Trad Gang

Alright gang. Thought I'd share how I build my ground blinds and the materials list I use. Hopefully some of y'all find it helpful. I got the idea from another site a few years ago and have been building these for a while now. They hold up well and last (so far) much longer than I've been able to get a high dollar blind to last.

Here's my materials list:

1- 4'x16' cattle panel
1- 12'x27' outdoor carpet (color depends on stock)
Zip ties (as many as you think)
3 or 4 1/2" pvc 8'(for the roof)
1-roll of black painters plastic 4mil thick

I think that's about it, materials wise.

1st thing I do is roll out the carpet and split down the middle. This allows for 2 blinds. I leave 2' overhand on each end and use the remaining 7' for the roof.
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/2012-08-01_17-57-11_862.jpg)

2nd: Lay the cattle panel out on the carpet (black in) allow 3-4" on the bottom. I put the part of the panel with the smaller squares on bottom. You will cut that bottom piece of straight off making spikes. Poke the carpet thru the spikes (this holds the carpet at the bottom)and when you setup, the spikes go into the ground.
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/2012-08-01_18-21-51_134.jpg)

Here's a full length shot. The excess you see up top will serve as a flap to fold up for part of the roof.
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/2012-08-01_18-22-04_450.jpg)

3rd: Start zip tying the panel in whatever fashion/pattern you want. Cut the tag ends off when your done.
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/2012-08-01_19-01-42_218.jpg)
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/2012-08-01_19-01-35_736.jpg)

This picture shows how you can cut the panel in half and reattach for easier transporting. I usually use my 16' trailer and just transport as 1 piece.
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874296065.jpg)

4th: Once you have the panel setup and into a circle, I cut spikes and attach the pvc to form the roof as seen in these pics. Also, when you circle the panel, it will pull the carpet nice and tight.
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874284006.jpg)
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874272292.jpg)

This pic shows how you can use wire to hold the pvc on if you feel the need. I have found that the pressure from the pvc itself holds it on just fine.
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874305955.jpg)

These next series of pics will show will show the pvc attached to form the roof and zip tied. Also you will see how the excess carpet folds up to help form the roof. You can also see how I use the plastic to help with the roof and to keep pretty dry as well. The additional 7' piece of carpet is then put over the plastic and zip tied as well. Being that's is a square piece, you just have to move/place it around to fit as you want.
Note: do not install the roof until you have the blind in place and secured in a circle and your windows are cut. Makes for easier window placement IMO.
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874351870.jpg)
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874359997.jpg)
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874326974.jpg)

5th: Take the blind out and set it up wherever you want. Form your circle a wire it up to hold in place. Before you install your roof, set inside and decide where you want to cut your windows. Be sure not to completely cutoff the carpet, as you can use that to close it up when you want. Once you have the windows where you want, put your roof on. You don't have to do it this way, it was suggested in the original plans I found for this type of blind and it makes sense to me. You can cut the windows whatever size/dimensions you see fit.
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874336246.jpg)
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874315409.jpg)

Lastly: Get out and enjoy your handiwork and a blind that will last you quite a while. Since the carpet is green (couldn't find black anywhere) I do add some brown and black to break it up. You can also choose to brush it in if you prefer.
 (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/JPhilen/1343874254614.jpg)

Total cost per blind is about $85 or so, plus your time.

Nice whats's the weight/ how easy is it to move?

I just did a blind build-a-long very similar. That look's great.

What kind of bow is that?  

:nono:    :nono:    :nono:

Great blind. Thanks for sharing.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bldtrailer:
Nice whats's the weight/ how easy is it to move?

The main weight is in the cattle panel. Not sure of the exact total weight, but for the most part they are easy to move. Remove the top and then move where you want.

QuoteOriginally posted by Shedrock:
I just did a blind build-a-long very similar. That look's great.

What kind of bow is that?      

LOL....that was my old hoyt before I left wheels and moved to stick and string. I do still carry wheels out with me from time to time.

Better pull that last pic or the whole thread probably will get pulled. No wheel bow pics on Tradgang.

Nice blind, Alot like Shedrocks blinds.  :)  

Tracy

Whats interior dimensions about?

QuoteOriginally posted by Soonerlongbow:
Whats interior dimensions about?

I have never really measured them. I use a 16' cattle panel, my best guess is about 6.5-7' is the interior dimension after I do my overlap of the panel. The interior height works out to right at 6'. I will be setting the 2 newest up in just a couple weeks and will post final pics and measure.

Wow!

Hereabouts a "ground blind" means you laid a few branches around a stump to break up your front and back.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2700.jpg)

veryyy nice!

glad I saw a link to this. gonna build a few myself this year. topping it for me.

OK what about building one on it's  :help:   blind)my farmer friend wraps his bales in shrink wrap(white)leaves them on field  :archer:   edges till needed (perfict ambush  :archer2:   sights)

I like it...I've been thinking of taking some poles from an old dome tent, taking some straps and making an X on the ground with them so slip into, shoring up the top so they don't wiggle, then wrapping it in burlap

where did you get the outdoor carpeting? i'm working up a price on this, and that seems to be the most expensive thing. any good alternatives? landscaping fabric, maybe?

Cheap pop-up blinds can be had for under a hundred bucks, and some really decent ones for under $200.  It seems like this DIY one would not be much of a money saver, and for those of us that also have the mindset that 'time is money', forget about it.  I guess I'm just not seeing any advantage to making one vs. buying one, unless the homemade ones are way more durable.

Clever idea though, using a cattle panel.

:thumbsup:

cost vrs time: these hog panel type of blinds are DURABLE! lets see yall take your 200.00 popup blind and leave it in the woods all season (or all year) and see what becomes of it! to me these are semi permanent blinds that can be set early, the animals do get accustomed to them, and are much better than someone that decides "dang its raining today I guess I will take my popup blind"  that being said these Panel blinds are not for everyone and in some cases make no sense.

I bet if you fire off a thermacell in there there wouldn't be a skeeter ANYWHERE inside them!

L.R.

I left an expensive popup out for too long once and it was history. plus, I like the idea of being able to make these fully enclosed, semi-enclosed, or just "panel" style, depending on my needs.

i'm also not much of a builder/tinkerer, but I like the idea of doing this. plus, I think the savings (even though that's not really the main goal) comes in being able to make and have multiple setups.

Dang mice chewed holes in my popup a couple years ago...

Bloodtrailer. .  I am gonna make a wild guess that the deer won't know if it is on its bottom, or top, or side.  Place it next to or near enough to bales, cover with the same white material and you got a blind !
ChuckC

Good deal. I`ve seen one made with 10 pieces of pvc before with camo canvas . Fella had stakes drove in the ground in a circle then put the ends of the pvc over the stakes making a tent frame. tied them together at the top with a wire tie and draped the canvas over tieing it in place. about 35 bucks in it.RC

Very nice!

Very cool, if I didnt live in a theft zone I would have them all over. But the hunter/thieves would have them dismantled and gone overnight.I may make a practice one for the yard.

topping this as well, for my "really gonna do it this time" summer project.

I've seen them made with a tarp covering the top and sides.

That wouldn't last a week where I hunt. It would get legs fast.

I used some old canvas dropcloths on the one i built.I made a wood door frame,hooked each end of the cattle panel to it.Mine is going on four years now.Nice and dry inside,when its raining.
                                Ernie

I like the idea.  I will use that tall growing landscape grass that grows to like 10' to brush one in may take a year for it to grow but will be great when it's done.

Ttt, figured I'd bring this one back up since our deer season is just around the corner. Now that we have some cooler weather I'm going to try to do one of these on a 30 acre tract I've got permission to hunt.

I made two this year (from Bisch's pics). I'm 6'6", and shooting 68" LB, so wanted extra height. I bought 3 panels, cut one in half lengthwise and added each half to one of the others for an extra 18". I used brown outdoor carpet. Total cost for two was around $350 +/-.
I set this one up for spring turkey.

 (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c318/b1r9i6a6n/P5120773_zpsrsidkira.jpg) (http://s30.photobucket.com/user/b1r9i6a6n/media/P5120773_zpsrsidkira.jpg.html)

And this one I set up Friday for deer season.

 (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c318/b1r9i6a6n/P8200808_zpsnuhxqny4.jpg) (http://s30.photobucket.com/user/b1r9i6a6n/media/P8200808_zpsnuhxqny4.jpg.html)