Blind Building (with pics)

Eric Patterson

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Last year at the hunting property our sled blinds got swept all over the place each time we had a flood. I neglected to sand bag the skids to keep them from floating away. I won't make that mistake again but we decided we want a permanent blind in one of the better locations . We got the post holes dug and posts set today and I am beat. Tomorrow we will get the floor in place and start framing it up.


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Looks like a good project for some hot summer days. Hahaha
How deep does that area flood? Is the blind going to usually be in the water or above the waterline.

Tim
 
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We're happy with Saturday's progress. The floor is done and we now have a stable platform to frame the blind on. Our school of thought thus far has been to make a damn solid foundation to build the blind on, one that will last many years and require no maintenance. From this point on we will use materials ranging from salvaged scrap to new. Whatever keeps the cost to a minimum yet results in a sturdy structure.

We aren't 100% sure yet but think we will go with a "lean-to" style of blind with shooting ports. The blind backs up against a tree so gunners will only need to shoot out the front. The only downside to this, as I see it, is the blind will be fairly tall. We are thinking of building a huge brush pile in front to help hide the blind.

One last note. Thomas, Patrick, and Zac make one hell of a work team. Each has some building experience (Thomas and Zac are in school for Building Science) and being the young strapping men they are can move pretty fast on a construction site. My old bones hurt trying to keep up.


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TimJ said:
Looks like a good project for some hot summer days. Hahaha
How deep does that area flood? Is the blind going to usually be in the water or above the waterline.

Tim

Tim, the water is typically about knee to thigh deep. However the blind is next to the Flint River which frequently floods. We cut the blind posts at 4' and that should make it huntable in all but the biggest of floods.
 
Eric Patterson said:
My old bones hurt trying to keep up.

I would have thought by now you would have been promoted to a supervisory position. What's the problem, no leadership skills? [angelic]
 
That's gonna be some blind! You guys are craftsmen. It looks big enough to have sleeping quarters.

Do you bring a boat to hunt this spot? It's hard to visualize that field under several feet of water, one of your first photos made it appear to be on a slight hill. Maybe an illusion.
 
SJ Fairbank said:
That's gonna be some blind! You guys are craftsmen. It looks big enough to have sleeping quarters.

Do you bring a boat to hunt this spot? It's hard to visualize that field under several feet of water, one of your first photos made it appear to be on a slight hill. Maybe an illusion.

We can drive to it unless the river floods and then use a boat. The field is about 110 acres with three duck ponds ranging from 3-8 acres. The blind is next to the biggest one and is planted in corn this year. Hunting seems to be the best when the river floods the entire field as the water goes out, i.e. falling waters.
 
Eric Patterson said:
SJ Fairbank said:
That's gonna be some blind! You guys are craftsmen. It looks big enough to have sleeping quarters.

Do you bring a boat to hunt this spot? It's hard to visualize that field under several feet of water, one of your first photos made it appear to be on a slight hill. Maybe an illusion.

We can drive to it unless the river floods and then use a boat. The field is about 110 acres with three duck ponds ranging from 3-8 acres. The blind is next to the biggest one and is planted in corn this year. Hunting seems to be the best when the river floods the entire field as the water goes out, i.e. falling waters.

Sounds fantastic, wish we had hunting like that. There's very few farms left in CT, fewer still that flood other than in the spring.
 
Well hate to tell you but Worcester County , MD.s building inspectors would fail your notched post treatment for your floor joyces. They,ve decided its stronger to just thru bolt them to outside of post on deck structures. Idiots couldn,t drive a nail without instructions on the hammer!
 
Good morning, Eric~


Spectacular! I hope your Building Department issues your Certificate of Occupancy in time for the season.....right after you add the banisters to your stairway.....



How deep to you expect the water to be? Will you arrive by boat or ATV?


And, do you have to do a snake check each morning when you hunt?



Many happy hours in the new abode!


SJS

 
Steve

Thanks. Water is about knee to thigh deep when we close the gates. However this blind is close to the Flint River which floods frequently following heavy rains. It was probably 6' deep where the blind is located last hunting season. Basically we want the blind to be huntable in all but the biggest of floods and not get pushed around like our sled blinds do when the river flows across this field.


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Eric Patterson said:
On rainy nasty days you'll find me here.

What a wuss,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'll assume that "here" for you, is NOT the second window from the door. [ninja]

Looks good.
 
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