I just picked up (really easy, only 12 pounds!) a Ghost Blind Predator. For those that aren't familiar, it is a 4-panel folding blind made of Coroplast (plastic corrugated cardboard, essentially) that is mirrored on the front. It points down, so it doesn't reflect the sun or the animal, but it picks up the local ground surface and mirrors it, making you blend in anywhere. That's the theory - anyone test it yet?
I have edited this post for clarification.
I made one similar and it worked well.
I call mine "Fake Front Blind"... just want to keep myself out of trouble...lol
Mudd how did you make one? I liked the idea for my dad since cant do treestands
Mudd , I also am trying to build one what are you using for the mirror part the reflective finish ?
Mudd, it sounds like you have a lot of interest in how you made one. I like the concept, but at that price I'd like to see alternative methods as well. It doesn't even come with a carrying case (that's extra)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjUJyXE3jhY
Check out youtube mirror blinds, looks easy
Here it is set up in my back yard.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC01803.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC01803.jpg.html)
Here it is set up in a grassy field. My truck is parked up on the road as a reference so I could be sure I got the blind in the shot...lol
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC00930.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC00930.jpg.html)
I used some kind of thin corrugated board I found in the bathroom fix up area at Menards. In my 1st attempt I used some kind of mirrored covering for windows I also found in Menards. I wasn't satisfied with how it looked so I ordered some mirrored Mylar from a greenhouse supply company. That was the ticket!!
The trick is in cutting the angles along the bottom so it will stand and be slightly directed toward the ground.
It's 4 panels held together with zip ties. I tried some extra thin rope at the top on each end so I could anchor it to the ground so wind wouldn't be a problem.
The bottom line is, it works and for not a lot of money.
God bless,Mudd
PS: I used a good spray on adhesive to apply the Mylar.
This is a shot from the back side set up in the woods.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC00950.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC00950.jpg.html)
Same set up but from the front with my cheapo deer decoy hiding in it for effect.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC00958.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/Fake%20Front%20Blind/DSC00958.jpg.html)
God bless,Mudd
PS: I call mine a "Fake Front Blind" so as not to cause myself any problems.
Mudd,
I can see your head in that last pic. You look a lot more like a deer than I remember. Anyway, you might want to put on an orange cap during gun season.
I like your blind though. Serious optical illusion. Makes me feel like I need my contact prescription adjusted.
I have used one alot..usually after it snows as I have other blinds for early and mid season hunting...when it snows and it is cold the snow is so crunchy that sitting all day is the best bet and the ground is alot warmer than a tree stand in -20 weather...they work very very good...I had a friend sitting in mine and a coyote came by at 7 yards...and their eyesight is alot better than any of the deer family... I'll attach a photo of mine in snow
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff383/bte1958/P1020924_zps8dd4b2df.jpg) (http://s1233.photobucket.com/user/bte1958/media/P1020924_zps8dd4b2df.jpg.html)
I usually sit back about 7 ft behind the blind in a small chair and that way I can shoot right side or left side...I avoid shooting over the blind...wait till the animal passes by then take a quartering away shot....I also wear good snow camo and last year I hate to admit it but fell asleep to wake up to a small 3x3 buck looking at me from the side behind the blind but at 5 yards...I assume he walked by the front by the way he was facing until he moved to the side of the blind...LOL if it is windy make sure you use the supplied tie downs to aviod the blind moving in the wind...in a strong wind you would need to lean it against a few trees and tie it down
I think there is also a instructional do it yourself on the ***tube awesome blind Mudd...
listed.... diy mirror blind if you can stand the music with the video LOL
Back in the 70's I tried this by making a frame and using mirrored auto window tint material. I'll say it worked if the lighting was right.
Chuck
Hey Trubltrubl, where in Alberta are you? I'm from Edmonchuk, but I tend to hunt close to the Saskatchewan border near Paradise Valley.
Interesting story here. Almost thirty years ago I was moving some of my wife's mirrors to a shed. I leaned one against a nearby sapling and was struck with the idea for a reflective camo blind. I ordered some thin sheets of reflective Mylar that could be rolled up like a tube. I was very impressed how effective it was by reflecting whatever cover was directly in front of the surface. I was so impressed I paid a patent attorney a couple thousand bucks to run a patent search on the idea. At the time I was living in Whitefish, Montana. As a total coincidence an outdoor writer by the name of Norm Strung from Bozeman, Montana (never met the man) had three or four years left on a patent he had filed for years previous and never pursued. I intended to wait to see if Mr. Strung was going to go forward with it or let it go. Before his patent ran out Mr. Strung unfortuneately committed suicide. A phone call to the patent attorney revealed that would create all kinds of complications in the matter and I let it go. I remember I used to call mine "Mirroflage". The concept works excellent. BW
Hey Barry....maybe you should follow up with the Mylar Ghili suit!!!!!
Invisible and mobile!!!