Layout Blind suggestions?

[Jeff Reardon]

After many years of flaring wary black ducks in the late season, I'm considering a layout blind. I mostly hunt from shore using natural cover and scavenged brush to make a "blind". It works well in the early season when ducks are mostly inland in areas with good tree cover and trees a leafed out to provide good over head and background cover. Doesn't take much under those conditions to be pretty well hidden. But late season brings the ducks down to the salt marsh with much less cover--and ducks that have spent several months getting shot at. So, gonna try a layout blind this year. I'm not looking for a lot of bells and whistles--just something that be portable, easy to set up, and reasonably comfortable to hunt from. Non negotiables include light weight (under 15 pounds preferred), small packed size, a waterproof bottom that will stand up to salt marsh mud, clams, mussels, and barnacles, and a large enough size for my 52 inch chest and size 16 feet. Definitely want something with straps or another method to add natural cover. Any suggestions? There's a ton of options out there at all kinds of price points. Hard to evaluate them from the catalog listings.

 

[Clinton John]

Avery power hunter.

 

[Rod VanZile]

I would second the Avery Power Hunter. It is lightweight with carry straps to fold into itself. You can carry it like a backpack. It is easy to see through the mesh hood in all directions if you are limber enough to turn your head. I dont know about a 52 inch chest and size 16 boots, it might be a little tight. The downside is your gun has to lay outside the blind as opposed to other box style blinds. Also has plenty of grassing straps.

RVZ

 

[Bob Reitmeyer]

Getting low definitely helps on the saltmarsh. I forget the exact model, but I bought a cheap cabelas layout a few years ago and it has served me well. I use it for bayside, creekside and ponds and set it up like hunting from a sneakbox. I like using it as a backpack for the walk in option too. As I use it there are plenty of loops to brush in and I can carry a few decoys inside it plus a small blind bag. I've tired of scrounging for satisfactory spartina for the hide so I bring a bag of that too. Good luck!

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Thanks to everyone so far. The Avery Power Hunter is definitely near the top of what I've looked at so far. Seems to be a couple of inches wider than some similar models (30" vs. 28"), but also a little lower. (Good for hiding, bad for Sasquatch feet.)

Getting low definitely helps on the saltmarsh. I forget the exact model, but I bought a cheap cabelas layout a few years ago and it has served me well. I use it for bayside, creekside and ponds and set it up like hunting from a sneakbox. I like using it as a backpack for the walk in option too. As I use it there are plenty of loops to brush in and I can carry a few decoys inside it plus a small blind bag. I've tired of scrounging for satisfactory spartina for the hide so I bring a bag of that too. Good luck!

Was that maybe this model? https://www.cabelas.com/p/northern-...4yhLo1T6NT0dScObfKpRvAGXusTXpTSgaAiYEEALw_wcB Looks similar to the Avery in size and weight. Two questions about both. (1) Waterproof? I'm not going be trying to hunt in 4" of water, but I will be setting up in the wet mud of tidal creeks and gullies to get down low. Don't water seeping up through and getting me cold. (2) There is some talk, both positive and negative, about the Avery Power Hunter's mesh head cover, both good and bad. Good for hiding, bad for visibility and need to get it out of the way to shoot. Thoughts?

 

[Clinton John]

Thanks to everyone so far. The Avery Power Hunter is definitely near the top of what I've looked at so far. Seems to be a couple of inches wider than some similar models (30" vs. 28"), but also a little lower. (Good for hiding, bad for Sasquatch feet.)

Was that maybe this model? https://www.cabelas.com/p/northern-flight-mobile-elite-x-layout-blind?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas|Shopping|PMax|Proprietary|General|NCO|Google|NMT&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21733732293&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh5vFBhCyARIsAHBx2wwDktsJptXhFn-7Rt1GPyi4yhLo1T6NT0dScObfKpRvAGXusTXpTSgaAiYEEALw_wcB Looks similar to the Avery in size and weight. Two questions about both. (1) Waterproof? I'm not going be trying to hunt in 4" of water, but I will be setting up in the wet mud of tidal creeks and gullies to get down low. Don't water seeping up through and getting me cold. (2) There is some talk, both positive and negative, about the Avery Power Hunter's mesh head cover, both good and bad. Good for hiding, bad for visibility and need to get it out of the way to shoot. Thoughts?

My only other suggestion would be a backboard and ghillie blanket setup like we use in the snow goose fields.

 

[Wyatt Russo]

I use the Cabela’s northern flight layout blinds goose hunting in the fields they’re great. Fold easily and have backpack straps for easy transport and nice stubble straps the blend in. But if you’re hunting tidal salt marsh on the coast I suggest getting a pond/meadow box. I’ve used layouts in the tidal marsh before and if the tide comes up too high, well you’re done hunting. The water will flood in and get everything wet. I use a meadowbox for the tidal marsh now after having that happen to me one time. Leave the layouts for the dry ground.

 

[Jeff Reardon]

I use the Cabela’s northern flight layout blinds goose hunting in the fields they’re great. Fold easily and have backpack straps for easy transport and nice stubble straps the blend in. But if you’re hunting tidal salt marsh on the coast I suggest getting a pond/meadow box. I’ve used layouts in the tidal marsh before and if the tide comes up too high, well you’re done hunting. The water will flood in and get everything wet. I use a meadowbox for the tidal marsh now after having that happen to me one time. Leave the layouts for the dry ground.

I hear you. But many of my marsh spots let me set up on the high marsh, and I want to be light and mobile. I use my sculler or a canoe as a blind when I might be floating. Hiding the canoe in a narrow salt marsh creek works great on the incoming tide. I have a little backboard I can set against a seat or thwart and it makes a pretty comfortable blind until the tide gets high enough to float me above the grass. The sculler is better for setting up next to taller vegetation like wild rice.

 

[Bob Reitmeyer]

HI Jeff, That model looks pretty close to what I use except mine is just brown. The bottom has kept me dry except for standing water / incoming tide which I can generally avoid. By the end of the season I might only be hiding in 24-30 inch tall spartina. I recline in the layout, but not completely horizontal so I don't even use the flaps/mesh other that to hide my body, but I do wear a face mask. Grassed up properly the birds don't know I'm there