...the mesh helps break up small movements, but is light enough that it doesn't affect the arrow when you take your shot. When I was deciding what blind to buy, i went on size and whether or not it had shoot through mesh. There's nothing wrong with the blind I bought, it's a VERY GOOD quality blind, I just decided I hate hunting from them with my bow is all =)
You get what to pay for. I stronly recommend thar you save your money until you can afford a good blind. I've hunted from a Double Bull blind for the past 10 years.
I have the ameristep doghouse and it works. I sit on a short chair, and stay seated to shoot. There are ones you can get that are tall enough to stand and shoot, but they're very expensive. It just pops up like a tent, and it has been sitting in the woods for over a year (not really intentionally) and is holding up just fine.
