In the world of duck hunting visibility is your enemy, but concealment is your best friend. You could be right on the X, birds filling the sky, the perfect decoy spread, and flawless calling... but if your blind sticks out like a sore thumb, its game over.
We know that your set up is only as good as your cover around it. So whether your building, and brushing in a brand new blind, or fixing up your old favorite, here are some great duck blind building tips. To help you hide better, hunt longer, and stack more birds.
START WITH THE RIGHT SPOT
Your blind can only be as great as your location, so scout ahead of time before selecting your new spot. Things to keep in mind when scouting ; Try to ( if possible) set up with the wind at your back, this way you are almost forcing the birds to finish in front of you. Look for good areas that ducks may feed, or are already feeding and landing, possibly even get a good sized food plot in if your able to. Use natural backdrops, avoid turning your blind into a huge shadow/ silhouette, thick cattails, and tree lines can help set the perfect backdrop for your perfect blind.
LOW PROFILE
So you have the spot. Now whether your building a brand new blind, or fixing up an old one; try and keep it low and wide, rather than tall, and short. Go as low as you comfortably can, without sacrificing visibility if possible. Frame in shooting windows, that way everyone knows which shooting lane will be theirs, this will save you some last minute fidgeting that may happen when someone is unsure of which hole to poke out of.
DON'T SACRIFICE COMFORT
We'll say that again DON'T SACRIFICE COMFORT. The duck blind is more than just a wooden box and some sticks. It's your fortress. So lets make sure of a few things before were making that 4am trip out to the blind. Watertight; make sure (if it's possible) to have at least a portion, if not all of your blind watertight. EPDM rubber, or a few rolls of Modified tar roofing material can make sure that you stay dry this duck season. (Video on our YouTube coming soon on how you can do this) Add a dry flooring platform if where you will be hunting at is prone to flooding, this way you can keep your gear out of the water and muck. Don't cheap out on your seat/ bench! This is where coffee will be enjoyed, and stories will be told, so make sure its a comfortable height, and length so everyone sitting has some room, and not too wide to where your legs are falling asleep because of them pinching at an awkward angle . Bring some padded seating, a buddy heater, and a coleman stove top... And your fortress in the marsh awaits you. -pro tip- if its possible build a second " room" on the back of the blind. This gives you an area to cook breakfast, or just to keep the stuff you don't need on you at the moment, out of the way.
BRUSH BRUSH BRUSH. THEN BRUSH SOME MORE
A ducks eye catches movement, and unnatural shapes instantly. Use local plants and vegetation to brush your blind with. Reeds, grass, tree limbs,whatever matches the landscape of your hunting area naturally. Think 3D; straight and flat lines are a dead giveaway, and unnatural. So when brushing your blind, brush in layers, and extend out and away, this will make your blind stand out a lot less. Brush everything, the roof, the sides, the front, the back, the dividers between hunters, the dog boxes, anything that is man- made or has any type of sheer or shine to it, brush it. Brush your blind, and then when you think your done... brush it again, concealment is king. - pro tip- keep a pile of brush close by all season. Weather, wind, or just wear-and-tear from the season can expose areas that were once brushed. Keeping an extra pile of brush close by can save you time, and make it easier to make quick fixes. Every morning do a once over of the blind and fill in these spots as they pop up, and you will thank yourself later.
MAKE YOURSELF AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Nothing's worse than hanging the prop of your boat on a rock that you didn't know was there on a cold dark morning. So while your out building, and brushing your mansion in the marsh, take this time as an opportunity to get to know your surroundings. Make note NOW of any deep spots that you or your dog may step in when it's 20 degrees outside. Figure out other ways to get to- and from your blind, just in case roads get shut down, or any other situation that may come up. Plot out your course now that you will take every day to get to your blind, and back safely. Doing this now will save you a lot of time, and frustration later, and also will potentially keep you nice and dry.
A good duck blind doesn't just hide you- it puts you in the perfect position to bring them birds in with confidence. From choosing the perfect location, to building and brushing your home-away-from home. Staying hidden is one of the most overlooked skills in the field. Fancy calling will never compensate for a poorly hidden hunter. Put in the time now, and stack the birds later.
We'll see ya in the blind.