There are two schools of thought when it comes to setting up an ambush for that buck or bull that dreams are made of: hunt high or hunt low. Both have their advocates, based on personal preferences and application. Sometimes the choice is obvious. Sometimes, not so much. As an example, public-land hunters have some important decisions to make about the use of treestands or ground blinds. Most states require the removal of portable stands and blinds when exiting the field each day, and that often means setting them up or packing them out in the dark. For those hunters who decide to go with a treestand, advanced scouting and selecting specific stand locations and even specific trees is extremely important. That way they can get in and get their stands set up without causing a lot of disturbance to their hunting area. A better option might be to use a portable ground blind. They’re quiet and easy to transport, set up in minutes and are very effective for concealing movement. But one of the disadvantages of using portable ground blinds is that unless they’re expertly concealed, whitetails might regard them with suspicion. One of the reasons treestands are so effective is that hunters are able to gain elevation, which gives them a better vantage point for spotting game while helping to conceal movement. But if the terrain permits, this strategy can be applied to portable ground blinds, by finding a ridge or other high point in the terrain that overlooks a game trail and setting up the blind much in the same way as a treestand, being careful not to skyline the blind. Whether it’s hunting from a state-of-the-art treestand or the comfort of a ground blind, your ambush artist patrons will want to check out these latest and greatest models. Then, it’s up to you to help them make the right choice.
Ameristep Pro Series Thermal Blind
The quilted-fabric Ameristep Pro Series Thermal Blind ($499.99) will help hunters stay protected from the worst weather, and its five-hub, pentagon design creates an asymmetrical shape that offers plenty of room for bulky clothing and lots of gear and helps it blend into its surroundings. It has a huge 59x59x70-inch footprint and a maximum height of 70 inches. Twelve silent slide windows — eight triangular and four vertical — offer ample room to maneuver, while black ShadowGuard interior coating eliminates shadows and silhouettes within the blind. The easy-access walk-through 30-inch door is quiet to operate and large enough for smooth, silent entrees and departures. The blind comes with a carry bag with backpack straps, ground stakes and carabiner. www.ameristep.com
Browning Envy Hunting Blind
The Envy Hunting Blind from Browning Camping & Hunting Blinds ($399.99) features a roomy 82-inch center height and 74-inch shooting width and silent-operation features such as a Silent-Trac window system and QuickConnect silent-entry/exit door system that utilizes magnets along the door seam. A durable 600D polyester fabric makes up the Envy’s wall and window curtain construction, while shoot-through mesh is used across the 180-degree window openings. Support comes from strong and flexible fiberglass poles connected to aluminum hubs featuring engineered tips and pins. The Envy also incorporates a 360-degree ground skirt to deliver maximum concealment, minimize light intrusion and to help keep scent in. Available in Realtree Excape and Mossy Oak Country DNA. www.browningcamping.com
Cooper Hunting Chameleon Treestand Blind
Add amazing coverage to existing treestands with Cooper Hunting’s Chameleon+ Hunting Blind ($219.99) in Mossy Oak Breakup or NWTF Obsession camo. The Chameleon+ is an innovative way to get that shooting house effect without all the expense and hassle — engineered to be lightweight and collapsible, making it transportable to virtually anywhere. By utilizing the weighted drawcord system and new double hexagon rod system, hunters can reduce 95% of wind movement. These blinds are made from high-quality materials and are designed to hold up to the harshest environmental conditions for years. The average customer gets eight to 10 years of service from a Chameleon+ Blind when cared for properly. www.cooperhunting.com
Dixie Deer Blinds Hex Bow Blind
The 7-foot Hex Bow Blind (Starts at $3,337) from Dixie Deer Blinds is a seamless, one-piece, 100% marine-grade fiberglass enclosure, coated in Polyurea (similar to a spray-on truck bedliner) with a welded steel base — made for comfort, durability and longevity. It comes with an insulated aluminum door with a security lock, carpeted floors and optional carpeted walls to enhance soundproofing, .25-inch thick smoked plexiglass windows and composite interior shelving for storage. Dixie Deer Blinds offers many different sizes and customizable accessories. Optional Hybrid and Steel Riser/Lift kits, a camo upgrade and a 36-inch wheelchair accessible door with a window are also available. www.dixiedeerblinds.com
Down & Out Scout Blind — Chaos
Built tough to withstand the elements, the Scout Blind — Chaos from Down & Out ($399.99) is made from durable 600D wet print PolyOxford for longevity in the field. It has a DarkOut all-black interior for maximum concealment and an ultra sturdy, powder coated all-aluminum, all-season panel frame. Key features include six windows for full 360-degree viewing, blackout fabric curtains with silent hook/bungee attachment, see-through mesh curtains with silent magnetic adjustment, and accordion-style design for easy setup/takedown and storage. It is equipped with a silent magnetized door for quiet entry/exit and comes with a shoulder strap for field carry. Six heavy-duty all-steel stakes integrate with the steel frame to hold it in place. www.hawkhunting.com
Family Tradition Treestands LD14 Ladder Stand
The LD14 Ladder Stand from Family Tradition Treestands ($399.99) is built tough with galvanized tubular steel for structural integrity and rust resistance — with baked-on textured powder coating to provide seasons of worry-free use. It features the company’s ergonomic support system with 2-inch-wide nylon strapping webbed onto a fully welded seat frame to take the load off the spinal column, back, hips and legs. It has a fully welded upper platform frame for added strength and ease of assembly, and a full body fall restraint system is provided for added safety. The LD14 ladder stand seat height is 12 feet, 3 inches off the ground, and an additional 41-inch ladder extension is available. www.familytraditiontreestands.com
Hawk Rival Micro Hang-on Stand
Hawk developed the Rival Micro Hang-on Stand ($199.99) to be exceptionally lightweight, highly compact and easy to secure to a daypack for trouble-free transport to remote hunting locations. It is based on a minimalized 20.5-x17.5-inch platform and features a nylon web flip-up seat. The assembly folds flat for easy, unobtrusive transport, and its simple and lightweight design makes it easy to attach to a tree with the two included ratchet tree straps. The Rival Micro weighs 10.1 pounds and has a weight rating of 300 pounds. For added safety, it comes with a full-body safety harness. www.hawkhunting.com
Keen Outdoors Alpha HD Blind Platform
Bowhunters can hunt from high places faster and easier with the new-for-2024 Alpha HD Blind Platform from Keen Outdoors ($2,799) — designed to maximize mobility with fast and easy setup. This versatile, completely collapsible, fully portable hunting stand platform provides rock solid stability from a heavy-duty steel frame. With a floor height of 8 feet, the Alpha HD can be set up or taken down in less than 10 minutes using a loader or tractor and accommodates blinds from most manufacturers. www.keenoutdoors.com
Millennium Pro-Lite Ladder Stand
Millennium Treestands’ Pro-Lite L124-SL Ladder Stand ($249.99) was designed for dependability and versatility in the field. Built with the solo hunter in mind, it is constructed from powder-coated rigid oval steel, ensuring unparalleled strength and longevity. Weighing 64 pounds, this ladder stand is robust enough to withstand the rigors of the hunt, providing a spacious platform and treebrace stability. It features Millennium’s exclusive ComfortMAX seat for superior comfort for all-day hunts. Accessory hooks are conveniently located to help make sure essential gear is easily accessible, and an integrated shooting rail provides a rock-solid rest for crossbow hunters. The L124-SL has a weight capacity of 300 pounds, and a Safelink 35-foot rope, prusik knot and carabiner system are included. www.millenniumstands.com
Muddy Boss XL Hang-On
The ergonomic and durable Boss XL Hang-On Treestand from Muddy ($129) features a flip-back 20-inch wide by 15-inch deep Flex-Tek flip-back seat designed for all-day comfort, a large 25-x34-inch steel platform, fixed footrest and a four-point full-body harness. The Boss XL weighs 19 pounds and is rated for 300 pounds, is constructed from steel and is packable with compatible Muddy climbing systems (not included). It features silent slide buckle straps and can be mounted on trees with a minimum 9-inch diameter. www.gomuddy.com
Orion Modular Box Blind
Swamp, ridges or valleys originally thought to be inaccessible to box blinds are now accessible with the Orion Modular Box Blind (Starting at $2,999) — composed of a set of lightweight 2-inch aluminum structural insulated panels, easily assembled with the Orion quick latch system. In its disassembled form, the Orion blind can be placed into the back of a full-size pickup truck or UTV and hauled to the nearest access point to the hunting location. Then, thanks to the lightweight panels — ranging from 15 to 40 pounds — the blind can be carried to the desired location and assembled in 5 to 10 minutes. The Orion is resistant to weather and water ingress with the use of EPDM seals on every seam. www.huntorion.com
Primos Double Bull Raised Hunting Ground Blind
The Primos Hunting Double Bull Raised Hunting Ground Blind ($599.99), a collaboration between Double Bull Hunting Blinds and the Raised Hunting team, is constructed with the original SurroundView one-way see-through design that allows hunters full vision in all directions while effectively concealing them from game animals. The blind is equipped with windows specially optimized for both filming and bowhunting but work well for any hunting application. It also offers a double-wide door with wired window system plus horizontal window openings for vertical windows. For effective setup and transport into the field, the blind comes with an easy-to-fill blind bag to transport the blind and upgraded brush straps and anchor stakes. www.primos.com
Shadow Hunter GhostBlind Predator Ground Blind Bundle
For on-the-go hunters who want to blend into their surroundings, the GhostBlind Predator Ground Blind Ultimate Bundle Kit ($389.99) includes everything they need for a stealthy hunt — the GhostBlind Predator ground blind, Predator carry pack, two sets of extenders (four extenders), Predator chair, tie-downs, stakes, shoulder strap and bungees. Weighing just 12 pounds, the GhostBlind is 102 inches wide and 46 inches high, making it a portable solution for hunters who want to be able to move often and set up quickly. www.shadowhunterblinds.com
Summit Treestands Dual Threat Pro SD Treestand
The Dual Threat Pro SD Treestand from Summit Treestands ($449.99) features the adjustable Dual Threat front bar, which allows hunters to tailor the climber to their preferred hunting method. Bowhunters can move the bar all the way down and under the seat to achieve the optimal open-front bowhunting position. And with its new Dual Position seat, they will have full control over their sitting height, ensuring an optimal vantage point for spotting game and taking the shot. The Dual Threat Pro SD is also equipped with the FasTrack accessory system for keeping gear close at hand. Other features include the Quick Draw cable retention system, Dead Metal Sound-Deadening (SD) technology, SummitLokt structural enhancement and RapidClimb stirrups. www.summitstands.com
