Hunting with a 66' longbow out of a Big Mike XL or Man Cave Blind?

[longbow fanatic 1]

I've been considering the purchase of the above listed blinds, mostly because I love my 66" longbow. I'm looking for a blind that allows me to hunt turkey and antelope from a blind with my LB. Has anyone used either of these blinds with a 66" or longer bow?

[katman]

64" has worked fine for me, my buddy hunts the big mike with a 66" and with a cant works but a you need to watch the ceiling clearance.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks, Gery. If that's the case, I may just use my ILF bow (60" recurve).

[McDave]

I'm not sure if I've ever hunted in one of the blinds you've mentioned, but I've hunted in a number of blinds that were made specifically for trad bow clearance.  Even with my 60" recurve, I've had to scrunch down into a half crouch and cant my bow to take a shot.  Usually there is a seat, but I don't think I was able to use it without canting, and the shots you can take from the seat are limited..  I just don't think there is enough extra clearance between a 64 and a 66" bow to make much difference.  Better to learn to scrunch and cant.  I usually spend the first 10-15 minutes in a blind experimenting with what posture I need to get in to take a shot in various directions.

[NBK]

Used a Big Mike with my 66" Dwyer.  My biggest concern was that to shoot from a sitting position I found the primary windows to be a bit high.  For turkeys I had to semi stand/squat for a 10-15 yard shot. FYI.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks, Dave & Mike. Both of the blinds I mentioned are about 84" high. I was hoping to shoot from a seated position. I don't mind shooting a canted bow if necessary.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Never used the big Mike but we have several 350 grounders and there close. I shot a big gobbler with a 70" Hill out of one while standing in the middle of the blind. Not because of windows but because I was canting that beast the two gobblers were strutting 5yds in front of the blind.    :D  

66-68 longbows is what I have been killing all my gobblers out of those blinds for years. Never worry about hitting the top or the windows being to high, there not, just go practice out of them before you hunt.





Have a great season!

Tracy

[huskyarcher]

You will be fine in a Big Mike. Thats what i have and my 64" Omega has plenty of room, and plenty of room left over. Good luck!

[Ray Lyon]

I use a 66" Northern Mist Shelton from my Double Bull blind with no problem. It's the 'Double Wide' model, but that refers to the door entry, not the size of the blind. I like the fabric on the older models versus the new that are being produced via Primos now I believe.  If you find a used Matrix from the Original owners, it's a great blind (my buddy has one of them).

[DanielB89]

I have a big mike XT and the middle windows are definitely higher than needed.  I combat that by instead of lining up the middle window with the intended shot, I like up the corner windows, which are perfect imo.  

The corner window unzip basically to the ground, they're great!  

I can see where the 350 may be better though, depending on size.

[old_goat2]

We used our 66" bows out of a Barronnett Big Cat 360 or a name very similar to that(read CRS has set in) with no problems other than the turkeys wouldn't cooperate. We did take plenty of practice shots though to verify it would work! I know that's not the blind models you mentioned, but hope that gives you some reference to use.

[LBR]

I loved the Ameristep Penthouse blinds, but haven't seen one for sale in several years.  Discontinued?

[CRM_95]

I have a Big Mike's blind, and I can shoot my 64'' bow out of it. I'm tall too, around 6'4''. So even in a short chair I'm still up pretty high. I bet it would work for a 66' bow.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks for all the input! Good stuff here.

[Bow man]

Originally posted by NBK:
Used a Big Mike with my 66" Dwyer.  My biggest concern was that to shoot from a sitting position I found the primary windows to be a bit high.  For turkeys I had to semi stand/squat for a 10-15 yard shot. FYI.

They have a new model now called the Big Cat check it out windows are lower. I will be getting one before Turkey season

[longbow fanatic 1]

Man, I like that 350 Grounder blind. I think that might be my next blind!

[Tradcat]

Hey Gang....Here's a really cool pop up blind modification that my good friend Scott Moore from WAC Outdoors did that deals with this issue. Works like a champ ! Enjoy the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxhFle4GFNw

[longbow fanatic 1]

Great video, TC

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Nice video! I here guys complain all the time and there's all kinds of tricks but I don't use anything in the 350 Grounder. There 84x84 that's a lot of room! I can shoot standing or sitting and move around in the blind even with another person in the blind with me.

If you have any Orchelins farm supply store near you they sell them every year for $99 we have and use 5 of the 350's and have for years. They have held up very well no complaints except I wish the windows and screens were 2 way zippered but it still works out.

Tracy

[elk nailer]

killed my bird out of a big cat last year. lots of room for my 62" recurve.