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Need help - semi permanent blind

R

RHarper

New Member
I'm thinking about getting a ground blind for next year but not knowing anything about them and finding a huge selection on the market I thought I'd try to get some experienced inputs before going any farther. Here is my situation.

1. Looking for a semi permanent setup that will stay in place for a month or more. Portability and setup time is NOT an issue.

2. It must be able to handle a snow load or shed it off.

3. Must be able to handle 3 adults but only one shooting at a time.

4. Will be used for muzzle loader mainly.

5. Prefer the ability to stand up in it (6'2") but sacrifice that if needed.

6. Prefer to hold the cost to $300 or less but would consider more for just the right one.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob
 
The double dark horse is a pretty good blind that I think almost fits everything you are looking for. 3 guys is kind of tight but not too bad. We turkey hunt with three guys all the time with 2 bows and one gun and don't run into many issues unless one guy eats mexican the night before.

If you put down all 12 stakes it will sit there for as long as you want. I have hunted in extremely high winds out in Nebraska and the blind flat out doesn't move.

I never hunted in snow but I have a feeling it would hold up well. They make a snow rod that goes in the center of the blind and pushes up against the top hub. I would make sure to put that in place when not hunting out of it. You can easily take it down once in the blind.

They also make a really nice brush cargo net that goes over the blind so you can really brush it in.

You won't be able to stand up in it. I am 6'1 and have to slightly tilt my head. They used to make long bow versions that were higher but I havent seen them in some time.

They can easily be had for less than $300. Theisens usually has them for $200-220.

What I like about the dark horse in the 180 degree shooting in the front. If your gun hunting, you could have the frong open a full 180 degrees with just enough room to get the gun out. I don't think deer would notice it at all.

Another good blind to check out would be the Rhino XP-1. I have heard good things about them as well.
 
The new Double Bull Double Wide would be worth looking into. I was impressed enough to order myself a new one to replace my Dark Horse. Super easy huge door to get in and out easily(without zippers!) and much better hub system.
 
gunrunr said:
The new Double Bull Double Wide would be worth looking into. I was impressed enough to order myself a new one to replace my Dark Horse. Super easy huge door to get in and out easily(without zippers!) and much better hub system.
Click to expand...

Really when did this come out? Can't find any pix of it.

Sent using IW app
 
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Thanks for the inputs! Gunrunr I'm having the same problem as Cooter. I can't seem to google any info on the Double Bull Double Wide. Do you have a link?

Bob
 
Brand new blind just released at the ATA - I have a couple on order and they said they were in stock ready to ship - shouldn't be long. I have a catalog with a pic somewhere in my stack of stuff from the show - will see what I can round up.
 
get yourself a blind support for the roof as i have yet to see a blind that will stand up to a snow load, and I've used dbl bulls, and ameristeps. Also keep the dang thing away from barb wired fences. The dark horse is a good blind but if your looking at setting something up just for gun hunting, I'd almost build something.
 
Thanks for the input hotshott2289. I'd love to build a permanent blind but the best place by far on my property lays on some low land between two creeks just before they merge with funnel points coming on the far side of each creek. About every 4 or 5 years they flood bad (in the spring usually) and bring all kinds of large logs across that low land which would rapidly turn my permanent blind into a portable blind for somebody down stream.

However, your experience with both the dbl bulls and ameristeps mentioned earlier may allow you to help me out a little. I like the added hieght and lower price of the ameristeps but some reviews I have read question their overall quality and the fact that they leak rain badly. The dbl bulls appear to have a little better quality reviews (with a few bad ones of course) and no mention of leaking rain. Leaking rain is not something I will tolerate but possibly the seam sealer fix some have suggested might work.

What has been your experience with them and which would you buy?

Bob
 
dbl bull IMO is the higher quality between the two, we've had some that are still going strong that are four years old and they generally sit out from the end of August- Jan. 10. I will say that if something is to break it will be the little metal socket on the end of the rods that goes into the hub, its a cheaper pot metal, but Primos has excellent customer service and has always replaced them free of charge. I would put dbl bull ahead of ameristep mostly because of quality, less shine, less fade, i like the windows better, and the material doesn't seem to rip as easy
 
Never got wet in my Ameristep, maybe a few drops but nothing bad. As said, mine were up constant, IE, never taken down for over 6 years. When they failed, one had a pole break, ripping the roof and the other had dry rotted. Not bad for a "cheap" blind left up that long. Fading? Darn right they did, anything will left out in UV rays for that long. You said you wanted to be able to stand up. You can't come close to standing in a DB.
 
You can find the Double Bull Double wide on Primos site now. They have the 2012 catalog link there. It is a pdf so it takes forever to down load and I'm not smart enough to copy the info and get it to this site.

So I took a picture with my cell.

I was expecting a larger blind but it is a double wide door is where the double wide comes from.

Boyd how does the door stay shut, cords ties or something else?

If its like the matrix I didnt care for that never seemed to stay shut very good.
 
I see they make a recurve model for the dark horse with a center height of 74 inches (6ft.16in.) Better than the 67 inch standard.

What I wish Primos would do is make the Dark horse without a door. It simply isn't needed. You can easily crawl through the front window. If they got rid of that door then they could get rid of the two windows that are lower. They are too low for me to shoot out of unless I get on my knees. If they had 4 of the high windows that would make the blind perfect in my opinion.
 
Liv4Rut said:
What I wish Primos would do is make the Dark horse without a door. It simply isn't needed. You can easily crawl through the front window. If they got rid of that door then they could get rid of the two windows that are lower. They are too low for me to shoot out of unless I get on my knees. If they had 4 of the high windows that would make the blind perfect in my opinion.
Click to expand...


+1 never have planned shooting out the back even though I've had birds behind me. Just waited for them to circle around to the front. I would rather just have viewing window longer for peaking out of.

Sent using IW app
 
Thanks for all of your replies! I think I've settled on the ameristep after finding out the dbl bull only has a 60" square floor space where the ameristep is 78" (I was missreading the specs for the dbl bull). That extra floor space will help a lot with 3 people and, as Shovelbuck pointed out, the extra height is also a plus, along with the lower price. If I get leaks, I'll just have to seal them.

Bob
 
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