Hunting Blinds Can Make Excellent Camouflage

hunting blinds

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Today I was setting around looking at a Cabela’s advertisement for hunting blinds.  This got me to thinking of all the potential uses of a good blind.  Properly made hunting blinds can give you good camouflage while hunting for game.  They can also be used for observation points.

The one I was looking at was a layout blind that lets you lay flat and will keep you dry in up to 10 inches of water.  Now they want $199.00 for theirs.  Now me, I am too cheap to spend that much money on something I can build for myself. I am also a nature photographer.

I have always used old military gear and the natural materials available from your surroundings to make hunting blinds.  It seems like there is always some old or damaged camo around.  If not burlap or other heavy materials and some good paint work well.  Depending on the time of year, I have used old white sheets in the snow or different shades of brown and green material.  Hunting blinds are just a form of camouflage.  Remember animals are easier to fool than humans are.

If you are building an observation post, remember that camouflage does not necessarily provide cover; it only hides you from sight.  Cover provides you physical protection from something coming at you; camouflage provides only protection from sight.

Sixteen Rules for building camouflaged hunting blinds.

  1. Choose an area that already has as much concealment as possible. Any area that provides a way to hide or conceal yourself is ideal.
  2. Cover your tracks.  Make sure the area that you are in is free from any signs that someone could use to track you such as footprints or paths.  Use the surrounding brush to cover your gear and yourself.
  3. Match the color and texture of your surroundings.  Make sure that if you are trying to hide in a jungle that you are not wearing desert camouflage utilities.  Keep the colors of your gear in line with the natural area.
  4. Do not over do it, when camouflaging an area.  You don’t want to make it obvious that someone is hiding under the bushes.  It must look as though it belongs there.
  5. Do not peek out from your camouflaged hunting blind.  Unless you are using face paint or holding a bush in front of your face, do not lift your face to look up at a bird or plane.
  6. Cigarettes should be avoided, but if you have them, do not throw them on the ground.  Pinch the fire out and scatter the tobacco around while rolling the paper into a ball.  Leave no clues.  Remember cigarette smoke can be smelled from a long ways off.
  7. Mirrors and shiny objects can be seen for miles.  They can attract unwanted attention and pinpoint your position.  Have nothing shiny
  8. If you have jewelry or dog tags, tape them together so that they do not make any noise. The slightest noise is enough to give your enemy or your prey a warning that you are there.
  9. Stay off the horizon.  Don’t silhouette yourself against the skyline.
  10. Never build fires in a clearing.  Make sure you are underneath trees or put some sort of screen over the fire to disburse the smoke.  The smell from smoke or cooking can give you away.
  11. Keep to the shadows and blend into the background.  Make sure there is no lighted background behind you.
  12. Bury all of your waste material.  This includes trash if you cannot carry it with you.  When you fill in the dirt, do your best to make it look as though there is no hole recently dug.
  13. If you are using brush and limbs, make sure that you take them from a position that is not located where you are trying to hide.  Watch out for the cut brush turning brown or losing it leaves.
  14. Don’t use deodorant, perfume or smelly soap; odors can be notice a long way off.  Let yourself get dirty.
  15. Do not disturb the look of the natural surroundings and also use materials that are commonly found in that specific area.
  16. Clothes, packs, weapons and other equipment should have their outlines altered by irregular patterns added to blend with the predominant color of the background in the area
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As you have probably noticed, the same rules that apply to making hunting blinds also apply to military style camouflage.  To become good at making hunting blinds you need to practice, so go out and try it.  Back off 35 yards or so and see if you can spot the weaknesses in your hunting blinds.

Howard

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