New blinds for 2015

We have new hunting venues at camp this year. I thought you would like to see some pictures.

S10:

SuperCore had open heart surgery over the summer, so he’s not quite ready for the long treks out to the Jagendehutte. I remedied the situation by building a blind out of 2X4 and the cap off the old S10. It overlooks Skunk Hollow from the other side and cuts SuperCore’s morning walk in half. The 2X4’s are pretty self-explanatory from the photo. The S10’s fiberglass top fit on top of a 2X2 rail on inside and clamps on just like it did on truck. I cut a 8X10 camo tarp from Harbor Freight and banged on a few extra grommets. Those panels attach to the side of the blind with clothes line and electrical ties. If you undo one corner of the back panel, it open up like a door.

Fountain Square:

You may remember how I bought a couple buddy style treestands from Sportsman’s Guide over the summer. I ain’t exactly crowin’ about the deal anymore. Truth is they leave a lot to be desired.

1) The ladder is about a 2/3 the width of what I expected. That makes it a bit more unstable on the initial climb. Now that it is fully installed and all the straps are tightened down, that is not so x much of a problem, but it made for a hairy first climb.

2) The shooting rail is made more for a little kid. It’s two short and does not extend out far enough for my taste. I have to duck down to get it over my head as I’m getting in.

3) My old Hunter’s View Buddy Stands are 85 lbs. I think these are 65 lbs. You can see why there is a lot more flex in these, and the tubing is of smaller diameter. This for a small Dad and a smaller kid. I’m okay by myself, but either of my kids could not have fit in there with me at age 8.

4) It has been up since September, and it is already starting to rust.

I decided to keep one stand packed up in the box. The other I deployed to within 150 yards of the house. It overlooks Fountain Square, a major crossroads on the farm, where the main N/S road joins the road going west as well as the way to the Boondocks to the north and west. Deer cross here all the time.

Blackberry :
Angus is using one of the buddy stand with only a couple of sections of ladder to exploit an island in the western pasture that adjoins The Garbage Pit. We frequently see deer out in this field. The trees were not big enough to support a 15 foot stand, but 8 feet was all he needed.

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