Top-Five Ground Blind Goodies
by Lance Davidson
Today’s hub-style ground blinds are lightweight, highly portable, and capable of putting hunters in position to ambush game. Maximize your ground blind hunting experience with these five key accessories.
5. Pruning Kit – Ground blinds are often placed in front of trees or brush in order to break-up the blind’s profile and make it less conspicuous. Savvy hunters also add natural vegetation to their blind’s exterior in order to complete the vanishing act. A set of quality ratchet pruners and a folding saw like the ones contained in the Ameristep Pruning Kit (about $20) will make quick and easy work of clearing shooting lanes and brushing in your blind.
4. Portable Heater – One of the greatest benefits a ground blind affords is protection from the elements. Stay cozy and comfortable during those long, cold-weather sits by outfitting your blind with a portable propane heater like the Hunting Buddy from Mr. Heater. This lightweight catalytic model sells for around $140, runs on 1-lb. propane cylinders, has a stable base, and includes a variety of other safety features that make it ideal for heating portable hunting blinds and fish houses.
3. LED Light and Fan – The air inside your blind can heat up during warm weather. A fan will help keep your hunting blind cool by circulating and exchanging air, but not all fans are built for blind duty. This one is. With a dual speed, silent motor powered by two D-cell batteries, Ameristep’s LED Light and Fan Combo easily mounts to one of your blind’s roof hub poles, or can be placed anywhere on its stable, adjustable base. This $25 fan also has 18 stealthy-green LEDs built in for fast, fumble-free lighting when needed.
2. Shooting Rest – Who doesn’t like the added confidence that comes from a stable shooting rest? A variety of shooting sticks and rests are available, but for versatility, adjustability and ease-of-use, it’s hard to beat the $145 DeadShot FieldPod from Caldwell. Get ideal position and stability for your shotgun, rifle or crossbow when you need it most – while actually hunting. A precision cast aluminum hub system allows the 5-lb. height-adjustable FieldPod to pivot up and down and rotate left and right with ease.
1. Chairs – Ground blind hunters need a place to sit, and nobody makes a more complete selection of comfortable, lightweight, portable hunting stools and chairs than Ameristep. New for 2016, Ameristep’s Compaclite Tellus and Tellus Lite Chairs have 300 and 225-lb. capacities and pack down into a 15”x4”x4” carry bag. These comfortable sling-style chairs are priced from $40-$50, have a shock cord frame design for quick set up, and include a handy zippered gear pouch beneath the seat.
