plywood box blinds for deer and 5 year olds !

[Brent Hill]

Now before I bore you more, here in Texas every rifle hunter usually hunts out of a plywood box blind and in my opinion misses out on the the whole hubting experience being caged in behind plexiglass and plywood.  

But,  my daughter is 5 years old and has sat with me each year since 1 in the double bull for our annual daddy maddy rifle hunts.  She has gotten pretty quiet with exception for our coloring in the barby coloring book, the snacks and the occasional whispering.  For our rifle hunting (which I only do for her), she's quiet enough.  However, I would love to be able to take her bowhunting with me (more time together and mor bowhunting !) without the fear of the heights of treestands and the concern of any little noise busting the hunt.  I understand that being absolutely silent is key to what we do, but she is 5 and won't enjoy me always telling her to be quiet. (mom vetoed the 2 person ladderstand)

I plan to build a 5 1/2 by 8 ft plywood box blind thats 6 and 1/2 heigh with windows and shooting ports like the pit blinds in Africa.  I planned on putting camo netting over the windows so the deer couldn't see in and brushing in the blind approximately 15 to 18 yards of the trail.  To reduce noise, I plan to carpet the walls and floor.  
Has anyone done this, has plans or photos, or have experience with hunting deer out of blinds such as this ?  Thanks Bhill

[Blasterjdh]

Brent - I have not done this - however - My brother did something very simular. The one major change he did was make it more of a pit blind. He dug a 4 foot pit with a little step down bank in the rear (WHICH SERVED AS A COLORING STATIONS/TABLE) - then covered the top with plywood and brushed it in really well. Noice got him busted I beleive a couple of times accidently - but the time he had - he still talks about -- so does his boys... He did say one thing... Don't build this too close to the creek and forget to check for water prior to getting in it...      But thats a different story... Ha Ha

[flatlander37]

Brent, We build these on my folks 350 acre farm here in missouri.  We dont make them 6 and a half feet tall, but that is easy enough.  We started building them years ago for rifle hunting after my oldest brother became paralyzed after a fall from a treestand.  We carpet the floors and such for quietness.  Our are 5 x 8, big enough for his wheelchair to move around easily.  If you are gonna hunt in the same place most of the time it really helps you stay out of the weather, which would make it easier for your little girl to be with you.  We also put plywood and tin roofs on ours.  Depending on what your local lumber prices are, ours cost about 300 to build and are very solid.  We hook them to the front of tractors to move them with no damage.  Mark

[Hattrick]

Brent i like this idea a lot, i just might build me a few too, we had some problems we trespassers stealing stands an suck i`m scared to let DB blind set out. I`m not a blind specialist but i have hunted out of a DB blind a couple times an i no first hand turkeys could careless

[Hattrick]

I FORGOT TO ADD IT MAKES VIDEOING UR HUNTS EASY, so mack sure you leave holes for the camera

[Brent Hill]

Thanks for the responses.  I like the idea of pitblinds but I'm leasing the land.  I'm going to make a trip to the lumberyard in the next week or so and get back with you on it.  Bhill

[Hattrick]

Brent, make sure you post a pic when you getter done  

[DaveBriner]

If you're really worried about noise.  Use the eggshell foam to line the box blind.  It keeps our band from being mobbed out of the subdivision our studio is in    
Dave

[Brent Hill]

Great idea Dave ! Where do you get it?  Bhill

[Biggie Hoffman]

I built one for those rainy Saturdays when I just want to go sit and watch deer. I did add a shooting window and stapled that cheap synthetic mesh so's I can shoot thru it if I feel the urge.

It's built on a pallet and I can move it around with the forks on my tractor. Also vented the front to help keep the condensation to a minimum and it helps on the hotter days too.

I didn't see a need to camo the thing. THe deer pay no attention to it whatsoever.


 
 
 

[wingnut]

Hey Biggie!  That is one fancy privy.  We need one like that in elk camp.  A lot nicer when the wind is blowing and it's 15 degrees.  LOL

When we were in Africa, the ground blinds were half pit.  They were less then waist deep with a short hut on top.  Pretty easy to camo and you are shooting at ground level.  Small Arrow slit shooting window and your good to go.  Earth makes for a great noise dampener.

Mike

[Hattrick]

I have one for ya, when i was in Africa the PHs were talking about putting a 4"hose in the the top of a blind an take up several feet(15 or so) in the air so ur sent would be above the animals. I guess the draft from the windows would make a up draft, did any of you guys see or hear of this being used anywhere before?? Thank`s for the pics Biggie

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Hattrick:
I have one for ya, when i was in Africa the PHs were talking about putting a 4"hose in the the top of a blind an take up several feet(15 or so) in the air so ur sent would be above the animals. I guess the draft from the windows would make a up draft, did any of you guys see or hear of this being used anywhere before?? Thank`s for the pics Biggie

I have seen a blind in a tree that had a 4" pvc pipe sticking out the roof.

[Biggie Hoffman]

I don't see how it would draft, especially with the cool floors, being's they're dug into the ground.
Good thought though!

[Bullfrog 1]

Biggie, you fit in there??  BILL

[b.glass]

Good question! I was thinking of doing the same thing this spring.

[Hattrick]

I remember them saying they herd this to be done a lot  in Texas also. I`ve  hunted Texas an never seen it either, i guess it could just been camp talk. I might play around with it,  i no how to get fireplaces an wood stoves to draw it would be awesome if it works. I was thinking   :confused:   If i burn some dried cow terds like they do zebra terds in Africa along with my vent pipe THEY WILL NEVER NO I WAS THERE     it`ll be down town man!!  

[bm22]

i have built 2 and have had friends build several so i have seen alot of trail and error. the best way i have done is is to frame a floor with 2x4s and a 4x8 sheet of plywood. make the blind 4x8, this give you plenty of room to draw your bow and have room for you kid. i made mine 8 ft at the fron and 6.5 at the back. i wouldn't do that again. i would make it 6.5 at the front and 6ft. at the back. i wanted mine to be large enough draw my bow straight up and down. also you might try texasbowhunter.com for plans on building more blinds. also make the window about 8 in. tall across the 4 ft. section and put shoot through netting on the windows.

my first blind was 6 sided with 4 ft. sides it was huge and you could shoot in 180 degrees, it was too big but was roomy.