Pennsylvania Game News - December 2010 - 52

Last year my wife and I hunted a cornfield that was planted in strips with open areas between the standing rows. Hunting from the ground was the only option, and a blind was the perfect solution. Once you have a ground blind you will find more and more applications where it is the only thing that can put you in exactly the right spot for the shot. Hunting from the ground is challenging for bowhunters due to the motion required either by drawing the bow or shifting positions with bow or a crossbow to get the shot. Speaking of motion, hunting with a new young hunter can be a stream of constant reminders to keep quiet. Been there, done that. A blind, if properly set up, makes it much easier on both hunters as the blind completely hides the occupants and all related motion. Types of Blinds Collapsible blinds come in a variety of sizes, including 1- and 2-man models to those large enough to hold multiple people. Some are even large enough to incorporate door openings suitable for wheelchair access. The first consideration when looking for a blind is the size best suited for your needs. Remember, the larger the blind the more weight to carry, although blinds are usually reasonably light, between one and 30 pounds, depending on size. A carrying case makes a blind much easier to carry and most models come with one. I have several blind cases that have backpack straps, making the blinds easy to carry to the hunting site while leaving my hands free for additional equipment. Blinds are basically an internal frame with cloth cover. Once erected the tightness of the blind is dependent on its internal frame design. Internal frames come in either steel spring wire designs or hub designs. Steel spring wire frames “pop” into shape and normally require the addition of some internal fiberglass support rods to be installed as well. Internal spring wire support frames are normally less expensive,
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but they require more care when collapsing. These internal wire frames are “twisted” into a storage position, and there is only one way to twist them correctly. If you force them into collapsing you can distort the wire frame, and it’s difficult if not impossible to fix. That does not mean they do not do the job, but it does mean to read the instructions before attempting to force it into a collapsed position. The second internal support system commonly found in blinds is the hub design. Hub designs are basically a hub with four fiberglass rods attached and each blind has five hubs, one in each side and one in the roof. As these hubs are extended each side and the roof “pops” into place. The hub system provides a solid tight exterior with adequate strength to hold an exterior load, such as an occasional snow. Hub design blinds are easy to set up and take down, but some common sense care must be taken and the instructions followed. I can easily pop up and take down my hub style blind in less than a minute when taking my time, but I could do it in 30 seconds if I had to hurry. Blind Features Like anything else you buy, different blind models have different options and different features. It’s always a good idea to check the tags to see the properties of the exterior material, and you’ll probably see “weather resistant,” “weather proof” or some other such designation. That does not necessarily mean they are waterproof or even water repellant, and some treatment should be considered before using. Blinds are available in different camo patterns and some offer 3-D camo exteriors as well. The makers of ASAT (All Seasons All Terrain) camo also offers, in addition to its popular line of ASAT camo clothing, a blind in ASAT camo that blends in well in a variety of terrain conditions in all seasons. When selecting a blind pay attention to the texture of the exterior material, which can vary greatly depending on cost.
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Pennsylvania Game News - December 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - December 2010