How to Select a Hunting Blind for Waterfowl & Deer

Hunting blinds are a type of enclosure used to conceal hunters from game and wildlife and come in all types of sizes and styles. There are ground blinds, layout blinds, and elevated blinds, just to name a few. Hunting blinds also range in size from being able to fit one person comfortably to holding five or more hunters. This guide will help you determine what hunting blind is best for you based on the area, conditions, and game you are hunting.

Hunting Ground Blinds

Ground blinds sit on the ground and can be used for many different situations. They are great for hunting in hardwoods or cut fields for animals like turkeys and deer. These blinds can be made of wood and metal for a more permanent fixture, or you can get grounds blinds that are easy to set up and take down, which makes them more portable. Hardshell blinds are great for areas where you know you will not have to move the blind, and they often resist harsh weather conditions better than pop-up blinds.

Pop-up hunting blinds are great for situations where you will have to set up and tear down the blind each time you go out hunting. This makes pop-up ground blinds great options for hunters on public land or in areas where you are not entirely sure where the game animals are typically moving to and from. This will allow you to try different areas to see what spot works best for the type of hunting you will be doing.

When using a ground blind, make sure you are not setting it up in an area that has vegetation that will be blocking shooting lanes. For example, it may be hard to use a ground blind in or along a field with tall grass or hay. So, it is best to set up a ground blind in an area where there is low vegetation or be prepared to clear vegetation from shooting lanes if possible.

Elevated Hunting Blinds

Elevated blinds are similar to ground blinds in the sense that they are an enclosure that is designed to conceal hunters. The difference is that these blinds are placed on platforms that raise them off the ground. This is useful to give hunters a better vantage point as well as to see over taller vegetation such as hay fields. Elevated blinds are also used for waterfowl hunting in flooded fields or wooded areas.

Also labeled as hunting towers or box blinds, elevated blinds are typically sturdier hardshell blinds, so they are not as easy to set up and tear down as portable ground blinds. They are usually used on private land with the intention of keeping the blind there for multiple hunting seasons. Elevated blinds range in size just like ground blinds. These blinds can hold anywhere from two to five people, depending on the specific blind.

Layout Blinds

Layout blinds are placed on the ground, and the hunter lays down in them. They often resemble something similar to a sleeping bag but tend to have a rigid structure. Layout hunting blinds are most often used by waterfowl hunters who are hunting in cut fields. These blinds have a door or flap that lays over top of the hunter to conceal them while waiting, and when birds are within shooting distance, the hunter pushes open the door to take their shot. Layout blinds are easy to use and very portable, but they are designed to fit only one hunter at a time. Some layout blinds may be big enough to fit a hunter and their hunting dog.

Boat Hunting Blinds

Boat blinds are structures that attach to the frame of a boat to hunt waterfowl. These blinds often fold down so that the boat can drive to the hunting spot. Once you are ready to hunt, the blind can be pulled up into place. A duck boat blind is a great option for waterfowl hunters who have a boat because it is easy to use and transport once attached to the boat. It can also conceal as many hunters as the boat can fit.

Choosing Waterfowl and Deer Hunting Blinds

Waterfowl and deer hunting blinds are a useful tool to conceal hunters from game and wildlife. Ground blinds are a great option for hunters who have an area of low vegetation that they are hunting and can either be portable or permanent blinds. Portable ground blinds are a good option for hunters who are hunting on public land, while permanent ground blinds are a good option for hunters on private land. Ground blinds come in various sizes and can fit between one and five people, depending on the specific blind. Elevated blinds are similar to ground blinds, but they are raised off the ground on a platform, offering a vantage position that oversees taller vegetation or a further distance that you would not be able to get when hunting from a ground blind. Elevated hunting blinds are typically hard outer shell blinds designed to be placed in an area for extended periods of time.

Layout blinds are single-person blinds that lay flat on the ground and are primarily used by waterfowl hunters in fields. They are easy to use and transport but typically fit one hunter. Boat blinds are blinds also used by waterfowl hunters and attach directly to a boat. They fold down when not in use and make transporting a blind to the hunting spot very easy while also allowing everyone in the boat to be concealed. Hunting blinds of all types are great tools for concealment, but selecting the best one will depend on your specific situation, including the game you are hunting, your location, and how many people need to fit in the blind. Check out all our Hunting Blind Guides for more tips on buying the best blind for your needs and how to properly set up a hunting blind.