One of the best duck hunting tips I can give a newbie is pretty simple: build yourself a duck blind.
But if you want to learn how to hunt ducks like a pro then you need to build an awesome duck blind.
That’s why I’ve racked my brain to come up with some amazing tips to help you build that duck blind which, by the end of the season, will be like an old friend!
Plan and Don’t Forget the Basics
You’re going to be spending a lot of time in your blind, so you need to put a lot of planning into the project.
What exactly are you going to need in your blind?
Shelves?
A section to store tools?
Easy access in and out for your dog?
A bench for you to sit down on and eat your sandwiches?
You need to consider all these factors carefully to ensure you design a blind which is going to make you a better hunter.
But just remember, it doesn’t need to be a 5 star luxury duck blind, so don’t waste time and money on unnecessary frills. You can save the hot tub for your back yard!
Don’t Scrimp on the Quality of Materials
Your blind is going to be exposed to the harsh elements of nature for a long time, so you need to invest in quality materials.
Sure, you might save a few dollars in the short term, but just imagine how frustrated you’ll be when you find your blind’s blown into the river.
Decent materials will cost a bit more, but you’re assured a far more sturdy construction.
Keep a Low Profile
You want to keep the height of your blind as low as possible to make it less obvious to ducks. It’s going to be dependent on your own personal height, but I wouldn’t say you want the highest point to be any more than 5 foot.
This will give you plenty of head space for sitting down in the back of the blind and won’t cause any obstructions when you get up quickly to position yourself in the shooting slot.
Build the Blind on Site
Always build your blind exactly where it’s going to be sited.
You see, unless you’re a highly qualified surveyor, you run the risk of building something which won’t transfer into your intended site.
Nature doesn’t provide a terrain as easy to build on as a freshly rolled construction yard, so you’ll want to build it in tandem with all the restrictions on hand.
You simply can’t do this out in your back yard.
And you don’t want to spend weeks working on a blind which is then too big, wide, whatever to go where you wanted.
Keep It Camouflaged
One of the main objectives for your duck blind is to keep you as well hidden as possible.
And sure, some camouflage tarpaulin may seem like a quick way to blend you in with your surroundings.
But ducks are clever.
That’s why you really need to go to town on camouflaging it. And a tarpaulin just won’t cut it on its own, so turn to the natural camouflage all around your blind’s site.
If you’re near a reed bed then make your blind look like a cluster of reeds. Hell, if you’re near a bunch of trees and you’ve got access to wood cuttings then cover it in wood.
And don’t forget the mud! There’s always gonna be mud when hunting ducks, so get stuck in and smear that blind in mud!
The aim is to make it look like a worn in, natural part of the landscape.
Check It out from Different Angles
Your blind probably looks pretty sweet up close and head on, but ducks won’t be coming at it like this. They’ll be swooping over from many different angles and distances.
That’s why you should always take time during construction to take a couple of hundred yards walk to view the blind from a fresh angle.
You’ll soon pick up on any flaws in your design with this approach e.g. does it look natural side on or could it do with some more cover?
Better yet, invite some of your hunting buddies over to the area and see if they can spot your blind from a distance.
A fresh pair of eyes will always provide you with invaluable feedback.
By following these duck hunting tips on how to build a blind you’ll find you end up with an amazing base to shoot from.
If you’ve got any personal tips on building a blind I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
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