Shopping for and Selecting a Deer Blind
TJ Greaney

As the cold wind blew small ice droplets against the windows I opened my thermos and poured a hot cup of coffee into the small silver lid. It was cold, but I was comfortable and knew the rain, ice and wind would stop soon. I have spent many a day in a tree stand or on horseback in the mountains in similar weather, but today I would wait it out and enjoy the dry solitude and comfort of my deer blind.

Box blinds (deer blinds) have always been around. From the early days of the wooden box blinds with tin roofs to the pre-formed plastic blinds of today, they have delivered a degree of comfort for the hunter. Today the options are only limited by the amount of money the hunter chooses to spend. Deer blinds are a standard tool for hunting Texas.

The late President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas Hill Country deer hunter, had a blind that rumor says included a bathroom and a bar. It also included a phone line where the famous red phone connected him to the White House in case of a world crisis. Some of the blinds today offer similar creature comforts while others are inexpensive and serve their intended purpose for the hunter.

Fewer hunters today choose to build their own deer blind. Homemade wooden blinds can be very heavy and high maintenance. There is also the exception to the rule where ranch hands or handy hunters will build outstanding, big, roomy wooden blinds that have all the comforts of a stick frame home.

Steel deer blinds are common and range from thin sheet metal with welded seams and frame to insulated boxes with insulated windows and roof vents. The low-end metal blinds are an inexpensive choice and available for under $900. The high-end steel units can soar past $3,000 with every conceivable option, including paneling and tinted windows.

The fiberglass blind is very popular and a good choice for those who don’t have time to spend on deer blind maintenance. The options include carpeted interiors and good, better and best windows. One of the best things about most fiberglass blinds is the sturdy steel frame stands they rest on. Most include stairs and handrails with a standing platform at the door. Plan to spend $850 plus the stand.

Plastic blinds are evolving very quickly and can be a very good choice today. Durable high-end plastics can make transporting and set-up easy. Choices include the assemble-your-own low-end units to cammo plastics with carpet, tinted windows and heavy-duty steel frames and a porch. Prices start at $450 and go up from there.

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DEER FEEDERS - TIPS AND INFO

Many techniques are used to direct or lure game animals into range for the hunter. Calls, scent attractants, feeders, decoys, even treestands give the hunter an edge. Perhaps the most controversial of these tools is the feeder. Manual and electric deer feeders are legal for use in several states throughout the country. In Texas, they are a staple on most hunting leases and ranches.

Feeders attract game on a regular basis at specific times; they can allow game-management specialists to observe animals that otherwise might never be seen in the thick cover; and they give hunters the opportunity to see numerous animals at one time, allowing them to make healthy management choices when it comes time to take the shot.

The most common electric feeder is the 6- or 12-volt battery-operated barrel feeder. These barrels have capacities that range from 50 to 350 pounds of feed. Many models also include a solar panel that recharges the battery.

One of the biggest decisions will be choosing a 6- or 12-volt motor. Most managers choose the 12-volt motor because it delivers a wider dispersal of feed and can help cause any impurities, such as corn stock or cob slivers, to be thrown free. The price difference between 6- and 12-volt models is usually minimal.

Most wildlife feeders are designed for corn. Most corn today is screened to remove debris, corn that has been screened twice is even better. This assures there will be minimal amounts of cob or stock to jam your feeder. Protein feeds are important, but most corn feeders do not work well with them. There are several pellets available today that claim to be waterproof or swellproof, but are yet to be perfected and can still cause clogging. If you are going to use a protein, the best feeder is a free-choice protein feeder, not the ones described here.

Mechanics beings just that, mechanical, there will always be the chance that you will have a problem at some point with a deer feeder. Buying a quality piece of equipment will minimize those times of frustration and maximize your time in the field watching the game they attract.