How To Build A Hunting Blind Out Of Pallets, Wood, Or Sticks?
Sometimes you might just want to build your own blind, especially if you're authorized to build on the land you're hunting on.
Regardless of your skill level, you can comfortably set up a solid structure by meticulously following the guide below.
In the end, you would have built a practical hunting blind that will keep you hidden from your prey so that they can come to you.
Before we delve into the actual construction of the blind, let's quickly look at some of the basic items you're going to need for the work.
Choosing Your Materials And Tools
Before you start working, get well prepared with appropriate gears, aprons and safety tools. A pair of good hunting boots will well serve as your safety shoes.
Building a simple blind doesn't require a lot of tools or equipment especially if you are less skilled in the area.
Here, we are going to talk about building a basic hunting blind with any one of the three materials - natural wood, stick, or pallet.
We are going to be using 2 four by fours and a lot of two by fours for our blind.
For this purpose, the tools needed include:
The guide that follows is for building a box blind. Though we will provide some basic dimensions, it's completely up to you to determine how tall or wide you want the blind to be. So you are free to make your own additions.
However, whatever measurements you settle for, make sure the blind is big enough to accommodate you in a crouching position with your firearm. A rifle rest can also be included in the construction if you are going to use one.
Finally, we encourage you to be creative. Though we intend to build a box blind, feel free to modify the design and add more details if you can.
For instance, you can either tie the wood or nail it or do both to ensure greater stability. You can opt for a metal joint especially if you stay in an area where the temperature is not stable. It all depends on what you want and your capacity.
But the blind we will build here is practical and good enough to serve for any purpose - whether for deer or crossbow hunting.
Choosing an ideal Location
When building a blind, it's best to build it in a location where you are most likely to find your prey.
If you're lucky enough to be hunting in a managed land, then this should be a very simple step. Just locate the blind a few yards away from a food plot (or any other food source in the area that is under heavy use) with the rifle door strategically positioned facing the plot.
A blind located near a store park for hunting deer or gobbler will definitely not do you any good, because you are less likely to see any one of these preys crossing the road; not even on Christmas. LOL.
We usually advice scouting the area to find out where the preys are, before you choose a spot to build. You can start by identifying a watering whole the animals use or you can just follow a game trail.
See Also: How Having A Deer Or Rabbit Repellent Can Help?
You must ensure the blind is built facing the direction of the prey, which may be a Deer or turkey.
Other things you might want to consider include the position of the sun as well as the direction of the wind. You don't want to sun shining in your eyes as this can hinder your vision.
You also want to maintain an upwind condition, especially if you are hunting a deer, so you don't give your scent away.
We also recommend building the blind at home and then dropping it off at the location you've chosen when you are done.
This makes it easier to access your tools and ensures you don't disturb the area (which might not belong to you). However, this will only work if there's any access for trucks in the area.
Now,Let's Get Into The Actual Construction Of The Blind;
Start with the Foundation
The first thing to do when constructing a hunting blind is to set up the foundation. Get the stand and place it on top of your four by fours. The purpose of elevating the stand is to prevent bugs from getting in while you are waiting for the prey.
The four by fours should be cut in such a way that they protrude out on the sides of the blind floor by 6 inches.
Cut boards to complete the flooring and also make provisions for the framing of the blind. You are going to need some plywood for this.
Construct the Frame
Once you're done laying up the foundation, the next thing is to construct the frame. To do this, simply match off the two by fours according to the suggested structure of the blind.
If you feel you're not up for the task, then you can get some steel brackets and have them drilled to guide you before you start constructing the frame.
However, we think this is a very simple process which can be completed by anyone regardless of their skill level.
Since this is supposed to be a box blind, you are free to choose between a rectangular and a square design.
If you choose a rectangular design, then you have to make the sides longer with reinforcement. For this purpose, you're likely going to need an extra two by four running to the top.
Once you've built the body frame, go ahead and construct the door frame. You might find this part a bit trickier especially if you're a novice.
We advise positioning the frame to directly face the food plot or the area where your prey is. You will find it easier to build your door at home and then later fit it with the blind.
Make sure you allow enough clearance when attaching the door to the hinges to make room for swelling during temperate conditions. This can be anywhere between 0.7 - 1 inches.
Once you're done with this part, go ahead to create openings or ports in the initial frame of the blind for your guns.
Cover the Body
After constructing the frames and the blind door, the next thing you want to do is to skin the blind. This is where you're going to need your plywood or particle board.
Measure the sides of the blind and cut the plywood accordingly so that they fit. Don't cover the openings for the door and ports so that it won't get too hot inside.
To make sure the blind is airtight, use a high quality lumber or else add sealant to preserve the temperature inside. You never know how long you have to wait for your prey.
For the roof, you can go for a popular choice like galvanized steel.
To conceal the blind, you can either Camouflage it with leaves or cover with branches. You can also decide to paint it if you want. In this case, you might want to use earth tones.
Using Pallets to Build
Using pallets is one of the best ways to build a simple standard blind, especially if you're operating on a tight budget. More so, pallet blinds are more preferable for hunting during spring.
Besides being cheap, pallets are very easy to build with and do not take much time. And one of the reason why this is so is that they offer slots which can be used for gun rests. Thus, you don't need to build a separate one.
The rests that pallets offer will give you an all-round (360 degree) view, enabling you to aim better.
To start constructing a blind with pallets, position 4 pallets so that their runners appear horizontal. Then secure them together using the proper screws.
Don't ever use nails for pallets, else wise, you won't be able to dismantle them when you decide to move the blind. Even if you succeed in tearing the blind apart, there's a huge possibility of damaging the pallets.
The Wrap Up
Generally, you can follow the same steps above for building a hunting blind with wood.
The only difference is that there's no need for skinning the blind with plywood and you won't be required to make any port or opening in the initial frame. By now you should know why.
If you're constructing the blind for bow hunting, we recommend using 3 pallets instead of four. This might sound surprising but we assure you that it is technically better.
It gives you more room to retrieve your bow after shooting.
However, you need to provide more support for such a pallet. Normally, a wire or t-post will do.
Two simple ways to enhance the kind of blind is to fasten the roofing felt and use more Camouflage burlap. However, there are only few of the things you can do. Although the steps we've described above will help you build a standard hunting blind, feel free to come up with your own ideas on how to make things look and feel better.