New Dark Horse Blind

[Bowwild]

Folks,
I've acquired a new Dark Horse blind by Double Bull. I've used Gametracker blinds for several years.  Are there anythings I should be careful about when using the blind to keep it working properly?  I figured I'd ask this to prevent breaking something BEFORE I use it. I haven't viewed the DVD that came with it. I was surprised to find no printed instructions except the orange put and take down notes attached to the bag.  Looks like a very nice blind. I can draw my 60" recurves sitting or on my knees (I'm 5'6").

[Hardcorehunter]

Easiest way to use them is mark the roof hub with a different cord color then the other hubs. Pull on this newly tied on roof hub cord and open the roof from the OUTSIDE of the blind. Now walk around the OUTSIDE of the blind and pull open each hub by pulling on the attached cord, starting with any one, then go to the OPPOSITE side of that one, and pull on the cord attached to that hub and open it; repeat for the last two hubs. When closing, push a hub in from the OUTSIDE of the blind, go to the opposite hub, do the same, close the last two the same way, and the roof last.

[Bowwild]

Hardcore,
Thank-you!  This is exactly the type of tip I was hoping for!  I've put the blind up one time following the instructions from the INSIDE of the blind. Your system sounds much more appealing. I will do what you recommend. You made my day and thanks for taking the time! I bought three of these blinds and I will pass your tip on to my son and my best friend before they use theirs.

When I bought the Game Tracker I damaged it the first time I used it by not understanding one of the set up and take-down instructions. I'm trying to make sure this doesn't happen again.

[ChuckC]

The instructions are in the video.  I found I could not do what they did in the video.  In fact not even close.  

I eventually found a way to open mine fairly easily, but it is not like the video.  

I also determined that my rods were cut too long and shortened most of them.  This took a bit of time but made the whole process easier.  

All that said. . .  I like the blind
ChuckC

[Bowwild]

Thanks Chuck.

I ordered these blinds in late February and they just came in  last week -- they (Primos) changed vendors. They were worth the wait though -- appear to be very well made with a hunter's attention to detail.

 I have never hunted anything but turkey out of blinds here in KY.  However, I was treated to a one day hog/deer hunt in TX a couple of years ago. What a thrill it was to shoot a deer and hog from 15 yards at ground level!  I'm going to do a bit of it this year. I'm thinking my first traditional kill since 1974 will be from this blind.

[JPE]

Where do you live in Ky? I am a dealer and thought if you were close enough we could get togeather and I would demonstrate it for you.

[stagetek]

I've got an older one, before the Dark Horse, but I couldn't (still can't) set it up like the video. And...not in 7 seconds either !

[Guru]

I've done it for years just like the dvd's showed me how.....
 

[ChuckC]

awesome Guru.  wish mine did that.  

I challenge the manufacturers to do that with mine.

I get it open OK but nowhere near that easy.  I have practiced quite a bit too.  Mine is the taller recurve blind btw.
ChuckC

[Brock]

Mine opens that nice too...there is resistance in the limbs but they are suppose to be that long.  That is what keeps the tension always on the shell and prevents it flapping any at all in wind and spooking game.  I would be very surprised if the limbs were too long....they should bend and then pop into place when you do it right.

Mine was from when the "Dark Archer" still owned company but had to get some poles and hubs replaced after a little storm last year during turkey season twisted it up and broke them.

Good as new now....

[ChuckC]

Nope   won't happen that way with mine.  Watched the video numerous times.   and yup the poles were to long.  Still are a bit but I am reluctant to make them shorter.  

When I picked up the side, just like Guru did, I could not shake (with pressure) it to make the poles "pop" and in fact, with a person on each side holding the corners of the beast, we still had a hell of a time making it pop.  Much better since I have shortened the poles.  

When I had it opened at the start, all of the poles were very bent.  By that I mean, in the open position, each pole was bent such that the center was at least 5-6" out of line with the ends.  Not just outward to make the rounded hut but sideways too.  Now they are rounded outward, and still a bit bent to the side, but nothing like before.  The tent is still very tight when open.  No way it is gonna shake or ripple in the wind.

I'm not a small person (but I am getting old) however I was sweating and cussing and rolling around trying to get it right.

Now. . .  If I open the tent, as Guru shows (first side only), then casually walk around to the other side, step on the lowest corners and pull up a bit, I can see that the (next layer ?) corners open up to the outside and this move allows me to do all the rest when I return to start.  Otherwise. .  ain't gonna happen.

 I know. . .  watch the video.  easy as pie.

But hey, once the blind is open it is awesome !  

Again, mine is the taller recurve model.

ChuckC

[Don Stokes]

I'm in the market for a new blind since a storm killed mine. I just looked at the Primos web site, and the description of the Dark Horse and the Crusher is confusing- both are stated to have floor space of 5'X5'. They also say the Dark Horse has room for multiple people- this does not compute. Bowwild, how much floor space does your actually have? I think I would prefer the Crusher, since it's taller and I like longer bows.

[ChuckC]

Don the Dark Horse also comes in a recurve model.  This one (I have one) is tall enough that I can stand up in it and I stand 6'1".  It is plenty of room for shooting a longbow I think.

My wife and I were in it during this spring turkey season and I found it to have adequate room for moving around.
ChuckC

[Don Stokes]

Chuck, right now the recurve model is all that's available on the Primos site. Something must be off in their descriptions, though- they show the recurve being 67" high inside, 78" shooting diameter, and 5'X5' floor space. The Crusher is 72" high inside, 76" between hubs, and the same 5'X5' floor space. Doesn't add up! I can't see a 5X5 floor being big enough for more than one person. Maybe I just got spoiled by my Yukon Tracks Elite. It was 7'X7' inside, and about 80" tall. The main reason I want a blind is for hunting with a friend, so I have to be sure there's room for both of us.

Bowwild, sorry about sidetracking your thread.

[KSdan]

Guys- not sure about new models, but the poles on my older style DB are adjusted in length simply by loosening the hubs and turning them slightly.

Also has a lot to do with the way the hubs are lined up before opening it.  If they are laid correctly it is a 7 second job.  If they are meshed wrong- it is nothing short of frustrating.

[Smilingg]

I can do both the Matrix and the Dark Horse in 9 seconds. If I were as young as Guru I'd try to beat his 7 seconds, but I'm too lazy to hustle that hard, so he can remain the champ as far as I'm concerned.

But when I first got the Double Bull I watched the video carefully several times and went out in the yard with an engineer buddy. It took us 45 minutes.

We went back inside and watched the video again, rewound several parts of it, viewed it in slow motion,  and went back outside. Twenty minutes later we had it set up.

Back inside. Watched it all again. Back outside.

Thirty second set-up.

The key to a fast set-up in my experience is the roof hub. That's what the video fell a bit short on clarifying. Once you get one side pushed out and the roof hub, it's child's play from there to push out the remaining sides.

Anyone should be able to push out the first side hub on the ground with no difficulty. After you get that done, simply push on the roof hub and don't devote as much strength to getting it overhead. Don't neglect that aspect altogether, but concentrate your effort on pushing out the roof hub. Where people have problems is the simultaneous elevation and pushing out of the hub. JUST FOCUS ON GETTING THE ROOF HUB OUT. The elevation part will come on its own as long as you're not making that the primary focus of your efforts.

I've won several dinners on bets with frustrated buddies who didn't believe the blinds could be set up in a few seconds. One had taken two hours and had a goose-egg sized knot on his forehead from getting whacked with a rod. I'm no brighter or stronger than he is, he just wasn't doing it right.

Now, these instructions assume that you've followed the video instructions on how to arrange the rods/hubs on the ground. The roof hub should always be in the middle of the arrangement. It should have a red dot on it to make ID easy.

They're both great blinds. I've set mine up in the dark on the edge of cutovers with roosted gobblers 60 or so yards away, and they never had a clue. The sounds of the sides popping out didn't bother them a bit.

[ChuckC]

Don  the literature I saw shows it at 74" tall.  I can stand in it so it is at least 73".  

I am gonna be using mine again shortly so I will keep on practicing.  Thanks for the tips.
ChuckC

[highpoint forge]

Mine was always easy to set up and take down. I could do it in about 15 seconds. Problem was I couldn't see well enough out of that thing! I felt like I was missing a lot. Traded it for a JD Berry Argos.....and I'm a happy camper now.