Imagine relaxing into your sofa after a hard week. You have a drink in the cup holder, and you’re nice and warm. You get out a book you’ve been meaning to finish or catch up on college football since you couldn’t watch the games last Saturday.
Now imagine you get to be hunting at the same time. That’s the benefit ground blinds bring to the table. They’re comfortable and roomy. You can really kick back and enjoy the hunt.
Not all ground blinds are made the same, though. For us there are four that really stand apart. First, take some time and review the various features of ground blinds, what makes them special and what you can do with them. Then you can look at our picks of the best ground blinds for bowhunting and decide for yourself.
The Best Ground Blind for Bowhunting – Our Picks
- Pursuit Spring Steel – Quick setup and take down make this a great choice
- Primos Double Bull Bullpen Ground Blind – This blind makes our list for portability
- Ameristep Care Taker – Well priced and coated with shadowguard
- Rhino Blinds R150 3 Person – Best multi-person ground blind
- Herter’s XL Ground Blind – The spacious interior make this blind a top choice
- Ameristep Silent Brickhouse – Stealth features earn this stand a place
- The Zonz Specialist – Great because of its easy assembly
- Primos Double Bull Surround – Best blind for full 360 visibility
Note: Our individual reviews are below, but you can also click any of the links above to check current prices on Amazon and other retailers
Table of Contents
Hunting Ground Blind Reviews
Pursuit Spring Steel
Hunters that are looking for a ground blind that is easy to set up and easy to take down will be impressed by the Pursuit Spring Steel ground blind. The spring-loaded frame pops out and folds down within seconds.
This ground blind is lightweight and easy to carry as well. Take down your blind and pack it away in the included carry bag. Perfect if you want to hunt multiple locations throughout the day.
The blind comes in a Woodland camo color with black interior walls and shoot-through mesh windows. Protect yourself from sun, rain, sleet, and snow, and secure your blind from wind exposure with the included ground stakes and guy ropes.
Ideal for one adult, or one adult and a teen. Dimensions are 58” x 58” with a center ceiling height of 60”.
What we liked:
- Set up and take down in seconds with the spring-loaded frame.
- Camouflage color for stealth.
- Shoot-through mesh windows.
- Easy to carry with an included travel bag.
- Includes ground stakes and guy ropes.
- Protect yourself from all outside elements.
What we didn’t:
- Contains some view restrictions.
Primos Double Bull Bullpen Ground Blind
Primos is a brand that’s well known in the hunting community for making expert calls. With their Double Bull Bullpen Ground Blind, they’ve taken to tackling another deer defense: their sight. It’s a blind that keeps you covered comfortably to give you the best chance on the hunt.
The Mossy Oak Obsession camo pattern available on this stand is really cool. It looks stylish, yeah, but more importantly, it’s a dynamic pattern that dissolves into the background. Plus, the Double Bull Bullpen is made of a cotton/polyester blend that’s particularly tough and resistant to the elements. The fabric is also lightweight, and you can fold it compactly. The blind is incredibly portable.
This blind has wide windows that provide a good shot, but be careful. The windows only provide a 180-degree view. If you know where to put your blind and where your deer will be coming from, this isn’t a problem. For someone who’s expected game to come from all directions, though, this can really hinder your hunt.
Primos knows sound, and they made sure their blind was quiet as well as invisible. The windows have sliding panels, so they don’t make a sound. The setup is easy and quick, so you don’t rustle around too much in the dark. The poles are not only simple to snap together, but they’re tough. This stand can last you season after season.
What we liked:
- Durable
- Effective camo patterns
- Lightweight and portable
- Quiet
- Easy assembly
What we didn’t:
- 180 degree field of view only
Ameristep Care Taker
The Ameristep Care Taker ground blind has been designed to make you feel at ease knowing that you will be undetectable by any type of game you choose to hunt. The mossy-oak country camo covers the entire blind, keeping you hidden at all times. The inside of the blind is treated with a ShadowGuard coating ensuring that your shadow or silhouette will not give away your location.
The Ameristep Care Taker blind can easily fit two hunters comfortably while measuring at 55” x 55” x 60”. This blind folds down to fit into an included carry bag for easy transport. Easy to set up and easy to take down, feel free to use the included ground stakes and high-wind tie downs to secure your blind and to prepare it for any threatening weather.
One last detail to highlight is its budget-friendly price tag. No need to spend a small fortune to provide yourself with a high-quality ground blind for the upcoming hunting season.
What we liked:
- Incredibly easy to set up and tear down.
- The stealthiest ground blind on the market with ShadowGuard coating and mossy-oak country camo.
- Easily fits two fully grown adults comfortably.
- Includes ground stakes and high-wind tie downs for varying weather conditions.
- Exceptional quality at an affordable price.
What we didn’t:
- No mention of water resistance.
Rhino Blinds R150
Take the entire family or a couple buddies out hunting with you with the Rhino Blinds R150 3-Person ground blind. This blind is incredibly spacious measuring 75” x 75” hub to hub, with a floor space of 58” x 58”, and a ceiling center height of 66-inches.
Once the Rhino Blind is removed from the included carry bag, set up is pretty simple. And, once your blind is set up, feel free to leave the blind set up in the woods for days at a time, allowing it to become part of the surrounding habitat.
When you and your hunting party are occupying this ground blind, never worry about drastic changes in the weather. This blind is DWR treated to repel water and to protect it from mold and mildew.
Also, since Rhino blinds are built to be tough, no matter if it rains, snows, hails, or you have high winds, you can rest assured you will be protected and sheltered at all times.
Again, easy to set up and easy to take down, but you will not have to take this blind down until the end of the season. Rhino blinds are built to withstand the elements and they are UV treated as well so your blind will not be bleached out by the sun.
What we liked:
- Easily fit three people into this ground blind. 75” x 75” hub to hub. 58” x 58” of floor space. 66-inches of ceiling height in the center.
- Easy to set up and easy to take down.
- Can be left unattended for days without worry of taking damage.
- Built extremely tough to withstand all weather conditions, including severe.
- DWR treated to repel moisture and to prevent the accumulation of mold and mildew.
- Excellent affordable price.
What we didn’t:
- Might be too large of a structure for the solo hunter.
Herter’s XL Ground Blind
Herter’s XL ground blind made our list first and foremost for its incredible value. It’s a great quality stand that still manages to find itself in one of the lower price ranges on the market.
Another thing that makes this stand impressive is just how easy it is to assemble. It features a five-hub system with attached poles. This isn’t just great because you can literally put it together in a couple of minutes, but you also won’t lose any of the poles in the woods taking it down after dark.
Herter’s XL ground blind also lives up to its name when it comes to space. This stand can fit two people if you want it to, so if you’re hunting alone it’ll be extra spacious. For one, this is simply more comfortable. But for a bowhunter this can also mean a more successful hunt. More room lets you get in a better stance to take a more accurate shot, and you’ll be less likely to make any noise standing up.
Speaking of noise, this blind has some great innovations that make it really quiet. The sliding window panels are really cool. There’s no velcro or zippers, so there’s no noise to open the windows. Deer can be spooked by even the smallest sound, so this is a game changer. The windows give you a 360-degree view as well.
Now, it’s possible that Herter’s managed to get the price of this model down by skimping on accessories. The carrying bag is small and only has one strap. The blind itself folds down nicely, though, and on the whole, this blind is portable. It’s hard to find something better for the price.
What we liked:
- Value
- Easy assembly
- Quiet sliding window panels
- 360-degree view
- Spacious interior
What we didn’t:
- Carrying bag
Ameristep Silent Brickhouse
The Ameristep Silent Brickhouse is one of the more innovative blinds on our list. They’ve added a lot of features to this blind that make it ideal as a blind for bowhunting.
The first of these features is the carbon-enhanced Shadowguard. This invention keeps your movements inside the blind concealed. More than anything else, the deer eye is sensitive to movement, so even your shadow standing up can spook them. This blind makes sure that doesn’t happen.
The doors and windows on the Silent Brickhouse give rise to its name. They’re quiet as you can get. This is while you’re using it, though. The assembly is a little more complicated than other stands, and if you’re setting it up in the dark, you might accidentally make some noise.
There are ten windows in total, so you get a great view. The blind is also lightweight. You won’t have trouble carrying it in and out of the woods. The Silent Brickhouse can be a great option for bowhunters to want to try new spots this season and need maximum stealth.
What we liked:
- Quiet
- Shadowguard
- Lightweight and portable
- Ten windows
What we didn’t:
Complicated assembly
The Zonz Specialist
The Zonz Specialist is a high-performance ground blind made by Cabela’s. That means it’s a store brand, but don’t let that fool you. Cabela’s took the time to make an effective product that rivals any other on the market.
The Zonz Specialist is a breeze to put together. Unfortunately, the instructions aren’t that informative. The assembly is so easy, though, that it doesn’t matter. The blind features a five-hub system and poles that fit together so naturally, you can do it in a few minutes.
The design is a multi-colored camo that blends in a wide variety of woodlands. It’s especially good for the early season when there are still leaves on the trees. The material is also waterproof and stitched to be durable.
At 74” tall the stand will let you straighten up to get your perfect stance and perfect shot. It’s got wide mesh windows as well, which also let you shoot accurately. It has eight windows in total, two on each side for a 360-degree view. Two of the windows are extra large and feature silent sliding panels, so you don’t have to worry about scaring the deer away with noise.
The Zonz Specialist even maximizes convenience. The triangular outer doors are easy to get in and out of. You won’t have to worry about messing with your stand, so you can focus more on the hunt. This is even more important for bowhunters because they will changing positions and strategies more throughout their longer seasons.
What we liked:
- Quiet
- Durable
- Easy assembly
- Tall
- 360-degree view
What we didn’t:
- Instructions could be better
Primos Double Bull Surround
Never have anything sneak up on you while in your ground blind again. The Primos Double Bull Surround ground blind offers 360-degrees of visibility so you can see game approaching from every possible angle.
This ground blind is stealthy with its camo print, and it is large and comfortable measuring at 60” x 60” x 70”. All the walls are constructed with the exclusive one-way see-through design that let you see all of your surroundings without being seen yourself. Also included is one movable blackout wall to place on any wall that you desire.
The blind itself only weighs 23-pounds and it comes with a convenient carry bag to haul your ground blind in and out of the forest.
The people over at Primos are so confident with the quality and craftsmanship of their product that they have covered each ground blind with a limited lifetime warranty.
What we liked:
- Extremely spacious and comfortable with 70” of ceiling height.
- 360-degrees of visibility to see game approaching from every possible angle.
- Beautiful design and stealthy camo print.
- All the walls are constructed with the exclusive one-way see-through design.
- Covered by a limited lifetime warranty
What we didn’t:
- Comes with quite a heavy price tag.
Ground blinds vs tree stands
Despite what the majority of hunters would probably say, neither blinds nor stands are necessarily better than the other. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages for different situations and strategies.
Stands normally offer more visibility than blinds. Excepting ladder stands, they’re also more versatile. Both of those make stands better for someone trying out new spots, or maybe a new hunter who can’t predict where deer will be coming from.
Blinds, on the other hand, offer a lot more room and comfort. If you pick the right blind, you should be able to stand up and spread out much better than in a stand. This isn’t just comfortable. For a bowhunter, it means a better, more accurate shot. Some hunters even drag couches into their blinds, though, so the comfort factor is a big deal as well. If you’ve got a great spot you plan to use over and over, or if you plan to spend long days hunting, consider a blind.
What to look for
You need it roomy
Like we just mentioned, one of the biggest advantages of a ground blind is its extra space. So, if you’re looking for one make sure it has enough extra space. A bowhunter’s stance requires a lot of room, and drawing the bow takes up even more. A bowhunting blind should be tall and wide enough that you can comfortably draw a bow. The windows should also be at the right height so that you can make an accurate standing shot.
Lots of QUIET openings are essential
Maybe the biggest disadvantage of ground blinds is the lack of visibility. A good bowhunting blind minimizes this by putting plenty of windows all around the blind.
You can’t have these windows open all the time, however, or else the deer will see you. You open them when your quarry’s in range. If the window opens with loud, tearing velcro, though, they defeat the purpose. The deer will hear you and run off. Make sure whatever blind you pick has a lot of windows that give you a good view, but that are also quiet to open.
What type of camo?
Ground blinds come in a wide range of camouflage patterns, and you can usually even order the same blind in different designs. The main strategy behind a blind is to mask your existence to the deer eye, so the right camo is pretty important.
Select a blind that comes in the right camo for your area. Dynamic fall colors like reds and yellows will stick out in the Mountain West any time of the year but especially if there’s snow on the ground. A green stand is conspicuous if all the leaves have fallen. Know the colors where you’ll be hunting and choose accordingly.
Easy to setup, take down and lug around
Ground blinds are a lot like tents, and we all know the range of convenience in tent setup: from piece of cake to infuriating. Ground blinds are similar, but there are more detrimental consequences of an inconvenient setup. A ground blind that’s difficult to set up means more time doing it. This means more time to make noise and be detected. You’ll most likely be setting up your blind in twilight or even dark, so it could also mean losing pieces or setting it up incorrectly.
The portability matters too. Since they’re roomier, ground blinds allow you to bring more gear. If the blind itself is bulky and heavy, though, it kind of ruins that. Make sure whatever bowhunting blind you choose isn’t going to keep you from bringing other equipment you need.
Accessories – Bow holders and chairs
Ground blinds come in stripped down and basic, full of fancy features, and everything in between. If there’s an accessory you’d feel were necessary in your tree stand, you might also want to find a blind that has it. Some ground blinds come with comfortable chairs to set up inside. There are also things like bow holders, and even cup holders.
Building a natural bowhunting blind
If you’re strapped for cash and have a little bit of extra time on your hands, building a natural bowhunting blind is always a great option.
Before anything else, figure out your dimensions. You want a blind that will be tall and wide enough to be comfortable, not just for sitting but for taking an accurate shot as well.
Then, you need to cut the supports. Use saplings that are a couple inches thick, and cut them in your desired dimensions. Cut six or seven saplings at your desired height and eight to ten at your desired width.
Now you’re ready to build the walls. The first wall must be the most sturdy because it will brace the other walls. Basically, build a rectangle with two of your vertical saplings and two of your horizontal saplings. Then, use two more saplings as diagonal supports to prop it up. Use strong twine or some kind of biodegradable wire to lash the saplings together.
Build the back wall next. This is more or less the same, but add another vertical sapling to serve as a door frame. Attach the back wall to the front wall with your horizontal saplings. Lash them together well.
Once the walls are up, cover the blind. Find small leafy branches and weave them through the frame you’ve made until the stand completely masks you to any animal outside. Make sure you cut anything protruding into the stand. You might accidentally brush against it and make noise.
You’re finally ready to set up your chair and begin your hunt. Consider waiting a couple of days, though, to give the animals time to get used to your blind’s presence.
Some tips from the experts
Ground blinds make great backups
Ground blinds are super portable. They’re light, break down compactly and fit in small bags. This means that even if you’re planning to hunt from a stand, you can carry your blind along as a plan B. Many times something might make your stand hunt impossible: weather, wind, a fallen tree, whatever. If you’ve brought your blind, you don’t have to just pack it up and go home.
Blind your blind
Don’t just pop your bowhunting blind up in the middle of a field. It might be camo patterned, but deer still notice giant cubes that come out of nowhere. Mask your blind with foliage. Put its back in some shrubs or use branches from an above tree to obscure its shape.
Keep it dark
Aside from not using your cell phone too much, this means closing most of windows at any given time so minimal light enters the blind. It’s often a good idea to only leave windows open on one side so you don’t totally fill the blind with light. Work on using your hearing to know when animals are close.
Set your blind up early
Animals notice things that change in their environment. Even if your blind is well camouflaged, they might avoid that area for a little while just because it’s different. If you set your blind up early, maybe even before the season, the wildlife has time to get used to the blind and continue their habits in that place.