Building a blind...Need ideas.

[macoop]

I've been talking it over with my Dad and we have decided to build myself a box bow blind for next year. This will give me a full year to piece this thing together and make it exactly how I want. I'm looking to make this stand a comfortable size for 2 hunters. And I mean, comfortable. I plan on going all out with this stand.

I plan on carpeting this inside completely to dampen noise, 3 vertical shooting windows in the front, shelves @ either side interior, (2) bow hooks, (2) office chairs for comfort...But what I'm looking for, are ideas. What would YOU want in a stand like this? Something that would make a difference. For those of you that DO have a stand like this, if you dont mind sharing dimensions, it would be very appreciated.


Not looking to go quite as big as, Macoop. Granted that is one AWESOME blind, I'm looking for a more mobile (though heavy) stand. Here is the thread to his dream blind...

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202659

All input is very appreciated!

I've hunted out of the Alamo about 3 times now. I decided to use spray foam insulation on the inside of the roof and lap it about 2" over the top course of stone. Not for insulation qualities but for scent control. I have had a few deer circle behind my blind and just stand and stare. It doesn't booger them but they won't come in either. On the other hand I had 7 bucks within 20 yards on opening morning and none of them smelled me.
Think about the spray in foam insulation in whatever you build. I think it will help seal up your blind and will be money well spent if you are building something that you want to last a long time.
The 12 volt solar system is working good too. It's nice to flip a switch and have instant light.
I plan on building another stone blind at my food plot but a little bit bigger with a room so I can hog hunt at night out of it. I'l use a bigger battery and a deep cycle marine battery with lights that shine out front of it. A lot of work but a bowhunters dream. I think it will be worth it.
Good luck on your build.

[RickH78]

This is a rifle stand that I built out of 2x2 lumber and OSB on the outside and inside so I could insulate the walls. Built the door so it would be sealed when i closed it and put some deerview windows in it which are not in the pics.

[cosmiccowboy]

Is it a lease or do you own the place? If it's a lease always consider you may want to move it eventually while you are designing it.

[Chad]

Is it a lease or do you own the place? If it's a lease always consider you may want to move it eventually while you are designing it.

Ehhh it's actually neither. We don't pay to hunt out there and I have hunted this place my entire life (23 years). The guy that owns it is practically an uncle of mine, childhood friend of my Dad's. I really don't see this ranch going anywhere. We have several rifle stands out there that are over the top, I just wanted an exclusive bow one.

I've hunted out of the Alamo about 3 times now. I decided to use spray foam insulation on the inside of the roof and lap it about 2" over the top course of stone. Not for insulation qualities but for scent control. I have had a few deer circle behind my blind and just stand and stare. It doesn't booger them but they won't come in either. On the other hand I had 7 bucks within 20 yards on opening morning and none of them smelled me.
Think about the spray in foam insulation in whatever you build. I think it will help seal up your blind and will be money well spent if you are building something that you want to last a long time.
The 12 volt solar system is working good too. It's nice to flip a switch and have instant light.
I plan on building another stone blind at my food plot but a little bit bigger with a room so I can hog hunt at night out of it. I'l use a bigger battery and a deep cycle marine battery with lights that shine out front of it. A lot of work but a bowhunters dream. I think it will be worth it.
Good luck on your build.

I like the spray in insulation idea!

JP8-Thanks for the link! Looks great.

[az2tx]

Here is one of my blinds being moved
It is 6x6 floor, 7.5 tall and the floor ht is 12 ft above the ground. I use stackable chairs so if I want to lay down and take a snooze I can.
The ht of the blind really helps keep the sent above the approaching animals, I also try to place the blind next to areas that animals approaching from downwind will have to go into an open area. Many times I've had deer walk in under the blind and never know I'm there.

The blind is built out of steel frame covered in plywood, and this blind in the pic had wood window frames which have been replaced with steel frame and Deerview glass windows. I wished I had used a metal outside instead of plywood. The inside walls and ceils are lined with 1/2 inch sound board which really helps keep the noise and heat down, or the heat in when we fire up a heater.

I have 8 of these blinds and they have worked extremely well, if I was to do it all over again I wouldn't change much, maintenance free metal siding, and a more weather/wasp proof door system.

[Wood Man]

I'm building one too. I am going to put Hardie boards on the outside of mine. It is going to be elevated about 8 ft. Spray in insulation. I use the battery operated lights that have a toggle on them. I mount a few of these in the blind. Lots of shelving. Good luck to ya.

[Sticks&Strings]

8' wide and at least 5' deep. Hardi the outside, it comes in 4'x8 sheets which makes it easier to install.

Insulation of some sort. Air hawk in the roof that you can open in the summer and close in the winter. Insulate the floor too. Screen windows that open. And two way mirrors as fixed windows. I posted some pit blinds of our on here u can loom up and see. Turkeys will actually peck it. Camera port hole. Shade over your shooting windows to help with glare. Big door to make entry and exit easier. Use waetherstrip and expanding foam and caulk to make it as critter proof as possible. It sucks getting in a blind full of wasps and or snakes.

[jerp]

I like a hexagon shape. Three shooting windows on the front, viewing windows on the sides and a flat back. I think the depth dimension is most important - mine is 7 feet deep. I like to sit so far back its like shooting across the room and out the window. With three angled panels on the front for the shooting windows, you have almost 180 degrees of coverage. I put it on 2x10 skids so once I get it off the trailer I can drag it behind the truck to put it in place. Once set up I used hardware cloth on the ends to keep mice and snakes from getting under it

[Chad]

Great input, everyone!

Thanks for all of the pics, ideas, and dimensions.

[IbeHuntn]

It will help if you can paint or carpet the inside black and wear dark clothing, it makes it very hard for the deer to see you inside the blind when you draw

[huntman933]

I build mine out of 1 1/2 aluminum, I do bow and gun, my bow are 6x6 with
48'' x 12'' swing windows,,,,,

[Chad]

Very nice, Huntman! Awesome stands.

[PEC]

My 6yr old loves to go but gets bored pretty easy...so I bought a solar charger and an inverter so we could hook up a tv for her. I had to parallel 3 batteries so it could keep up. Also I cut a window in 5 inches up off the floor so she can lay down a shoot or just watch.

[The30PointBuck]

Hey Huntsman, do you have any pictures of the 1 1/2" aluminum bow stand completed out in your food plot?

[windwalker]

Here is an octagon I biult. 78" across