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Ameristep Blinds - Need help in the next 2 hours

Shoot2Kill

Shoot2Kill

Active Member
All - I'm turkey hunting tomorrow up here in MN where we are supposed to have just CRAP weather all weekend and I don't have a blind - just yet. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

I don't have the coin to drop on a DB but don't want a piece of junk either. On my way home from work I can stop at a mom and pop gun shop that has just about everything a guy could ever need including 3 styles of Ameristep blinds.

Good and bad - let me hear it. I've heard this is the Ameristep version of the DB. What do you think - Cabelas has it priced for $250 but this shop will give it to me for $169.

Ameristep Blind

He has 2 cheaper ones too - including the doghouse for $69...can't hardly go wrong for $69 to keep my arse out of the wind, snow, and rain tomorrow if the other one isn't worth it. I'm heading there at 4:30 - let's hear it, good and bad.
 
I have an ameristep, brick house I think it is called. It is just as roomy as my buddies DB, just older and has windows rather than the 360 screens. It works for me. In my opioin, with the DB you are paying extra for the name.
 
I've had great success with Ameristep products. But haven't used that one. The ones I've used were the spring steel type as the Doghouse, only larger. They work great and I've found that the folks who hate them just can't figure out how to put them away. I have a Carbon Venture hub blind and it has the magnetic windows like the one your looking at. They are my only complaint so far. If you get it, bring along safety pins as the wind will blow the magnetic windows open.
Good luck.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deeraddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> In my opioin, with the DB you are paying extra for the name.
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I know you already stated it's your opinion and I can respect that. But I've now owned both the Ameristep Brickhouse and the DB Matrix. Here's my take.... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

What you are paying extra for is heavier fabric (not thin plastic type material) that doesn't shine in the sun, your're paying extra for stake hold downs that actually were made to hold your blind down (not just a fabric loop but an actual steel eye reinforced in the fabric), you're buying a blind that has additional side ropes for more support in the wind, you're paying extra for heavy duty zippers and you're paying for more usable are in terms of the window openings.

My Brickhouse lasted two years before the hubs went bad and the rods broke. Service wasn't that good - took me 6 weeks to get the parts to fix my blind cause they didn't have them in stock. I've had the DB since last fall and have used it a dozen times and it seems like a rock solid investment.

For $169 you could buy two blinds for what one DB will run ya. This is one of those products that I firmly belive you get what you pay for. Good luck in this crappy weather! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
Well put Willie!


get what you can afford, but the DB is an investment that you will be glad you got!

Good Luck!
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Willie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deeraddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> In my opioin, with the DB you are paying extra for the name.
</div></div>

I know you already stated it's your opinion and I can respect that. But I've now owned both the Ameristep Brickhouse and the DB Matrix. Here's my take.... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

What you are paying extra for is heavier fabric (not thin plastic type material) that doesn't shine in the sun, your're paying extra for stake hold downs that actually were made to hold your blind down (not just a fabric loop but an actual steel eye reinforced in the fabric), you're buying a blind that has additional side ropes for more support in the wind, you're paying extra for heavy duty zippers and you're paying for more usable are in terms of the window openings.

My Brickhouse lasted two years before the hubs went bad and the rods broke. Service wasn't that good - took me 6 weeks to get the parts to fix my blind cause they didn't have them in stock. I've had the DB since last fall and have used it a dozen times and it seems like a rock solid investment.

For $169 you could buy two blinds for what one DB will run ya. This is one of those products that I firmly belive you get what you pay for. Good luck in this crappy weather! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif </div></div>

Great info - that's exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks for all the feedback - Shovelbuck you don't really count since you hide in the weeds and kill them without a blind like an overgrown ninja. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif Just kidding....thanks...this place has a doghouse for $69....for only a 5 day season it might be what I choose just so I can sit out there and not get rained on all day and not drop too much money....4 month old babies have a tendency to drain the pocketbook. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

I'm not sitting out in the middle of the fields so it won't be sticking out like a sore thumb so it will be better than sitting next to a cold wet tree. If it's gonna snow I'm going to kill one - may never kill another spring turkey in the snow the last week of April...it will make for a cool harvest pic!
 
Re: Ameristep Blinds - Need help in the next 2 hou

I have a couple Doghouse blinds and I don't mind them. I'm not afraid to leave them out and they work great to keep the rain off of you. It will "shine" a little in full sunlight so I like to tuck mine into the shadows and brush it in well. I've had turkeys walk right past it with no problem. If you want a cheap,light, effective blind that you won't loose sleep over go for the Doghouse. Once you get the take-down practiced its easy to do even in the dark. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
I bought an Ameristep Brickhouse last spring for turkey hunting and one of the parts connecting to the hub broke, they sent me 4 replacement parts, great service! But then the next weekend another hub broke, in the end I concluded they aren't meant to be put up and down. Make good blinds if you want to put them up and leave them but I had troubles with mine. They may have the problem solved now, customer service was good but made for some frustrating two weekends of turkey hunting.
 
I purchased the new Brickhouse 2008 model this year. The fabric doesn't shine like the older models, and they also have the 360 degrees of viewing like the DB. I've taken it down and put it up several times and it has been rock solid. I bought it for $169...can't go wrong w/ that. Until I have bad luck with it I'm going to say you can't go wrong with the Brickhouse. My opinion may change by next year at this time.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SEIowaDeerslayer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I purchased the new Brickhouse 2008 model this year. The fabric doesn't shine like the older models, and they also have the 360 degrees of viewing like the DB. I've taken it down and put it up several times and it has been rock solid. I bought it for $169...can't go wrong w/ that. Until I have bad luck with it I'm going to say you can't go wrong with the Brickhouse. My opinion may change by next year at this time. </div></div>

I got it....I went in there thinking about the doghouse, but the appeal of the 360 viewing got me. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif Seems pretty solid. Any blind will be good tomorrow.....as I sit and look out my window and see the sleet bouncing off the glass. There are winter storm warnings out for parts of western MN with quite a few main roads shut down already....awesome.
 
Well Shoot2kill, I know by your post you already made a choice in your blind. How did it fair in your opinon? Look in the Tech Talk and 3d forum, sounds as if some others are experiencing some issues with some of the DB blinds now. Glad I saved my $ a few years ago when I bought my blind and bought the ameristep. Zero issues for me so far, though I realize that isn't saying much. The next guy that you talk to may have had issues with this brand. Opinions are going to vary I guess. Hope you fared well on your hunt. Will have to look and see if you have a harvest photo posted now.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deeraddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well Shoot2kill, I know by your post you already made a choice in your blind. How did it fair in your opinon? Look in the Tech Talk and 3d forum, sounds as if some others are experiencing some issues with some of the DB blinds now. Glad I saved my $ a few years ago when I bought my blind and bought the ameristep. Zero issues for me so far, though I realize that isn't saying much. The next guy that you talk to may have had issues with this brand. Opinions are going to vary I guess. Hope you fared well on your hunt. Will have to look and see if you have a harvest photo posted now. </div></div>

No harvest photo yet.....Saturday was a total waste in snowstorm even though I was out there in my new blind sipping coffee and texting everyone I know to stay occupied as I watched it snow like a mother. The blind definetely made it tolerable out there. I wouldn't have lasted 20 minutes without it. Sunday it was still 27 degrees in the morning but the birds were talking...couldn't seal the deal....this morning I made a classic IDIOT move and tried to get closer to a bird on the roost and my dumb arse jumped him. I'm still shaking my head in disgust that I did that. Got 2 more days yet....

The blind....it's awesome. For as little as I will probably use it I love it and don't think the 4 hundy for the DB would be worth it to me. To me turkey hunting has always been so enjoyable for me when I can just go in with my backpack, decs in one hand and gun in the other. I do like the comfort of sitting in the blind, but I hate carrying all that crap and the set up and take down when it's dead quiet in the morning.....I like it simple out there so I don't plan to use it all the time. I'll keep the blind handy for bad weather days and for when my son is a little older and maybe if I ever decide to bow hunt them. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif But for now, the weather is gone and it's supposed to be prime weather the next 2 days so I'll be going in light and hope to fill my dang tag!!!!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
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