Pop up blinds- Im shopping

Any advice on pop up blinds? Ive seen them around some but never bought one or hunted out of one. Normally im "buy once cry once" but not on this. They mostly may just be used for one year or so and dont want to invest a lot. The plan is to utilize several towers that I have and put a wooden platform on them and then the popup on that for bow hunting. Eventually I have a plan to get creative with multiple options to put on the platform thats still light weight but more substantial than the popup. The pop up is just a quick fix in the interest of not enough time to do what I want for long term. The platform will likely be just over 5' across so the 6' diameter one Bucees has for $99 wont work. Likely will come up through a trap door in the wooden floor.
Brand? Size? Shape? Im hoping to go cheap moneywise. We would take down after the season.

That size is gonna be more difficult, most of the ones i have used are 6x6 for multiple people.

For cost consciousness, the HME/muddy blinds are not bad. Can be had somewhat regularly on camofire for 130ish. Not sure on sizes available.
For durability, rhinoblinds or bullblinds will be best, but cost in the high 300 ramge. Too spendy for me for a popup.

Cabelas brand isnt bad and could he decent price.

Edit: just looked at cabelas online and the muddy 2 person is sized to fit that base and would work well.
Canelas brand also has several options that would work well.

The Ameristep Doghouse is 60x60x68H. It usually goes for around $70-80 or so. If you can master the fold up, it folds easily. You Tube has excellent videos on how to do it. I shot my antelope out of one, so if it can hide you from an antelope, it will hide you from a deer. Ameristep’s customer service was excellent for me when gale force winds snapped one of my support poles. At that price you can buy two.

Well, I got a new plan already. I figured out I can use the old wood fence panels that are coming down at my house for the floor on top of the towers. I can make them 6'x6' so I can use a 6'x6' pop up. I really like buying Bucees stuff and I think their pop up is $99 for a 6' x 6'. I dont assume they are top of the line but any hunting stuff I have got at Bucees is at least adequate and thats all I need for this project. Any comments on Bucees pop ups or any other advice? 6x6 is really too big it seems but it really is easy to grab em at Bucees since Im in there every trip. TXBuck and Huskerron I appreciate your feedback for sure.

I say that is a good plan

I have 2 Doghouse blinds, one was left out for 2-3 entire seasons, a bit faded but still works fine.

I like the look of the Dog House. Im still scratching my head on options so more feedback welcome.

I don't think 6x6 is too big when you're bowhunting. It's nice to have room in there to move around and get the right angles and have plenty of room to draw.

Free, if you get the Doghouse, suggest you be careful when first opening it as there is tension on the folded blind and it may spring out much faster than expected. A bloody lip or nose can occur, according to what a "friend" told me.

Good point Jake - Like I said all of those spring steel blinds are a PITA until you figure out how to fold and unfold them. Once you do, I actually think they are easier than my one hub blind. However, each year I have to go back to you tube and refresh this old man's memory. On the opening, I've never come close to a bloody nose but I've come close to knocking a shoulder mount off the wall when opening in the man cave.

Well, I’ll be opening it 20’ in the air on a 5’8” x 5’8” old wood fence platform, so I need to grab a limb to hold onto when opening…….

Hope it is a strong limb.............

As I think about this, opening any groundblind 20 feet in the air that is about as big as the platform would really intimidate me from a safety standpoint. I would make sure I am totally familiar with how it opens. Make sure I did it on a day with no wind (not sure those happen in Texas or Nebraska). And if you can utilize a tree harness while doing it, I would. I’ll be using mine this week hunting antelope. I’ll think of what it would be like 20 feet in the air while doing it but I would really hate to see someone fall.

I need to buy pretty quick. As usual I put WAAAAAAYYY too much on my plate of stuff to do and I really dont want to take much time to research this.
Im leaning towards the Ameristep Doghouse blind cause of low price and somewhat smaller size. I may only use one year so i want cheap and I like the slightly smaller size for my particular smaller platforms they are going on.
Anyone know where I can go to actually put my hands on one of those blinds so I can check it out good??? I dont want to even take time to try to google cause yall are usually faster and easier. Thanks in advance. Im still open to other ideas also, but I want smaller than 6x6 and under $100.

I’m pretty sure Academy carries it, if you have one close by I’d head there. I got a pop up from Amazon last season for $80ish and it worked well. It was a pita taking it down to put back in the box but I think most can be. I don’t remember name/brand but I can take a look and let you know.

Medic, I would appreciate it.

Here ya go.

Barronett Blinds RA200BW Radar... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BE8ERDC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks, medic, Ill check it out.
I just went to Academy and they had numerous choices. Since its likely a one year and done need, I am trying to go cheap. I also want it about 60" squared to 64" square. Are the hubstyle generally considered more durable, or at least hold up better in the wind...? As opposed to, I guess, those spring loaded circle kinda thingys that seem like they are real light weight...?

I’ve only ever used ones similar to the barronett pop up. Someone else may have some feedback on the others.

Too bad you don’t have Dunham’s Sports in Texas free range. They have the Doghouse blinds for $54.95 with their Internet coupon. You’ll never get a decent blind for less but it says in store only. Light is not necessarily bad for some applications. For your application, it would seem like you would want to attach them to your platform anyway. As regards wind resistance, I lost one tent pole on one of my Doghouse blinds which snapped last year in 65 mph winds. Ameristep replaced it for free. The week before last, I totaled a Barronett 250 hub blind in similar winds while hunting antelope. I use tent stakes and the wind pulled out all 8 stakes. It hit a plow which ripped it severely.

Yep, I’ll be attaching it to a wooden platform on a rifle blind type tower. Not sure how I’m gonna attach but wind shouldn’t blow it away unless it rips out of however I attach it.

I’m not real handy with my hands but I would think some sort of screw in eye hooks or something like that. Maybe something with a little give to it would make it easier on the blind but you don’t want it moving around and making noise. That’s why I fasten down the corners and the sides.

I assume they all have something substantial along the lower edges to fasten to. Thanks Huskeron for following along with my concerns for details.

The.corners have tent stake loops at bottom. The sides have small parachute cord attachments in the center of the section.

If I was in dfw area where would I go to see some pop ups that were already set up.

Some options, Cabela's in Ft Worth or Allen, Bass Pro in Grapevine, Scheels in Frisco or Field and Stream store near Prosper. All of those should have displays

Thanks guys. Going right by Cabelas FW in just a bit on way to Bucees and all points North.

I’ve been a Double Bull user since they were created and I’ve been very happy with them. I’ve probably got a couple dozen of them in various models and may have more than that if the truth be told. As long as you take care of them and take them down after the season they will last well beyond the cheap models and still be in use a couple decades from now. I’m a firm believer buying quality over quantity and it’s proved me well in life. If I pay $400 for a blind today I expect it to still be in use 10 years from now and with the double bulls it’s well beyond that time frame. I’ve tried the cheaper knock offs and I’m lucky to get a year out of them so I resort back to the DB’s.

Keith Beams gave me my fist one a couple decades ago and I’ve been hooked ever since, I’ve killed more crap out of these things than I could ever recall. Buy once and cry once has always been my motto and it’s served me pretty good over the years.

Thump I normally think like you but I never use pop ups and don’t intend to after this year. Just want to get through this year then plan to use more permanent blinds going forward. But I keep hearing the same from others so I guess the jury is still out on cheap vs good for this.

Make your own out of one cattle panel and bend it into a round circle. Use either camo burlap or burlap to cover it. Then take grass or brush limbs and zip tie them to it for extra camo. You can even zip black plastic to the panel before you put the camo burlap over it.

If it’s temporary then make a cattle panel blind, cheap and easy to make. Cut the panels to the size you want and wrap it in a tarp zip tie tying it to the panel and cover in cedar. Works like a champ and will last several years. I’ve used this method tons of times and it works like a champ. Check for snakes before entering though lol


Edit, Stxranchman nailed my version with a few exceptions, they work I promise and 1000% better than a pop up, if it’s a temporary solution then it’s my go to fix.. I killed a 180” out of a cattle panel blind 4 years ago so they work but brush them in good and the deer will walk on top of you..

just fyi - we used many pop ups over the years - we would tie them down and stake them all over the place and then one storm comes through and they are laying out in the brush. I cannot image a pop up that is elevated on a stand that can withstand a strong wind - I may be wrong but I will be surprised if it makes the season - from my experience you or one of you hunters will walk up one morning to hunt and the pop up is nowhere to be found

tlk, thanks, ill factor that in for sure.
STx and Thump, we have used cattle panels very similar to what yall described a whole lot. Not me cause I havent bow hunted till last year but lots of bowhunters on my NW Tx lease. They will try to find a mesquite or two to build around and then do the panels as you described. Black them out completely inside and cover completely sides and top. Then they put lots and lots of logs and brush all around. You can hardly tell they are there and lots of bucks killed from them. We have about 15 to 18 like that.
For my purpose of one years use on the raised platforms I just think it would be way easier to just throw a pop up on there instead of bending and building and covering etc. Certainly what yall describes works great for on the ground and permanent.

Have you bought or are you still going to be looking next season?

Asking for a friend…

Thats not fair Hog. I am a spontaneous impulsive buyer, usually. Since ive retired I keep telling myself I have time to research stuff and take my time when I buy. Im making progress. It was extremely difficult to go into Cabelas yesterday and look at all the popups set up and not walk out with any. The towers arent ready yet anyway and I wont bowhunt till Dec probably. I am in somewhat of a rush cause we have one serious bow hunter and Im all about helping others. Mostly now that Ive shopped a little Im waiting to talk to him about what he thinks we should do. Im leaning the Ameristep Dog House $80ish and the size I want. The hubstyles look way sturdier and Cabelas had one for $100 but the door was on the corner and weird and these platforms are gonna mostly have ladders coming up the side kinda normal like. I dont think these popup designers planned for them to be up on platforms. Usually when I think Im ahead of the curve it turns out Im barking up the wrong tree, but we will see.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself…my apologies.

Here's one way to attach to platform with large washers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31IYX_J2m0E

I'm curious how a pop-up does at 20'. I've hunted plenty on the ground with success.

That blind is very similar to a doghouse as regards tying it down I like the foam pad or whatever as a floor. It keeps your feet a little warmer, blocks winter drafts and the seal it provides might decrease the wear and tear of the wind. Regardless of which blind you pick it looks like a good idea to me.

Thanks for that video. Very similar to what I plan. Actually trying to think of somewhing to run along the whole side of popup to mash down and grab ahold without relying on whatever those little tabs are. Will definitely have carpet. Im thinking of maybe bending pvc pipe up and over and down again on each corner to tie onto and just to keep it from blowing away if it does rip out of the tie downs. tlk got me nervous about them ripping out of the tie downs.

If you have a cattle panel & bolt cutter, cut two strips & cross over the popup, attaching to base with unails & wire together at the top. That should keep your blind from migrating away with the first front. PVC is too weak.

That is a great idea!

I second that on the Double Bull blind Ol Thumper. Friend of mine went to college with i believe Keith so he got me a good deal on one. Had a buddy give me one just like it last year and dont think he ever used it. Best thing they ever made for turkey hunting i believe. Used them plenty and no problems. ...

Freerange, did you ever get these blinds?

Not yet. Other hunter bought a couple. Still putting up the towers. Just been too busy getting other stuff ready. Long season so still looking to buy.

I don't think any pop up on an elevated tower would have with stood the last 2 weeks NW, N TX winds/storms. I lost a very good higher end large pop that was overstaked (extra heavy and long stakes, tied down too, hubs with outbound lines anchored and brushed in. Still haven't found it and fear it became up drafted and who know's were across our rolling hills and many draws. I've walked walked and walked hoping to find it because if hubs survived I can re drape it with a good heavy duty black trucker tarp or billboard tarp.

DoubleBull will be my next purchase. I also have a Rhino that I really like. I like the heavy materials like these two blinds and stay away from the plastic type.

I'd like to see pic when you put one up on the tower

Im new to popups and yall have me worried about them blowing away. We put one on a 6' tower and it did fine in extreme winds, 25mph for two days with gusts of 50. This weekend we hope to put up a 19', 15' and maybe 10', all to the floor. We will see.
Im curious, when they blow away, is it the stakes that pull out? Does the cord or wire or whatever break? Does it pull out of whatever its attached to on the blind? We would be attaching to the tower itself, so no stakes to pull out.
For anyone thats been following, this is intended as a one year fix and next year a more permanent enclosure will be on the towers.

Depending on the quality of the blinds once the material ages some in the sun they will blow away much easier and if you mix in any snow or ice along with a touch of wind their toast eventually. I just replaced 3 this weekend that had been out for a few months the wind got last week. It all depends on the quality of the material, the age and the right weather conditions. I only use cheaper blinds out in the open and my good ones in heavily wooded areas.

I’d damn sure be adding some type of safety rail inside them if their going up to 19’,, you don’t walk away from falls at that height and I can 100% vouch for that lol

Somebody had asked for pics. Total failure at 20’ so switched out to shorter legs and ended up 13’ish to floor.
Still perfecting the whole design but maybe next year. I’ve learned a good bit about pops and they are not all the same and definitely don’t have towers in mind in how they do the doors. Always learning and “forever foreword”.

One addition i would make for sure is a “landing platform” for the door side. It makes it so much safer to go in and out any door if you have a solid platform to stand on, preferably with a rail on the sides.

Overall though, good work on a job that is being figured out.

TexBuc, keep in mind the pop up is one year only. Next year i have poly tanks goin on top of platform an the door will come up through the floor. But yes, the entry/exit is tricky an not quiet finished yet. I had NO IDEA that a lot of pop ups have small doors on the corners. The windows are all bizarre an convoluted too. This bow hunting world is weird.

Yes, and then add in some bow hunters consider themselves hunting purists and you can get a whole lotta crazy when dealing with the stringed instrument section as compared to the brass instrument section.

The bow elitists among us even consider xbow hunters like us to be cheating…talk about crazy