Hunter's Blind

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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I've watched a few how to youtubes on wildlife photography - mostly about birds.
For example:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nDeU3iUIRg
Where the photographer sits in a hunter's blind.

I can get one at the local Canadian Tire store, sporting goods store or order one like this from Amazon
Amazon.com : Evolved Ingenuity 1RX3H019 Hunting Brickhouse Ground Blind, Camo Pattern, 59 x 59 x 67-In. : Ameristep Brickhouse Blind : Sports & Outdoors
Or watch our local buy and sell site like Kijiji and get a used one.
Or build my own from camo netting or whatever.

Question to the bird photographers - is it worth the $100 - $150 to buy one of these? Anyone use one? Recommend it? Waste of money?

I'm thinking of setting up in the backyard mostly but we do live out in a rural area and might take it with me for a day out birding so while if I was only shooting in the backyard a makeshift blind I build is an option but this item offers portability. It also offers some protection from mosquitoes and black flies and the sun I suppose. Although I'd wonder if they tend to get hot on a sunny day like a tent.




No I don't hunt so won't be using it for it's intended purpose.
 
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Deezey

Senior Member
They are only useful if you have the space to bait the birds in. They also get kinda stuffy in the summer. And you need to wear black or you stand out like a sore thumb in them.


Easiest thing to do is wear earth colors and just spot and stalk. Use Binoculars to spot then get in close and finish them off with the camera. A cellphone with a birding app that does calls is a good thing too.

Pattern the birds in your area and you will increase your odds greatly.
 
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Kevin H

Senior Member
I had one and sold it there not for me as for Black Flies and Mosquitoes they'll still get in there for back yard feeders if theres something out there they are used too just sit behind it they'll come back.

As for skittish birds(kingfishers) just wear camo a facemask helps(all found in the hunting department) and find a natural blind I sometimes carry a small chair with me
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I have used them in the past,they have there uses but not all that many,i used mine a lot on the tide line waiting for waders to be driven in by the tide,mine was solid cotton fabric with a frame making it solid box and it could be a sweat box at times.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
From what I've picked up it sounds like it is more suited to wildlife more so than birds. A friend of mine said he's been able to get close shots of deer in the bush in his and uses it all the time but not for birds.
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Have you any where near you with car access that you could start a feeding station,when the get used to the food you could shoot from your car.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Interesting idea Mike, a drive up shooting station. I suppose I could find somewhere - we live in a rather sparsely populated part of rural Canada, only three hour drive to nearest city. My last wild life shots were taken from the driver seat.

Edmonton 200 400 learning-0037.jpg

Deer are considered driving hazards in these parts.
Much less common than the moose, elk and bear that I have seen. Once came upon buffalo on the road - at that time I was cycling - gosh those things are big when they come up and sniff you. (No, not wild, but domestic beast that had escaped)

The truck would offer me much more comfort than a blind.

I think there is part of me that just wants to be a kid with a fort in the backyard I can go and play in and get away from everyone. As for sweltering heat - well on the three days each year when it gets too hot I won't go out.
 
Vixen

Vixen

Senior Member
In my backyard, I just sit in a chair dressed in forest colours (usually green shirt, black shorts) and wait near a birdbath I set up. I have mixed results. Got some great shots when it was really hot, not so much lately as it has been showery and overcast most afternoons. The birds come up quite close to me at times. Too close to get a shot with the Tamzooka!!
 
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montignac

Senior Member
I always remember a bbc documentry of a guy in a blind in India waiting beside a tiger trail to photograph one. He stated in the voice over that at some point he felt he was not alone and on turning with the camera in hand took a photo of a tiger with its head in the hide watching him. It turned and went leaving him alone. I just hope he was wearing brown trousers !!!!
 
Vixen

Vixen

Senior Member
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