Hard Blind Recommendations

[LionKingJr]

Hey everyone — I’m looking for recommendations for a hard/rigid ground blind I can leave up year-round for whitetail. Budget is under $500 (ideally closer to $400), and I’m open to anything: plastic, fiberglass, metal shed-style, or a solid DIY/homemade setup.


I only really need one main shooting window/direction (40–175 yards), so it doesn’t have to be fancy. My main goal is something that holds up to weather better than soft blinds.


If this isn’t really feasible in that budget, I’ll probably just buy a new cloth blind and take better care of it — but I wanted to see what options people recommend first.


If you’ve used something you like (or built one), I’d appreciate any suggestions, pros/cons, and what you’d do differently. Thanks!

 

[Habitat#1]

At that budget you may have to build yourself out of beg borrowed or scrap wood.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

used poly water tanks can be had for usually around $300. Cut some windows & a door and you're done & they'll last a long time. Can put as little or much money into them as you want. Local farm/ag consignment auctions are good place to look, or facebook marketplace if you have any ag in your area.

 

[WSMHNTR]

If you have the know how and ability one can be made DIY for that depending on your wants/needs. I built my first DIY blind out of scrap wood and metal siding. If you check with your mom and pop hardware stores they sometimes have metal siding discounted for scratch/dents.

 

[hunt1up]

I've built several out of water tanks. Look local for 1500 gallon tanks. I've driven around and got some for free and some were $200-300 Cut in doors and windows. I framed mine out with treated wood and bought windows from https://deerviewwindows.com/product-category/windows/

You can usually frame up a window opening well enough to use a 24x12 window mounted vertically. Paint the interior black and the outside whatever color you want. Fun project.

I've since sold off my water tank blinds as I've put in long term 360 brand blinds. But for the budget minded hunter the water tanks work well.

 

[Jon C]

Some 2x3’s and 2x4’s one 14’ roof steel and some paint and 7/16 osb and half a day. Will last longer if you build a floor out of gt lumber and plywood.

 

[sniper61]

I built a few and love them because I put the widows at the right hight for each view and place. I also like insulation and windows. 4'x 6' is nice for an extra person for company. I use a grill propain tank and a colman stove to heat and cook on. I keep the widows wide as possible and 9" high. Make them fold up so they reflect the ground and not the sky when you open them.

 

[sniper61]

Two more ,all built with used lumber and scrape metal

 

[sniper61]

I been making them with the widows just under the roof and use a bar stools or stand to look out. It protects the widows from rain and snow

 

[Balderdash]

I sat in a few Redneck blinds last week at my friend's place. Temp was below zero with the wind chill. They performed perfectly. Have sat in other brands and can say the RN are worth the money.

If Im sitting, which I don't prefer, I typically sit in hub or hoop style blinds, and they perform well. No complaints.

IF you're going to build, I'd talk to some building suply houses. I've gotten stacks of stratched steel for cheap. Also, steel is often delivered with sacrificial sheets top and bottom, which can also be had pretty cheap.