PIT BLINDS

[MALLARDBUSTER]

OK FELLOWS, HAVEN'T BEEN ON FOR AWHILE, SO DON'T GIVE ME TOO HARD OF A TIME. ANYWAY, I NEED SOME INFO ON A PIT BLIND.WHERE CAN I GET ONE THE CHEAPEST? I'M KIND OF NEW TO FIELD HUNTING,BUT I LEARNED LAST YEAR THAT YOUR BEST BET IS TO BE SUBMERGED. IF ANYONE CAN HELP I'D BE THANKFUL.

[00duck]

go find a backhoe some concrete and a 2000 gal fuel tank cut hole in top dig hole put tank in put concrete in but before you do this make sure the birds work the area your putting tank in now leave 12 to 18 in above ground how much concrete you say about a yard to make floor put two boards in middle to make your floor fall to the middle 4 in down should do it this will make a well to pump out of you should be able to find a good tank for less than five hundred delivered any questions [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] good luck

[ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: 00duck ]

[Doc & Nash]

Get in touch with BFI or Waste Management and buy an old solid waste container, A good one will run you about 100. Than add conc. or install a french drain system under the box to relieve the pressure,

[tunica du4u]

MB, I have 5 pits that I have had for years from Tony Kurc Pits and Blinds in Jonesboro. Tony will build anything you want. Several folks have copied his pits around here but they dont seem to hold up like his. I can't emphasize how good his pits are built and work. He will deliver too. If interested let me know and I'll dig out his # from my office
or you can see them whenever they have the hunting extravaganza(?) in Memphis usually in August. He always has a display there. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[ducman77]

MB,
You are right about the pit being the best way to hunt in a field but they are expensive. If you can find a pit under 1000 bucks you had better jump on it. I kow a guy out in California that makes pits that are very nice I will call him and see what he's got built. Tell me how much you want to spend and how big you want the pit.

[ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: ducman77 ]

[Anatidae]

I have very little experience w/ 'pits' compared to several folks on here. So if I were contemplating throwing my money in a 'pit', I'd want to see several or better yet, hunt from several pits, to get a feel for what suits MY needs.

There's so many stlyes and configurations to choose from.......it'd be best if you could decide what you want and have one 'custom-made'.....unless you're a trust-fund baby and have plenty o' money to just throw away. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Being new to field hunting and wanting to spend as little money as possible (i.e. "what's the cheapest"), you might consider a coffin style blind. They offer you much more mobility......you can move around with the birds.......instead of being 'stuck' in one spot and having to rely on the birds coming to YOU.......until you figure-out this 'field hunting' thing. [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

It's amazing how most pits with 200-300 decoys around them look the same from the air......it's really hard to make 'em unobtrusive......they just all look alike! 'Makes you wonder how ducks could be so dumb after seeing the same set-up, up and down the Flyway......lucky for us!

Even though 'lids' are a pain in the butt [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img], the only blind I saw that was hard to spot from the air (other than the dead-still 300 decoys in clear water), had a roll-top (shut) covered w/ rice straw. The farmer left rice (cut, but standing) ON THE LEVEES, which helps tremendously!

If you can get someone to bail some rice straw before they burn the field, you can re-apply to bare spots around your pit as straw gets 'stomped' into the mud.

Plenty of folks have success hunting from pits......it's a good way of hunting
with several friends. Good luck!

[ July 09, 2002: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

[tunica du4u]

Anatidae made an excellent point there as I hunted every field my pits are in several seasons before putting them in. I knew where the ducks liked and how they worked the hole 3 of them are in rice fields and I leave about 5 acres of rice around the pits and let Mother Nature and water take its course and use rice straw on my flaps. And never put out many decoys. I have flew over them to see what they look like and if they have several hundred decoys around a pit it looks anything but natural. The other 2 I use cane around. All 5 are different size and configuration so be sure you own the hole or will have it long enough to justify the pit cause it may not work in another spot.

[Haymaker]

I read a good article in Wildfowl Magazine that talked about making your own pitblind. It looked like an inexpensive way, when compaired with other methods, to construct a pitblind. If you would like I can dig the article out to tell you which issue it was in.

I would also follow the advice given on this forum about knowing the area well prior to building a pit.

Good Luck,

Darrell

[HDC]

I read an article in an old DU magazine that talked about making one man pit blinds out of 40 inch metal culvert. Said to put the culvert however deep in the ground and pour six inches of concrete in the bottom to seal and hold it down.

Has anyone ever seen that done?

I am seriously thinking about trying it out this year.

I estimate about $150 for pipe and concrete.

Any thoughts?

[NOHERE]

any of you know someone that can weld a good
sled blind. i need about 3.
8x12, with supports to put on a roof...the idea is to put 1/4 plywood on it to keep the wind and rain out. the floor would be 1/2 plywood.

[tunica du4u]

NoHere, that would be a Hilton on skids! [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Last couple of early falls when we get caught up I have been building 3X10 skid blinds with 5/4 decking slatted floors for folks. Nothing that big though. I did build myself a 16' X 3' skid blind and cover it top and sides with camo tarp then put burlap camo over that, cut a truck load of cane and stuck that up around it on a wood line next to bayou. Had good hunts out of it and keeps the wind and rain out to a large degree.

MB didnt check it till i got home Hope what I sent helped. [img]images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[damnyankee]

HDC.
We made several years back used some 90 gallons barrels Dad had for years, have no idea what they were used for.
If you're going to put in 1 or maybe 2 one man blinds are great.
But it can be hard to communicate between the 2.

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: damnyankee ]

[MALLARDBUSTER]

THANKS FELLOWS FOR ALL THE ADVICE, YOU HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. TUNICA DU4U,CHECK YOUR PM

[NOHERE]

tunica du4u..man all the stuff,time,money,and energy we put into hunting these "redleged" critters, i figure if im out there to enjoy some of it, i would like to be dry ie "hilton"...ive still got plenty of room to move around behind trees if the birds decide to go that way. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[tunica du4u]

Youre right. We ought to be comfortable with all the money we spend doing this "sport". You would love Flea Harbor. A friend has a 10'X 24'floating blind in a "bayou" of sort there.Enclosed boat dock on the back It is anchored as not to move, it has adjustable legs or footing that stabilize it as not to move when you are in it. I bet he spent several thousand building it but it sure is nice in the cold rain. Thats one of those places you carry a snack and don't mind staying all day, ducks or not. [img]images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]