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A place to politely discuss the tools, technique and culture of photography.

This is not a good place to simply share cool photos/videos or promote your own work and projects, but rather a place to discuss photography as an art and post things that would be of interest to other photographers.

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Does Anyone Use Pop-Up Blinds? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by inthewoods54@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro

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I'm thinking about buying a camouflage hunting blind, one of the cheaper "pop up" styles. This would be for nature & wildlife photography on my own property, in the woods at a spot a few hundred feet from my house. I currently sit there several times a week already. I've been using layered mosquito netting suspended like a tent over a camp chair. It gives me a surprisingly decent amount of concealment. I've had the netting and chair set up there all year and it's been great. But now with winter coming, I'm realizing the snow is going to weigh down the net and collapse. So I'm trying to find an inexpensive alternative and thought of these pop-up blinds, but I'm not sure how it would hold up if I leave it there all winter, specifically from the weight of snow. I sit there numerous times a week so I want something that I can just leave in place.

Does anyone use them? Pros & Cons?
Does anyone know if they can handle a snow load? I'm looking at the dome shaped ones thinking the snow might just slide off it.
Does anyone have any better suggestions? All I need it to do is: a) partially conceal me, and b) not get weighed down by snow (and shelter the chair from snow, preferably)

Thanks so much for any input.

Edited to add: I am thinking of posting this in a hunting sub as well, but would rather avoid seeing any hunting pics, so I thought I'd start here.

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[–] fm67530@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have one for deer season and have been seriously considering using it for wildlife photography. I've reached a point in my life where I like shooting pictures of animals more than shooting lead at them.

Edit to add: Pop up blinds are not meant to be left up long term, usually as hunters we would put them up at most for a few days, more to acclimate the animals to it being there than anything else. As a hunter, putting your blinds in an area where they are easily concealed is the key to blending in, along with arriving to the blind well before the animals become active. When we go deer hunting, we usually arrive at the blinds around 4am, the sun rises at 6 this time of year. That gives us 2 hours to get situated before the animals can see us.

[–] inthewoods54@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It would be very poetic if you were to start shooting deer through a new lens.

I do realize they aren't meant to be left up, I guess that's why I'm asking if anyone's tried it. But I walk over there almost daily if not daily, so setting something up and taking it down would be a pain in the ass. If I got a cheap one and it last the season I'd be pleased.

[–] fm67530@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I think a cheap one would break-down even faster in that situation. Take a look ar what is called an outhouse blind. They are small, single person blinds that fold flat and take all of 20 seconds to put up and about 60 seconds to put away. They are just big enough for an adult, a seat and your camera bag.

[–] kickstand@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I bought one during COVID and used it in my backyard. I didn’t use it in snowy weather.

[–] mikusmikus@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

One off tip. You can use a blind. What might set off an animal you are there is your scent. I'm sure hunters can attest to this, same goes for photographers.tge smell of you and a blind,could be a no go for animals.

[–] inthewoods54@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I'm not worried about my scent. The deer know I'm there, they pass by me daily and see me, but they're used to me. I've been sitting there most days all year. The netting I have now helps more with birds who don't seem to notice me as much until they're very close. It's also just an aesthetic I enjoy, having the curtain around me offers some light rain/light wind resistance and some slight concealment. I'd just keep the netting up I have there now, except I know the weight of the snow will pull it down.