Opinions needed for optimal deer blind design

[Jhamer]

I would appreciate any opinions and experienced insight on this.

I’ve been considering building some portable deer blinds this winter on either 4 wheeled running gears or 2 wheeled trailers.
I would really appreciate some input from any of the forums members.

So first question would be, do you think there would be enough demand that I could sell them and secondly if I do this, what would you guys recommend that I use for an ideal floor height of a blind and what would you consider to be a minimum floor height that I could use?
We have to keep in mind being able to deliver these over the highways.
I could possibly build them in two pieces tho that would have to be stacked once we get them to the field..

Another concern I have is that I intend to build these blinds very stout so that they would last a hunter for a lifetime..
I plan on using steel as the base frame and the rest out of treated lumber and camouflaged steel panel siding. I want to make these well insulated so they will be sound and odor proof as well as retaining heat on cold days, although there will have to still be plenty of windows.

So that raises another question of having to much cost in these blinds and limiting interested buyers.
Can you also give me an idea of a price range that I should stay in.

Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated

 

[yoderjac]

There are very few cases where I would want a blind on a trailer or mobile base. Blinds like this would be practically limited to firearm season here. Trying to get a trailered blind in and leveled on uneven ground is an issue. I could not get them into many locations where I would want a blind. Blind requirements vary be latitude. In the north, guys want sealed blinds for the cold. In the south, I want low to high air flow to reduce heat and send scent out up high. In my area, I want push out type windows hinged at the top to provide shading.

I typically build my own elevated blinds in the spots I want them. I've played around with 6x6, 8x8. and 6x8. 6x8 works well for 2 folks. 6x6 is sufficient for one person. My last blind was build before COVID, but I was spending between $500 and $1,000 per blind in material. I don't count my labor. The orientation, window height, and elevation are all custom to the location of the blind relative to the topography and vegetation surrounding it.

I typically want to see a blind 10' minimum off the ground and prefer 15' in some circumstances. I like a downward shooting angle. In addition to the safety factor, it provides a lower exit wound making for a better blood trail.

There are lots of folks out there selling all kinds of blinds, from popup, hard-sided elevated, to mobile. I've even seen some nice mobile blinds that elevate themselves. I've used these for handicapped hunters. They are quite expensive. I think you will find plenty of competition. Keep in mind, the bigger and heavier these are, the higher shipping costs will be either increasing cost or limiting your market to local.

If you decide to move forward, I'd suggest making one of them for display and then building them as you get orders until you can convince yourself that this is a viable enterprise.

 

[Drycreek]

Personally, I think it would be hard to compete with the big companies, but if you could build a quality blind at a considerable savings over what’s out there, you could most likely sell some. I think you would need to stay around $1500 or less to sell many of them.

I’ve had them as tall as 10’ to the floor, but my preferred height now is a five foot platform, it’s just easier to hide where I hunt. I also have a couple that sit a foot or so off the ground. Floor height is probably going to vary with differing locations. A beanfield hunter might need a 15’ tower where for my hunting, 5’ would be fine. Those are much easier to get into when you’re old like me. Anything that’s above five feet, IMO, needs stairs and a landing. I could do the ladder for years, but I only have one left that I have to climb into and I don’t look forward to it. We all get old hopefully, and if you don’t need easy now, you will one day.

They need to accommodate two office chairs side by side if you are talking gun blinds, people are going to have wives or kids hunting with them at times, and used office chairs are the preferred seating in my neck of the woods. Sliding windows or windows that hinge upward seem to be the most popular, tinted if possible. An RV style door, plenty of shelving inside, both front and sides. The side shelf is handy to rest your elbow on when shooting.

I never liked rear windows in my blinds, don’t need my silhouette giving me away, but some folks want to see 360*. Inside needs to be painted black after insulation with foam board or whatever you use. I’m sure there is something I’m leaving out, and these are just my thoughts. I’ve never owned a blind on wheels, I just move mine with a tractor, so no ideas on that. Good luck !

 

[yoderjac]

Personally, I think it would be hard to compete with the big companies, but if you could build a quality blind at a considerable savings over what’s out there, you could most likely sell some. I think you would need to stay around $1500 or less to sell many of them.

I’ve had them as tall as 10’ to the floor, but my preferred height now is a five foot platform, it’s just easier to hide where I hunt. I also have a couple that sit a foot or so off the ground. Floor height is probably going to vary with differing locations. A beanfield hunter might need a 15’ tower where for my hunting, 5’ would be fine. Those are much easier to get into when you’re old like me. Anything that’s above five feet, IMO, needs stairs and a landing. I could do the ladder for years, but I only have one left that I have to climb into and I don’t look forward to it. We all get old hopefully, and if you don’t need easy now, you will one day.

They need to accommodate two office chairs side by side if you are talking gun blinds, people are going to have wives or kids hunting with them at times, and used office chairs are the preferred seating in my neck of the woods. Sliding windows or windows that hinge upward seem to be the most popular, tinted if possible. An RV style door, plenty of shelving inside, both front and sides. The side shelf is handy to rest your elbow on when shooting.

I never liked rear windows in my blinds, don’t need my silhouette giving me away, but some folks want to see 360*. Inside needs to be painted black after insulation with foam board or whatever you use. I’m sure there is something I’m leaving out, and these are just my thoughts. I’ve never owned a blind on wheels, I just move mine with a tractor, so no ideas on that. Good luck !

I completely agree on rear window. I always have one corner of the blind with no window and that is where I sit. My push-out, solid, top-hinged windows provide additional shading so I don't have direct light hitting me. When I want to look for game, every now and then, I sit up from my slouched position for a view. Only after I've spotted game to I move from the corner when I can assess the game's response.

 

[swat1018]

We build blinds from insulated garage door panels. Double faced steel, insulated, durable, structurally sound. No framing needed, just inside and outside corners,screws and silicone. Walls and roof. The floor is treated lumber, with plywood and a rubber mat over. Sliding pole barn style windows, it's airtight enough that we rarely get scent busted. It accomplishes everything your design would, but better and simpler.

Good luck, I know I could sell these. Everyone that sees them asks if they can get one.

 

[catscratch]

We build blinds from insulated garage door panels. Double faced steel, insulated, durable, structurally sound. No framing needed, just inside and outside corners,screws and silicone. Walls and roof. The floor is treated lumber, with plywood and a rubber mat over. Sliding pole barn style windows, it's airtight enough that we rarely get scent busted. It accomplishes everything your design would, but better and simpler.

Good luck, I know I could sell these. Everyone that sees them asks if they can get one.

Pics would be great!

 

[mississippi]

I would appreciate any opinions and experienced insight on this.

I’ve been considering building some portable deer blinds this winter on either 4 wheeled running gears or 2 wheeled trailers.
I would really appreciate some input from any of the forums members.

So first question would be, do you think there would be enough demand that I could sell them and secondly if I do this, what would you guys recommend that I use for an ideal floor height of a blind and what would you consider to be a minimum floor height that I could use?
We have to keep in mind being able to deliver these over the highways.
I could possibly build them in two pieces tho that would have to be stacked once we get them to the field..

Another concern I have is that I intend to build these blinds very stout so that they would last a hunter for a lifetime..
I plan on using steel as the base frame and the rest out of treated lumber and camouflaged steel panel siding. I want to make these well insulated so they will be sound and odor proof as well as retaining heat on cold days, although there will have to still be plenty of windows.

So that raises another question of having to much cost in these blinds and limiting interested buyers.
Can you also give me an idea of a price range that I should stay in.

Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated

There is a pretty big outbreak of CWD here in MS.
Most of the hunters have given up hunting deer.
So they have not been spending money on hunting supplies too much.

 

[mississippi]

Chronic Wasting Disease​ ​

As you head into the woods this hunting season, MDWFP asks you to continue helping fight Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). A primary way you can help is by submitting CWD samples from harvested deer at a drop off location or participating taxidermist.​

 

[mississippi]

• North Mississippi Management Zone: Includes all portions of Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties. Only portions of Coahoma, Quitman, and Tunica counties defined as: areas south of Highway 4; areas east of Old Highway 61 to the intersection of Highway 49 (Lula); areas east of Highway 49 to the intersection of Highway 278; areas north of Highway 278; and areas west of Highway 3.
• Issaquena Management Zone: Only portions of Issaquena County defined as all areas east of the Mississippi River, and all areas south of Highways 14. This also includes all portions of Warren County and Claiborne Counties.
• Harrison Management Zone: Includes all portions of Harrison County west of Hwy 49, all portions of Hancock County east of Highways 53, 603, and 43; and all portions of Hancock County east of Nicholson Avenue.

 

[Jhamer]

There are very few cases where I would want a blind on a trailer or mobile base. Blinds like this would be practically limited to firearm season here. Trying to get a trailered blind in and leveled on uneven ground is an issue. I could not get them into many locations where I would want a blind. Blind requirements vary be latitude. In the north, guys want sealed blinds for the cold. In the south, I want low to high air flow to reduce heat and send scent out up high. In my area, I want push out type windows hinged at the top to provide shading.

I typically build my own elevated blinds in the spots I want them. I've played around with 6x6, 8x8. and 6x8. 6x8 works well for 2 folks. 6x6 is sufficient for one person. My last blind was build before COVID, but I was spending between $500 and $1,000 per blind in material. I don't count my labor. The orientation, window height, and elevation are all custom to the location of the blind relative to the topography and vegetation surrounding it.

I typically want to see a blind 10' minimum off the ground and prefer 15' in some circumstances. I like a downward shooting angle. In addition to the safety factor, it provides a lower exit wound making for a better blood trail.

There are lots of folks out there selling all kinds of blinds, from popup, hard-sided elevated, to mobile. I've even seen some nice mobile blinds that elevate themselves. I've used these for handicapped hunters. They are quite expensive. I think you will find plenty of competition. Keep in mind, the bigger and heavier these are, the higher shipping costs will be either increasing cost or limiting your market to local.

If you decide to move forward, I'd suggest making one of them for display and then building them as you get orders until you can convince yourself that this is a viable enterprise.

I wanted to thank everyone of you for your experienced input. Many of the comments made were issues that I never thought about.
You all gave me many things to consider and take into account when I design my blind.
I’m thankful that you shared with me your knowledge of hunting in the southern regions with different terrains and a different climate to consider.
Being from northern Illinois that was a thought that never crossed my mind.
Thanks again

 

[Jhamer]

Thank you to everyone that replied and shared your thoughts with me

 

[swat1018]

Pics would be great!

 

[Jhamer]

I can post a photo here once I get a blind built.
Also I would we willing to custom build one to meet someones specifications if interested

 

[yoderjac]

I can post a photo here once I get a blind built.
Also I would we willing to custom build one to meet someones specifications if interested

Lost of members post pictures of the blinds they have built on here and some include the plans they developed. There is also a "Classifieds" forum on here for selling stuff.

What would even be more informative to folks is to take pictures during the build and post them.

Best of luck!

 

[catscratch]

Thanks for the pics! Not at all what I envisioned with garage door panels.

 

[Native Hunter]

This is one I designed myself.

*12x12, three levels

* poured concrete floor on lower level and advantech floors on mid and upper levels.

*Inside ladder access between levels, with removable floor panels.

* Outside step access through doors to mid and upper

* two doors access lower level from ground - one big enough for atv

* wrap around deck on three sides

* Pella double hung windows

* treated plywood covered with metal

* near 100% guaranteed bow shot at a deer on every hunt - but not always at the one you want.

 

[Drycreek]

This is one I designed myself.

*12x12, three levels

* poured concrete floor on lower level and advantech floors on mid and upper levels.

*Inside ladder access between levels, with removable floor panels.

* Outside step access through doors to mid and upper

* two doors access lower level from ground - one big enough for atv

* wrap around deck on three sides

* Pella double hung windows

* treated plywood covered with metal

* near 100% guaranteed bow shot at a deer on every hunt - but not always at the one you want.

View attachment 28765

Well, there are glorified outhouses, and then there are condos ! Is there a bar in that blind, dance floor maybe ?

 

[jsasker007]

Looks like the dance floor is on the far end of the basketball court.

 

[Native Hunter]

Well, there are glorified outhouses, and then there are condos ! Is there a bar in that blind, dance floor maybe ?

Yep, you should see me do the Twist and the Hoochy Koo when I shoot a Bigun.