Homemade Deer Box Blinds
Having a homemade deer box blind is a nice benefit when hunting. Being able to keep movements hidden, keeping dry in rainy weather and having a place to thaw out in the cold are all positives for having a permanent deer box blind.
For less than £65 and a few hours of work, you can create your own deer box blind
Planning and Materials
The first step is to determine the specifics. Do you want the blind elevated? (Old tree houses or tree towers that kids have outgrown work great for elevated units.) Will it be wood or plastic? Will you make it yourself from scratch or with the help of a kit? Will your roof be of plywood, wood or fibreglass?
This explanation will be for a wooden, do-it-yourself, ground blind. You will need:
5 8' pressure-treated 2" x 4" pieces of lumber
10 5/16" x 2" carriage bolts
1 sheet of 8' x 45" x 1/2" pressure-treated plywood
2 sheets of 8' x 68" x 1/2" pressure-treated plywood
1 sheet of 45" x 68" x 1/2" pressure-treated plywood
10 5/16" wing nuts
9 6' pressure-treated 1" x 4"
10 3/16" flat washers
1 box galvanised deck screws
Camouflage burlap fabric
2-inch insulation foam
Black paint
Camouflage paint
Painting tools--brushes, roller, tray
Tree branch and other natural foliage
- The first step is to determine the specifics.
- This explanation will be for a wooden, do-it-yourself, ground blind.
The Base
Take two 8-foot 2" x 4" and mark them for 16-inch increments.
Cut six supports 2" x 4" x 45 from three remaining 8-foot 2" x 4". Space supports 16 inches apart and screw them in place with deck screws, making sure supports are square.
Put sheet of 8' x 45" x 1/2" treated plywood down on your frame for floor, securing to frame with deck screws.
- Take two 8-foot 2" x 4" and mark them for 16-inch increments.
Framing and Roof
Create vertical framing using eight 1" X 4" x 68" (cut from 1" x 4" x 6''s). Framing should be: 4 1" x 4"s (two combined on each side at one end of blind), 2 1 x 4s (on opposite sides) at midpoint, and 2 in corners at far end.
Cut shooting windows in two pieces of 8' x 68" plywood and 45" x 68" piece of plywood. The 45" x 68" piece will be the narrow wall between the two 8' x 68" walls.
Secure 8' plywood pieces to each of the long sides of the blind with screws. Secure 45" piece of plywood to blind with screws.
Secure roofing material with screws.
Insulate with 2-inch foam on all walls, floor and ceiling.
- Create vertical framing using eight 1" X 4" x 68" (cut from 1" x 4" x 6''s).
Rails, Camouflage
Drill holes every 2 inches apart from 24" to 44" on two long walls.
Cut 1" x 4" x 6' for shooting rails and drill holes in ends to match holes in framing.
Line up shooting rails and fasten with 5/16-inch carriage bolts, flat washers and wing nuts.
Create door with burlap and scrap 1" x 4" lumber. Attach burlap to frame and staple the burlap to the 1 x 4's.
- Drill holes every 2 inches apart from 24" to 44" on two long walls.
- Cut 1" x 4" x 6' for shooting rails and drill holes in ends to match holes in framing.
Fishing Touches
Paint the inside of your blind black to hide interior movements. Also paint around the outside of the shooting windows black to make it look like they are always open.
Paint the outside of the blind in camouflage colours to match the surrounding woods.
Use tree branches and other natural foliage to camouflage the blind.
- Paint the inside of your blind black to hide interior movements.
- Paint the outside of the blind in camouflage colours to match the surrounding woods.
References
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- Michigan Sportsman.com
- Richard Jeffrey, avid outdoorsman
Resources
Writer Bio
Kevin Beese has more than 25 years of experience writing and editing copy for both daily and community newspapers. He has been honored by the Associated Press, Illinois Press Association and the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association. His work has appeared in numerous publications including the "Chicago Tribune."