Ameristep Penthouse Blind: Opinions/Reviews?

[OkKeith]

I may have the cart before the horse since I already ordered the dang thing, but anyone used or have this blind? What do you think of shooting a recurve or longbow out of it?

I ordered this one because it is so tall. It says that it is 90" at the roof peak (that and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than most anything else). Short blinds have been my BANE. I have had an Ameristep Doghouse for several years and it seems to be holding up fine. My wife can shoot out of it since she is short and shoots short bows. Me, my bow and gear in the thing is like stuffing 10 gallons of cheese in a 3 gallon bucket.

I have an old Double Bull on its last legs. It was one of the original ICE Blinds I think. The fabric is still 85%. Even though the rods are still solid the little "ears" on the ends have broken off and the hubs have taken a beating over the years and failed. If I can order spare parts I can get it back up to snuff.

Tryed to order it through Cabela's (have points on the credit card and a gift card from Christmas) but they say they can't get it. Ordered it from Amazon, go figure. They had the best price and free shipping.

So... Ameristep Penthouse Blind, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?

OkKeith

[Night Wing]

I have an Ameristep Penthouse blind and I shoot my 66" recurves and 68" longbow out of it. No problems. I've head mine for 10 years, but it's starting to show it's age. I'll get another one.

[centaur]

I have one and I can shoot my 62" longbow out of it, but only if I'm on my knees. It hasn't been real sturdy, but I don't know how it compares to others, since it is the only blind I have owned. I think I'm going to stick with ghillie suits or natural blinds rather than this contraption.

[JC]

Plus = I got mine cheap, durable, large interior (wide and tall). Two adults can sit in it in folding camp chairs and be quite comfortable. You can easily shoot a very long bow in one if you are tall enough to get over the window edge while on your knees.

Minus = Heavy, unwieldy, noisy to put up, slow to put up, not very stable unless you put up every single one of the seemingly endless heavy poles, slow to take down, noisy to take down, fabric faded very quickly.

Mine sits now about the center of my property. I use it only when a guest or my youngest son gun hunts our place.  I dislike toting it and the up/down procedure so much, I don't bother even trying to move it anymore. It doubles as a prop for a turkey shot during my yearly 3-d tournament.

Knowing what I know now, I would have saved my pennies and bit the bullet for a double bull in a heartbeat.

[mnbwhtr]

I have one that I've had good luck with shooting a 62" bow. The only drawback I've noticed is you have to watch where you set up in the wind. I like to set up in strut areas and the're usually in open pastures so the wind keeps me from hunting my best spots some days. I bought a yukon with the hub design and find my self using that one most of the time because it handles the wind.

[OkKeith]

Thanks for the input guys!

My main reason for this is so that me and my gal gun hunt together and both have bows and make shots. We can both sit in our others, but really on she can shoot.

I realize the Double Bulls are better quality, but they cost about what my truck payment is! Also, I am a big guy and trying to climb in those corner seam doors is rough on me.

Was hoping the Penthouse would be a decent compramise between quality and cost.

Any more thoughts or opinions (not that your opinions aren't thoughtful).

Okkeith

[LBR]

Where I deer hunt, moving a blind around is useless--you just scare them off.  You put it up at least a month before season starts and leave it.

I've had a Penthouse out for several years (5 or 6) in the same place, and it's been great.  Several deer and a few other critters have been dispatched from it.  I have another out I bought a couple years ago in a different spot, and a few deer have been taken from it also.

They are heavy--they are really big blinds.  I'm lousy with puzzles, but had no problem putting either of my blinds up (being taller helps).  It's solid if you use all the poles and assemble it correctly--mine have survived wind storms, and one is in a creek bottom that floods a foot or more above floor level on the blind--so far, so good.

I have noticed the quality has gone down from the first one I bought, primarily the zippers.  An easy enough fix (just hang a tarp for a door), but I plan to try a Yukon Elite for my next one.

If DB offered one with the same amount of room as the Penthouse, I might give it a try--I really can't see them being worth over twice the money though, at least for my use.  Two average sized people can bowhunt from the Penthouse, or there's enough room for one big hunter and a child.

Chad

[lithicchipper]

I bought one because Ameristep discontinued the Stackhouse blind which I used successfully for a number of years. Although most of my blind hunting is done with a 64" longbow I can shoot a 68 incher from either blind without any problem.  If I had a choice I would prefer the Stackhouse (wish they would make more). It has the necessary room is easier to set up and take down and is lighter.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by OkKeith:
Thanks for the input guys!

Was hoping the Penthouse would be a decent compramise between quality and cost.

Any more thoughts or opinions (not that your opinions aren't thoughtful).

Okkeith

If you want a good compramise between money and quality do yourself a favor and get a Yukon Tracks blind. Great quality and not going to break the bank.  The Inforcer Elite is 80" high hub style and around $250.

[Deadbolt]

Do yourself a favor and return it and pick up a yukon tracks enforcer elite.  I got mine on the auction site for 200.  I hunted this year with 3 people in the blind 2 of the 3 of us had bows and had plenty of room.  I think its 80" tall.  My girl is only 5' tall but she shoots a 62" recurve standing out of it.  Best blind Ive seen to date!

I then bought a predator blind for hunting solo which is smaller and lighter but is perfect for the single man hunter.  Just tall enough i can shoot my 62" recurve out of center blind nice and light and has great carrying straps.

I thought of the penthouse then did some more research and am glad I got my yukon...phenominal blind!

[JC]

You guys are right, that Yukon tracks looks like a great value for the money. Is that whole corner a mesh window?

[Over&Under]

JC
Not the whole "corner" but the it might as well be. The mesh is goes across each side almost extending all the way to the corner.

I have the regular enforcer and it is something like 70" tall, great for my 58" and less longbows.