What to Look for When Purchasing a Stationary Deer Blind

What to Look for When Purchasing a Stationary Deer Blind

By Jessica Graham

Hunting blinds are quickly becoming a staple in Iowa’s landscape. Take a drive through rural Iowa and you will see box blinds on the edges of fields and timbers. Before buying a blind, there are some questions you should consider such as: “Where do I want to put my blind? Will I want to move it in the future? What time of year will I be using it the most?” Hunting blinds are a big investment, and you want to buy a blind that fits your needs.

Best Blinds for Bowhunting
Bowhunting deer from a blind can be tricky, especially if your blind is small or lacks proper windows. Windows are one of the key things to look for when selecting a bowhunting blind. Typically, bowhunters want vertical windows that can silently be opened and shut. Silent windows allow hunters to keep windows shut, reduce detectable scent, and allow hunters to open windows when wildlife is near by. One blind that has a number of windows is the 360 Pro hunting blinds sold by Deer Trak Outdoors. The windows use counter weights so they can easily be operated silently with one hand. The windows eliminate blind spots and aids in giving the best shot opportunities. Another quality bow blind is produced by Shadow Hunter. The Marksman 6’ x 6’ octagon blind with windows in the corner panels increase the hunter’s view and archer’s shooting opportunities.

Vision Hunting Blinds has a “Gun/Bow Blind” that is 5 ’x 6’ with 10 tinted windows. The windows are vertical allowing for bowhunters to shoot at varying yardage. The windows can either slide on tracks to open, but company spokesperson Ryan Beard recommends getting their silent hinge-in windows for bowhunters. The hinge-in windows can be operated with one hand and also have a felt seal keeping the action quiet and undetectable to wildlife.

Family Hunting Blinds
Large blinds, like Vision Hunting Blinds’ 6’ x 9’ Lodge Blind offer families plenty of room for hunting and viewing wildlife. The large blind has 16 tinted windows so all hunters can see their surroundings. Large blinds are great for introducing new hunters to hunting. They allow families to be in one place together so parents can instruct kids and hunters can move around without being spotted by wildlife.

Ed Wilson of Deer Trak Outdoors recommends 360 Pro Blinds for families that hunt together. The blinds are 7’ x 7’ and large enough to accommodate three hunters with equipment comfortably. The tinted windows deter wildlife from seeing into the blind and allow hunters to move comfortably. If hunting in the open, hunters would be spotted by wildlife. Blinds offer concealment to help and teach others in the field.

MB King Ranch can build many specialized blinds, but has a line of Accommodator Blinds specifically for hunting with friends and family. They come in 10’ x 10’, 12’ x 12’, and 14’ x 14’. High-end features, such as electronics, T.V.s, and air conditioning are available to keep kids and adults comfortable through the hunting season.

Economical Blinds
One of the biggest obstacles while buying a new blind is the initial cost. It can be a big decision to invest in a blind. You may want to look at some base models. Often these economical blinds lack some of the finer features of others, but they can help hide movement from wildlife and provide some protection from outside elements.

One of the more economical models is Radix’s soft-sided Monarch blind. The Monarch blind is a softshell that fits over a metal skeleton. The softshell is somewhat insulated and waterproof. The windows are zippered and are either zipped up and shut or open. The Monarch can provide some relief from rain, but may not be the best choice for a blind when temperatures drop below zero. For the price, the Monarch is a good buy and offers a lot of box blind benefits. Vision Hunting Blinds also produces an economical model that is 4’ x 4’ and best for gun and crossbow users. The blind is small, but comes with four windows and can help hunters persevere through Iowa’s harsh elements.

Timber Blinds
Placing a blind in the timber is often the most difficult terrain for blind placement. At times, the blind has to be built in the timber and materials should be lightweight for transport and assembly. Vision Hunting Blinds may be a good fit for a timber blind. The hunting blinds are lightweight for transport and have replaceable panels should a tree or branch damage the blind to the point of replacement.

When it comes to blending into the timber, the Banks Outdoors Stump Blind is unique in its appearance. It looks like a tree stump and the round design and bark texture help it blend into the timber. The blinds are one solid piece and are comprised of a light-weight polyethylene material. The Stump 2 Whitetail Properties Pro Hunter, which is 6.5’ x 4’ only weighs 250 lbs. This makes it easy to maneuver through the timber.

Cold Weather Hunting Blinds
One of the biggest benefits of using a blind for Iowans is hunting the late season. Whether hunting during Iowa’s late muzzleloader season or late archery season, the temperatures can fall well below zero. Normally humans cannot safely tolerate the frigid temperatures long. Setting a blind near food plots, which are packed full of wildlife searching for much needed calories to sustain through the cold temperatures, is ideal. Late season hunting over a food plot often draws hard to pattern bucks and allows hunters to take a heater and stay safe for many hours against the cold. Grizzly, an Iowa based company, has a blind that excels during the coldest temperatures. The one piece rotomolded plastic blind has no seams which keep the cold wind out of the blind. The eight windows have dual gaskets to keep weather and moisture out of the blind as well. Grizzly also offers an added insulation kit as well as ¾ inch foam mat to keep the blind warm and quiet.

Along similar lines, Banks Outdoors’ Stump 4 Whitetail Properties Pro Hunter is an insulated blind that is also rotomolded to reduce seams on the blind. The blind aids in keeping the coldest elements outside and heat inside of the blind.

Mobile Blinds
Another downfall of hunting blinds is that they typically are not easy to move. The majority of box blinds are set and anchored with the intention to keep them in place long-term. However, there are some companies that have blinds on trailers. Keene Outdoors produces platforms to make your blind a mobile unit. The trailers are made in the USA and are compatible with several different brands and sizes. The trailers can make practically any blind mobile and are available in a standard size and XL model. You can tow the trailer and blind with a pickup truck or ATV to the desired spot and quickly set up the blind. When extended, the tower reaches over 10 feet. This is useful when you pattern a deer and need to move your blind closer to where it is traveling. The trailer comes with leveling jacks, so it is not critical to find level terrain. The rubber torsion axles allow transportation on roads at highway speeds. The lift gives blinds an advantage of moving them as they are needed throughout the season.

MB Ranch King Blinds also has a selection of trailer blinds. Unlike Keene Outdoors, the MB Ranch King are permanently in a fixed height on a trailer. The trailer allows the blind to be pulled and moved around to a desired location.

Deluxe Hunting Blinds
When it comes to high-end blinds, MB Ranch King Blinds is an industry leader. The family run company was started in 2004 to meet the industry demand of high-quality hunting blinds. The company specializes in custom blinds that can be equipped with all the comforts of home. Some of their custom duck hunting blinds have exceeded 22 feet and are equipped with mini-fridges, microwaves, air conditioning, electronics and large decks. The heavy-duty blinds are constructed of steel 11-gauge tubing, angle iron, steel and are built to last.

Summary
There are several different varieties of blinds to fit your needs. You first need to consider your needs and topography when looking at blinds. Once you have determined your need, there are different qualities of blinds that will fit your hunting style. While the use of blinds is popular, it is also a good idea to keep a few mobile stands on-hand as they allow you to hang close to seasonal action. Keeping a set of Lonewolf hang-on stands nearby can help hunters hang-and hunt, but hang-on stands lack protection from weather and only allow one-person per stand. For this reason, you may look at purchasing a large blind so friends, family, or a cameraman can tag along. Whether there is an existing blind or you need custom specifications, there are several companies that will work with you to get you the blind you need.