Steve
There is a lot of similarity between that blind and the ones used at Swan Creek WMA. I have that book and other than that picture and the Swan Creek blinds used for decades I've not seen that style anywhere else. Reelfoot has big floating blinds but they are very different. I think the design is a good one and the blinds at Swan evolved over the years. Many were wood 2x affairs, but the better ones were welded angle iron. The state imposed rules, e.g., no drums and you must use Styrofoam flotation covered with chicken wire (prevents muskrats from eating them), among others.
Sadly after many decades, perhaps back to the 40s, they ended them this year and now the dewatering area is daily draw for boat blinds or walk-in only. You are told where to stand. A lot of upset hunters including me with the path the state is taking that denies public access. I am fortunate to have other opportunity, but I know several hunters, especially older ones, that relied on the blind system. They are too old to hunt from boats or stand in waist deep water. The new rules ended their careers. They don't have access to private like I do. I used to be proud of the public opportunities north Alabama possessed and was a big supporter of AL DCNR and would even get into internet arguments in their favor. Those days are over. Their new leadership has reduced hunting opportunity and some of it runs contrary to grad level research conducted on the very same areas. I can't get behind folks that deny access to the public with no compelling reason on areas where it existed for decades.
Sorry, probably more than you wanted to hear, but the sting of the new rules is fresh.
