Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

Portable heaters

dbltree

dbltree

Super Moderator
For years I have just "toughed" it out in my ground blinds during late season hunts, sometimes with temps near 10 below
crazy.gif


I've always been leery of portable heaters after reading about hunters who died in thier blinds while using some sort of heater
frown.gif


I'd sure like to try one of these portable buddy heaters...have any of you used them (or something along this line) in a blind?

My blinds are as tight as I can make them to help control scent...but they are hardly "airtight" either.

Portable Heater

Seems like they vary in price a lot...
confused.gif



Northern Tool

If they work as advertised with a low oxygen sensor to shut them down, then they should be safe?

Any thoughts??
 
I've used a Mr. Buddy heater plenty.

Never had any trouble with them. The only people I have ever heard of being injured from a heater in a blind are the people that burn themselves (minor) or burn their stand up becuase they had a cracked rubber hose going to their heater.

They do ping and pop a bit as thier warming up a bit.

Dean
 
I have a Mr Buddy that I bought last year and have used it several times. It seems pretty safe from what I can tell and it does work pretty well too. I bought the 12 foot extension hose and plan to use it off a 20 gallon propane tank this next weekend.

I foolishly left it uncovered in my woodshop though this summer and when I went to use it this fall it kept shutting off after about 10 minutes. I took it apart and cleaned it per the manual and it seems to be working fine again now. The moral of that story... don't store it in a dusty environment.
 
I have had one for about 5-6 years now and think that it is a good heater. I haven't experienced any sounds as it heats up. I just use the 1lb cylinders. On the high setting it will last several hours, and on the low setting it will last alot longer. Most that I've seen lately are around $70.
 
I love my Mr. Buddy. Fits in a backpack perfectly and really takes the edge off in cold weather. My wife, Hoytgirl, loves it.
 
dbltree, I have one and you are more than welcome to stop by and use it if you want. I dont think I'll will be using it. You do not have to worry about the CO, with the windows open you will have pleanty of fresh air coming in. You will never get enough parts per million of CO to cause any issues.. Like I said if you want to try one just let me know.... I built a wooden blind last year for my wife and it is 6x8 and it is not insulated and the buddy heater might warm it up a few degrees but you will still need heavy clothes and gloves. Im talking about on 0-20 degrees outside..
 
When hunting from the U.D.B. The wife says that means ugly deer blind
grin.gif

552UDB.jpg


I use one of these......Even in zero temps I can usually have my coat and hat off.
552big_heater.JPG



If I'm hunting from one of my pop up blinds, this small heater....
552small_heater.jpg


works well. In larger blinds like the Ameristep Penthouse, it takes the chill off but it works much better in blinds the size of DB's.

When I'm gun hunting I feel there is no need in freezing your butt off. I can even cook in the UDB
grin.gif
I just wish I could get the landowner to run power out to it for me.
grin.gif
 
I have used all three of the above with good results deer hunting and ice fishing. I Like the compact features and BTU output of the big buddy unit. They will spoil you in a hurry! But after a couple months in the tree that's not a bad thing
waytogo.gif
!
 
Two thumbs up from a big ice fisherman on the buddy and big buddy!!

I also have a double burner, and single burner mr heater, with 20 lbs and five lbs tanks.

I would recommend not using the 1 lbers...if you have to switch the 1 lbers it smells a little bit, the five pound tank is about perfect for everything!
 
If your blinds are really tight, you may be able to get by with something like a small personal heater...like a blackjack heater. I ice fish alot as well, and have a couple of different btu sizes to use depending on the conditions. On a mild day (20 or so) the buddy heater, even on the low setting, keeps it almost too warm and I find myself shutting it off and restarting it quite a bit.

NWBuck
 
Mr. Heater and the buddy heaters are awesome. I usually set mine on low and can stay toasty for quite a while. They are great for those bitterly cold slug and muzzleloader hunts. They can be loud when you push the ignite button and give a little "pop!" but it isn't that bad.
 
It appears they are a hot item this time of year
grin.gif


Several places are sold out already and it's gonna be just a mite bit frosty this weekend
crazy.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
It appears they are a hot item this time of year
grin.gif


Several places are sold out already and it's gonna be just a mite bit frosty this weekend
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
I made the same mistake last year Paul. I waited until it got cold out to start looking for a heater. By then they were sold out or already had them put away and the spring gardening stuff on the shelf!
confused.gif
I did finally end up with a buddy heater. "The only way I could get the wife to shotgun hunt was in the blind" and it did a great job. One way I've seen to improve ventilation and decrease scent is an idea derived from some of the high dollar air tight blind makers. They use about 20 foot of 4" non-perforated field tile as a "chimney" if you will. They just attach it to the roof of the blind and hoist it up in a tree with some rope. It lets scent and fumes escape above the noses of game. If I ever get time to build a permanent blind I'm going to give it a try. P.S. Orschlens and Wal Mart should have the Buddy heaters.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It appears they are a hot item this time of year
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

P.S. Orschlens and Wal Mart should have the Buddy heaters.

[/ QUOTE ]

I finally did find one at Orschlens (Wal-Mart didn't appear to handle them) TSC carries them but was sold out...although they may have more in by now.

Tried mine out yesterday and it was worth every penny!
waytogo.gif


The directions say to allow 9 sq inches of venilation (3x3) so cracked the window a bit.

I like the idea of a pipe extending upwards!
cool.gif
I've heard of guys putting a charcoal filter in them also.

That way the lower fresh air venilation creates a draft up and out at a ht above the deer.

Venilation is a must I can see that! With the windows closed up tight it gave me a little bit of a headache which I took as a warning to "follow directions"
crazy.gif
grin.gif


LilBuddyatwork.jpg


Skully the only way I could get my wife to go sit in a blind with me is if...I promised her a shopping spree in the ...Bahamas
grin.gif
 
Looks like you stayed pretty cozy in there Paul. The charcoal filter idea is great. I have alot of left over construction lumber that is screaming "TREE TOWER"! I'm ready to go Swiss Family Robinson style.
grin.gif
 
i've used a portable heater in a little portable ice house, it's sort of different, but it works fine. so i would just go for it. And if you have any problems just turn it off
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom