Just received a new Ameri-step penthouse blind as a gift.  (what a woman ....)

Can't wait to be hunting in this thing but wanted to get some input about the shoot-thru netting.
Has anyone had any negative experiences shooting thru the windows or should I plan on having them open ?

Thanks for the advice !

As long as you are using a cut on contact broadhead you will be fine shooting through the netting. If you are hunting deer I would shoot through the netting if you are after turkeys you can leave the window open. I was told on turkey hunting to wear a black shirt and facemask when leaving the window open and is the only thing that I have tried and it has worked for me. The turkeys don't seem to mind the open window deer on the other hand will pick up on the black hole.

I have a friend that has had a hard time with the netting. This guy is a excellant shot and has for the last two years been shooting over or high on antelope. It can be difficult to focus for an instinctive shooter thru the mesh. Practice shooting thru the mesh then before the season replace it and you should be fine.

I think it affects arrow flight.  Do extensive shooting through it before committing to it on a hunt.  Even if it only changes the point of impact by 2 or 3 inches, that would be too much for me.

haven't noticed any effects on arrow flight but it definitely affects my depth perception and therefore my instinctive shooting

I killed a deer, fox, raccon, and squirrel from my Ameristep Penthouse this past season--all shots were through the netting, including one Ace hex-blunt.  If it affects arrow flight, I can't see it, and I can't tell it affected penetration any.

It can bugger your depth perception, and it gets dark quicker inside the blind than outside.  Like anything else, a little practice goes a long way.

Chad

A hex blunt through netting ? .... wow.  That's cool to know !

Everyone says the netting is fine, but I shoot a longbow, and Archer's Paradox is still happening when the arrow goes through. That doesn't work for me. It's fine with my center-shot recurves.

Out to 20 yards or so (as far as I've tried it), no problem....

I have never had any trouble shooting thru the mesh as far as arrow flight is concerned. I have both a penthouse and a DB 360, the only trouble you will run into is not letting the mesh mess with your head when you first start shooting thru it. With some practice you will do fine, if your hunting turkeys you wont need the mesh, they will pay no attention to the black hole effect like deer will. I have shot  my Hills and recurve out of my blinds with no ill effects from the mesh.

Shot a Hex blunt through mine several times--only connected once, but that wasn't due to the netting messing with my arrow--I just plain missed.  

The 'coon, deer, and squirrel were pretty close shots, but the fox was about 20 yds.

All my shots were with a longbow--cut to center, but not past (slightly shy of center with a strike plate)--with wood arrows.

Chad

Last year I shot a recurve and longbow through the nettting and had no problems at all.

Tried field tips for practice and didn't have much luck.

Tracy

Probably stay away for those Gobbler Guillotine and Magnus Bullhead style heads if shooting through netting. Could get bloody inside the blind I would think.

Just thought about this--if the netting isn't pulled tight and secured on all sides of the windows, that might make a difference.  There's velcron on all four sides of the windows on my blind, and I keep the netting pulled tight.  The Ace Hex Blunt flew through the netting straight enough to put a perfect double-lung on a squirrel.

Chad