Need to Build a Box Blind

Got back on a lease for the first time in a few years. I haven't built a box blind in quite a few years. I high racked in Mexico for a long time, other Leases in Texas since I quite the Mexicio stuff, I mainly tripod hunted.

First time on a Family lease. My wife can go, she wants to sit in a stand, which she has never done before. I better build a good one, I am sure she will comment on my decorations and paint color!!

So looke like I better get busy and build a box blind, which will probably be a 4x6. Will also build this one taller than other ones I've built, be able to stand up or near stand up. Along with Stairs instead of ladder. My wife just had knee surgery, will have to have surgery on the other one before long. Basketball got the best of her knees.

I've used all kinds of material over the years, playwood, OSB, rufftex siding etc. Whatever I use, I plan to make this one last. Will also for the first time use deerview windows, they look like a good deal. Not dobut will save some time and not a bad price for what you get either.

I see some guy use the camo OSB or plywood whatever it is, which I have never used. I don't think the big box store lumber yards like Lowes sell it. I will look into this, if its OSB will probalby pass, not the best for outside use.

Also plan for the first time to had a near full height door.

I wish I had the shingles I threw a way a while back, had just about enough to a deer blind roof, would have been nice.

I hope to get started on it tomorrow afternoon. Or at least get the material which is about as much work as building one.

You will find a lot of information in this part of the forum. http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/15/1/Blinds_&_Feeders

IME a 4x6 will be a bit small for 2 people and all the extra stuff we take along. Throw in 2 comfortable size chairs and it gets tight really quick. I built 3 new 4'x6'x7.5' tall blinds with full height walk-in doors. I am 6'1" tall it is not quite big enough with two office chairs, my rifle and my DSLR camera/tripod. I built them out of treated 2x4 and 2x6 lumber with 3/4" treated plywood floors. Siding was hardiboard. They are heavy. If or when I build new one they will all be 5'x7'x7.5' tall so I will more room to maneuver around if I have to. Getting at shot at a deer on a window not close to me is a rodeo with all my gear. Throw in another person and it won't happen in a 4x6 blind. Larger office style chairs are very comfortable for long sit times but they take up a lot of room. In a 4x6 blind me knees/feet are almost against the front wall of the blind when the back of the chair is against the back wall. If the chair is away from the wall any amount of space my knees/feet are hitting the wall.

X2 on what bugman said

Good info, I recall building a 4x6 years back, but never had two people. I was concerned about two chairs.

Make it 4'x8'. I use 4x8 sheet siding, lots of caulk, metal roof with a downspout that empties into a water trough. Works great, when we get rain. I have animals drinking water underneath me, often.

Gringo - I tested that camo osb - lasted 6 years before rotting away. I built a new blind last year and used 11/32 plywood sheathing. I painted it using that Deck Restore paint. It is a 4x6 and is great for one hunter. If for 2 hunters I would build a 5x8.

6x8 for 2 people comfortably.

Build it on a trailer if possible.

might as well go 6x8

5x8 or 6x8 would work I would add deer view windows a walk in door and insulate it with foam board. nice chairs and your wife should be happy.

I would go with a hexagon, 4 foot for each side. On of the 6 walls would be my door/entrance, best thing for that would be a water heater door from a mobile home repair place and 5 windows, from Deer View. Frame floor with 2x6's.cover floor with 3/4" ply, frame walls with either 2x2 or 2x3 fence rails, sheath with 1/2 ply. Roof, either one slope or build to look like a grain bin. Finish? Lifetime, I would go with a fiberglass cloth and resin from an Online auto paint supplier, but you might be close to a decent supply house, I am not. If you fiberglass I think you could safely go with 3/8 ply.

This shows the size in all directions on the floor. Almost 8x8 with cutoff corners, so it is barely legal to haul down the highway.

http://hexagoncalculator.apphb.com/

X2 on going bigger than 4x6. That's what I have and it's tight with me and my 7 yr old son. I have 2 high back office chairs and a 8-10" shelf under the front windows. Not enough room. 5' would be great. Next one will be 5x6 or 5x7. Daughter is almost old enough so I'll have to fit 3 chairs soon.

We hunt 2 hunters out of 4x4 blinds all the time. 4x6 will easily do 2. we have one that is 4x8 and you can have a party in it.

If you go 5', be sure to cut it just a bit short. Most 5' utility trailers are about 58"-59" between the rails and you never know when you'll need to move it or with what.

6x6 minimum ... I built one a couple years ago 6x6x7 tall, 2 nice swivel office chairs fit side by side or a little more space if you place them corner to corner. I used the plastic camo coated plywood, bought at Home Depot for the side and it has held up well (only ~3 years old) so far. I also put plywood on the roof and then corrugated sheet metal roof over the top. 3/4 plywood floor. I wouldn't go any smaller if you plan on 2 people being in there.

The more I think about it, if I make it smaller I don't have to taker her!!! I go hunting to get a way.

Just kidding, I'll take her.

I am going to lay it out on the floor of my Air Conditioned Garage and put to chair down and see what I get. My hunting friend said make it 5x6. Once I get it laid out will see what it looks like.

Tend to agree with 4x6 good enough for 2 but I'm 5'10" and weigh 175. I don't know if I would feel the same if I weighed 100 lbs more and / or really tall and needed extra leg room. Buddy bought a 5x6 hexagon and I'm a fan.

4X4's work for 2 people at my ranch.

must be little bitty people

must be little bitty people [/quote

What makes you think that? We have no problem with 2 men (or women), 2 swivel chairs and 2 gun rests on the window.
We add a propane heater when it gets very cold.
We do not sleep, move around or have whispered conversations...we are there to hunt, we get it done and have for over 20 years.

You must be a Sumo wrestler or you weigh over 300 lbs. Which is it??

This one is 4'X8'. Two office chairs in it. Seems to have enough room.

Im 6 foot and 240 my wife is 5-11 and we hunt just fine out of a 4x4. Could it be bigger? Yes but it works. Heck we have sat in a 4x4 with my 3 year old in tow as well. I don't know why many times on here people have to act like the biggest baddest you can afford is the minimum lol.

Would a 4x6 be more room and more comfortable for 2? probably, but I like being able to stick the gun out any window on any side of the blind without moving or getting up, something I really don't like about 4x6 and 4x8 blinds.

My wife and I can also sleep in a twin sized bed. I would damn sure rather have more room to work though.

It's just the mind set of the "Eletists". They believe that a man cave is necessary for their creature comforts. Not sure if they think that a large blind makes them better hunters, or they just want to demonstrate how much money they can spend to impress others.

Im still young i'd rather keep her close

That is my problem with the larger blinds. For myself a 4x4 is enough, but when you add a person that is also hunting I want more space.

neither ... but I have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in a 4x4 or smaller by myself and think it would be overly friendly to put 2 people in that amount of space to have enough room for both to be able to take a shot if presented. Maybe an adult with a child, but two adults would be overly crowded in my opinion.

yep, totally agree. when I was thinking out the blind I built a few years ago with grandkids in mind, or my son/DIL or daughter/SIL, is why I went with the 6x6. I have two nice swivel office chairs but one is pushed back into a corner and the main one sitting in the middle of the blind so I can shoot out any of the 4 sides without moving when I am by myself ... when someone else might be with me, put the chairs side by side diagonally and it gives each person easy access to 3 sides each where when swiveling, the chairs don't bump.

So if you can call them "Eletists" then you would be okay if they call you a "wedge azz"? Does not cost that much more to build a comfortable blind when you build your own.

I've hunted with my niece in a 42" and a 48" and it is cozy. My new blind is about 4' x 7', as it has two 36" windows in the front and frame between them and on the ends. I went 4' because I didn't want to use two extra sheets of plywood for one more foot on each end.

If "wedge azz" is akin to cheap then I'm cool with it never heard that one before

I did buy deer view windows.

Pretty sure it will end up being 5x6

My next post will be what pattern camo for my curtains !!!!

Agreed! I hunt in a 6X6X6.5 and for my wife and I it is cramped. It's too cramped for two office chairs. The stand was already there and I simply didn't want to spend more to replace it but it's on the agenda to replace it with a 6X8X6.5. I'd recommend going with at least a 5X8X6.5.

Seriously..."Elitists"....lol. Ever think it just might be about comfort? As for sticking the gun out of all the windows my current blind is only a three window hunting blind because of location and I can certainly hunt all three windows in a larger stand...and it's more comfortable for the wife and I.

We have used 4x6 six shooters for a long time. I'm 6' and 175# and with my son, same size, we have more than enough room to roll back and forth and all around but we are not fat.

I would Say 5x6 or 5x7. We have a 6x 8 and it’s way better for 3 people. It’s too damn big to hunt by yourself. I was Looking at the 5x6 this weekend and if I had My choice that’s what I would Go with.