Cattle Panel Ground Blind Build

[TXhoghunter94]

In the past I've made a few different ground blinds out of cattle panels that have worked quite well. Yesterday I made another one in a new spot. I already had the panels and the tarp (10'x12' I think) was $10 from Nothern tool. Otherwise it would be right around $70 total, since 3 panels are $20 a piece. I did this by myself and it took about 3 hours in the heat (if I didn't have the shade of the trees I would have been dead due to the heat ). With 2 people it would have gone much faster. I'll attach the pictures below that should be pretty self explanatory. I actually ended up using 1 cattle panel, 1 hog panel, and 1/2 a hog panel for the front since that is what I already had and it turned out really well. I used electric fence wire to hold it together and also wired a few small trees to it to help make it more sturdy and not shake since I didn't use any T posts. I use lock cutters to cut out the window. The back is basically open but no deer should be coming from directly behind me, plus its pretty thick. But I might still end up putting another half panel with a small entrance hole, I haven't decided yet, its the first time I've built it this way.

The inside is very roomy so it can hold 3 people comfortable. Its about 5' 8" so I can almost stand up in it. Right now it was just a pine needle floor so its really quiet but one day I might dig out out half a foot just so I can stand up in it. Its about 8'x8' at the base.

[TXhoghunter94]

I like to pick a spot where there is a large bush/ small trees so that there is foliage all year round

[TXhoghunter94]

[TXhoghunter94]

[TXhoghunter94]

Looking out towards the feeder pen



Side window



Back

[TXhoghunter94]

Outside view of the side window



Outside view of the front

[TXhoghunter94]

Other side



Another view of the front (I'm standing inside the feeder pen)



This is one cool looking deer coming into this set up

[TXhoghunter94]

NOTE: Try to stretch the tarp as tight as you can make it otherwise if you bump the side of the blind and the tarp is loose, then if will make a flapping noise from the tarp hitting the panel. I almost lost a deer last year from when I drew back, my elbow hit the side of the blind when some deer were within 10 yards of me. The all knew it was me but I was able to shoot right then and still made the shot but it was nerve racking to say the least.

I might still also add some camo screen netting to the front and cut out some shooting holes and one for the video camera since I think the front window is still kind of open. Otherwise I think it turned out quite well.

Adding carpet all around the inside near the bottom to help with sound and scent will also probably happen soon. I have not done this yet to any stands but I think it will help a ton. I just need to find some good cheap carpet now.

[HainesNYT]

Nice job

[TXhoghunter94]

I'll also put a couple nice used office chairs in the blind that will make it nice and enjoyable to spend half a day in the blind, even if its raining. All of my feeder pens are made out of cattle panels cut in half. They are only about 27" tall but I use a minimum of 12 panels and some are larger. We don't have any cows where the feeders are but do have a lot of hogs. Every once in awhile there will be a few babies that will come in and eat corn. I try to have a feeder that is open mainly for the pigs within 500 yards of of each feeder pen. This helps them leave the pens alone. But in the past, if their feeder goes empty, I have had a larger pigs jump into the pen and eat. There is a large black one coming into this set up right now that I need to go kill asap. The shorter pens also help the fawns to get in a lot easier and sometimes the does and fawns will sleep in the pens. The shorter panels are not a perfect fix but they do what I need them to do, plus I get double the size for the same cost.

[shaun5371]

Very cool. Nice job.

[LiveFree]

I absolutely love cattle panel blinds! They work awesome!

[Esau]

Did you but any thing in as a back drop?

[TXhoghunter94]

Did you but any thing in as a back drop?

Not yet, I will within the next few weeks though and will update with pictures when I do. It does need one when I went to look at it again last weekend. I will add chairs, carpet, and more brush as well.

[Hunter98]

Awesome blind.