Layout blinds - Opinions?

Scott O.

Scott O.

Well-known member
I am looking at layout blinds for fall goose hunting and maybe even spring turkey.

Power Hunters, Eliminators, XLandR etc... theres all kinds of makes and models out there

I need some help here so I'd be interested to hear opinions from actual users if you have a second
 
Scott

I have the X-terminator model made by GooseView. Mine is a couple years old so may not be the same as a current model. The features I looked for when I purchased it were (all equaly important to me)

(A) fit and comfort,,,,,, I'm 5'8" and weigh 200lbs. I have ample room and as comfortable as I feel could be expected given that none of these blinds come with a box spring and mattress. Really, I stay protected and warm and the padding is just fine.

(B) transport,,,, this one folds up nicely to 43"x27"x4" which allows me to easily haul it around. I even haul it along in my sneak boat to use on a sand bar instead of hunting from the boat.

(C) zippered dog door ,,,,, This one of the very few models (at least when I bought mine) that had a zipper at the feet to serve as a dog door. It didn't take much at all for my dog to learn to enter thru the shooting door and lay between my legs. He is well hid but can look out thru my feet and exit there to make a retrieve. Keeps him warm and concealed, he's happy and so am I.

I looked over several in the stores before buying and am happy with my choice. Seem's to be well built and nothing has broken yet but I've only used it a few times. I must add that this is the only one I have hunted from so can't give you any feed back from that perpsective.

Hope this helps.
 
i have a power hunter and like it alot. it is light easy to set up and camo. it is very low profile. i use it in fields and in the mud flats. picking up birds from afar can be some what difficult looking through the mesh but once you have them nail it is easy to follow them. if you do buy one i wouldn't spend the extra money on the camo the field kakhi is invisible with some natural material or killer weed on them.
good luck
wheeler
 
Hi Dave,
I am also in the layout blind market so I will be following this one. Great point about the dog door, I love it! I also need a bit more room than some of the younger guys.
 
One that I've abandoned is the FA X-Lander. It's comfortable in the field but it is not designed to fold flat without major surgery. Space within my Toyota pickup is a premium. Also, it's advertised use as a backpack is, in my opinion, highly overrated unless you happen to enjoy having a metal bar poked into your back.

I switched to an FA SUB this past season and have been much happier. It equals the X-L in comfort but folds much smaller.
 
I've got the Ground Force by Avery and I love it. very comfortable, low profile, and it packs up like a backpack, you should definately try that blind out.
 
I am looking at layout blinds for fall goose hunting and maybe even spring turkey.

Power Hunters, Eliminators, XLandR etc... theres all kinds of makes and models out there

I need some help here so I'd be interested to hear opinions from actual users if you have a second
Click to expand...

Yo Scott,
Check your email. Check with Mike Andros, www.duckboating.com . I know he stocks a ton of blinds and could help you out. He's the buddy I had with me when we stopped over at your place after the swap meet.
Later partner,
Lou

Oh........you going to Westlake? Might find some good Oldsquaw reference. :)
 
I have an Avery Finisher. It seems fine and works well enough. The power hunter would be nice as the hatch covers any movement, but would be tricky to shoot a turkey out of. I think any layout blind might be a little tricky with turkeys though.
 
I have shot out of a lot of them. If you exclusively hunting geese and use both hands calling then I would go with the Power Hunter from Avery. I do not like the overhead flap as much but for covering your hand movement they are great.

If you want a good general blind I would use the Avery Ground Force. I have had Finishers in the past and they do not fold up as well as the Ground Force. The Ground Force hunts like a Finisher and folds up like a Power Hunter.

Hope that helps. HHG
 
I have two FA Eliminators and a Power Hunter. The eliminators are comfortable, and well built, but If I could only have one it would be the power hunter. Folds up nice and easy to transport, lighty and easy to hide. The only thing I dont like, is like all the avery blinds the stubble loops are a bit loose and you really have to pack stuff in there or it falls out.
 
Some things to consider:

- Get to see the "folded down" size of any blind and compare that to the vehicle space you've got. Consider what other items you have to fit in (dekes, dog box, etc).
Whatever blind you look at, make sure you know what's invoved in folding it down. This involves actually folding it down & setting it up before you buy. Don't just read the claims in the literature! Like Dave said, the X-Lander rear bar is something that you'll leave up once its in place. Not easy to collapse and re-set at all. We will carry up to 4 X-Landers and have enough space in the truck, but they do take up room even when broken down (folded) with the rear support bar up in place. Thet look like wedges and we stack them opposite end to make two stacked rectangles when transporting

- How will you be able to rest and access your gun? This is a biggie. I really like the padded bar at my feet that allows safe and easy handling of the gun and the muzzle pointed down range ' til it's time to shoot.

- Most zippered footbags are for easy cleanout. Wet / muddy dog in a coffin blind is a pain in the a**. Pick up one of the dog blinds on the market. There's a wide range in both price & features and they'll all do the job. If the dog knows his place and is steady, its a pleasure to hunt him/her from one. If the dog won't stay put....well, then you don't want it in the bottom of your blind anyway. Leave it home 'til you can train it to stay put in its own blind.

- I like the backpack feature of the X-lander. With the rear support up there's a lot of room for gear under the backrest, and the gun scabbard is nice as well. It's not effortless to hump across a cornfield, but it beats trying to fill your hands and arms with gear. If you adjust the straps, it's not uncomfortable. Helps to have a buddy to get it on your back. Bottom line - if you have a lot of gear to get to the "X", you'll make two trips anyway. Always good to have fields you can drive into :)

- Plenty of grassing loops are a must.

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I'm in the market but have decided on a groundforce.

I have to agree with the others:

-I don't like the clamshell of the powerhunter
-I have an eliminator but it is not compact and easily transported
-dogs are messy in a field and shouldn't be in a blind, how do you have him/her heel or take a line on a mark or blind retrieve? Bennelli's American Bird Hunter was advertising spring loaded dog blinds last year for $35. If you're interested contact me, my cousin and friend each bought one.
 
I have hunted out of most of them.

I like the Khaki Powerhunter the best. Lowest profile and when it's mudded and grassed with what is left in the field it's almost too easy.
 
Scott,
I've got a powerhunter and a FA sub.
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Both are great blinds, providing great cover-up ability in all ground cover. I started with the powerhunter and moved to the SUB for a a few reasons. But first I let me describe what I feel are there similarities. Their both low profile, both have adequate grassing loops, both are comfortable to lay in, and both are easy to shoot from. The biggest reason I switched is gun placement. From the powerhunter there isn't any place to keep the gun while laying in wait except the ground next to you. Not a problem if your hunting green fields but can reich havoc on an action after a few dirt storm corn field hunts. The sub has a gun rest pad built into the lower support frame, allowing one to keep the gun in the blind, keeping your biggest asset clean, protected, and in good working order. May not matter to some folks but, I like to know that the musket is going to be ready when I am. Aside from that, three other things are quite different. The first Wheeler touched on. The cover on the powerhunter takes a bit of getting use to. Looking through the mesh and maintaining a visual on a circling flock can prove to be somewhat difficult at times. The advantage to that cover is the freedom it provides when working the call. It allows plenty of room for just about any hand movement one might make when finishing birds. The Sub is a bit tight in that regard, but it allows for great visual contact. Other plus' to the Sub are space and insulation. There is enough room for everything but the kitchen sink in the sub and the foot bag is insulated for those nasty cold days. Just my thoughts. One other thing, which ever you choose, be sure to mud the blind with the thickest nastiest mud you can find, it will make all the difference!

Dave
 
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This is excellent information for myself and anyone else in the layout blind market...thanks guys!

Now I'm goin' shoppin'!
 
One other thought. Dog Blinds. I got the new dog blind from Avery this fall and used it in SD. It works very well and is very sturdy with it's alluminum pipe frame. I used one for our DU TV show this Jan in CT and it worked great. The best part about using a blind for the dog instead of having them at your feet is they are safer, it does not hurt their ears and you can line them for retrieves. Just thought I would add this. HHG
 
Scott, I hunt out of layout blinds a lot and have had quite a few different brands and models in the rig. My opinion is that the power hunter is great for honkers and filming. Very low profile and tough. Folds up good.

Still, the finisher is my all around favorite. I cant believe how our finishers are still functioning from years ago while the others have failed and broken. They are higher profile than the power hunter but quite a bit more comfortable. Fold up easily.

Broke a ground force this fall 1st time I hunted out of it. Nice and low profile but I was not impressed with the durability of them.
 
Last fall I switched from regular layout blind's why? Well I was sick of freezing my butt off, having my leg's fall asleep and having to replace broken frame pieces and to top it off there was never enough room to call inside the blind!! When I went snow goose hunting last spring the guide supplied Beavertail layout blind's this is the best blind I have ever used I was so impressed when I got home I ordered one. After using it last fall I can tell you it set's up in second's there are no frame pieces to lose it has no frame, I no longer have to lay on frozen ground and for the first time I was able to hunt all day in comfort best of all I can fit my 6ft 5in frame in this blind with room to spare. Go to fisherbeavertail.com and see for yourself!!
 
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