Chair Hunting Blind

How is a chair blind different from a regular hunting blind?

A chair blind is an all-in-one hunting chair and pop up blind. The built-in chair is covered by a tent canopy that folds over the top and completely covers the chair. There are windows on three sides of the tent, with a black backdrop behind the hunter or photographer for concealment.

Why a chair blind?

An all-in-one chair and blind means that you have fewer items to carry with you to the setup location. This makes it easier (and lighter) to carry all the rest of your hunting or photography equipment.

How difficult is it to set up a chair blind?

It’s easy! Just set up the chair, fold the canopy over the top, and stake down the blind to keep it from getting picked up by the wind.

Does it have scent control?

Yes, the KillZone One Man Chair Blind and Two Man Chair Blind both have a scentless carbon protected interior. They also have a scent flap around the bottom of the blind to keep your scent inside the blind. For further scentproofing, let the blind sit outside for a few days to naturalize the odor. Some hunters like to “mud” their blinds for better camo and scent protection.

Is it waterproof?

Most chair blinds are water-repellent and are designed to shed rain and snow. In a heavy downpour, they may allow some water to seep into the blind; however, in most rainy weather, you will stay dry and snug inside the blind.

Is it fire resistant?

We do not recommend using a portable heater inside the blind, nor do we recommend shooting through the mesh with a firearm. Any heat source or open flame creates a fire hazard. Use caution and common sense to prevent creating any fire hazard in or near the blind.

Can I keep it out all season?

Chair hunting blinds are made to withstand the elements for a short period of time. Keeping your blind outside for longer than a week can take a toll on the tent fabric, protective coatings, and support structure of the blind. If you want to keep your blind out for months at a time, we recommend building a permanent hunting blind.

KillZone layout blind in the field

“Well it arrived today. It has a powder coat metal frame, not aluminum. Doesn’t matter to me. It seems like there might be some kind of insulation in the bottom of the feet area. Very roomy, but the side zippers are kind of small. I think it will be very hard to flag with them. The back rest, head support seemed comfy, nothing under my butt or shoulders. The cushion seemed ok. It has heavier material that most, and the floor feels like it has some kind of rubberized coating. It is only khaki color, but with a little help and time should be ok.”

After some back-and-forth bantering, another hunter replied, “I really hope the blind works out. If it does you got it for a heck of a steal. As for flagging out the sides, I find that to be a pain in most blinds. I try it every now and then but I usually find myself keeping it right behind my blind with the handle just a few inches from my head. That seems to be the only place I can always find it when I need it.”

Kelly then responded with some further comments on the new layout blind: “I don’t know what it will be like in the field, and I know it will take a lot of stubble to camo it up, but it seems comfy in the garage. Just takes a little getting used to. I have never been in one before, so I’m not a good judge. I have a Cabelas brand (used), and an F A SUB (new) coming. So I will have something to compare too.

So far I like the Kill Zone, my Cabelas doesn’t cover your face, but it has a lot more inside room and more comfortable head and back support. I think the Kill Zone has heavier fabric and better supports for the doors. The KZ also has thin insulation on foot box floor, the Cab. Doesn’t.”

You can find out more about the KillZone Lay ‘n Slay© Hunting Blind on our website, with more layout blind reviews from other hunters just like you.

Ground Blind with 360 Viewing

1. Get it out early.

Set up your blind out in the field as early as possible before you plan to start hunting. This gives the animals a chance to get used to the blind. By the time you show up on the morning of the hunt, the animals won’t even give your ground blind a second glance.

Note: Use your discretion on this one, as most portable blinds cannot withstand long-term exposure to strong winds and severe weather. Check the forecast before setting up your blind, and pack it out if unforeseen storms move in to the area. Damage from storms, wind, or long-term exposure is generally not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

2. Set it off to the side.

Place the blind off to the side, where you can get a broadside shot as the deer walk past and where they won’t be looking directly into the blind as they’re coming down the trail.

3. Brush it in.

Brush the ground blind in with dead branches, leaves, and brush. This breaks up the silhouette of the blind and makes it blend in more naturally with the surroundings.

4. Conceal your silhouette.

In a ground blind with 360 viewing, make sure you have a dark background behind you at all times to “swallow” your silhouette. If you open the front and back window, the deer can spot your silhouette with the light coming in from behind you. Keeping three windows open is okay. Just make sure you have a dark backdrop, or you might get busted.

5. Naturalize the blind.

Break in your ground blind by mudding it and spraying it down with scent blocker. Leaving your blind outside for a few days also helps air out any new-smelling odors or anything that smells unnatural in the outdoors. Mudding it down takes out the shine and naturalizes the camo pattern.

Assembling poles for the Turret pop up ground blind

To keep your rods and hubs from breaking, follow these 3 simple steps:

1. Learn the proper setup procedure.
2. Avoid exposure to extreme weather.
3. Avoid long-term exposure to the elements.

Proper Setup

If you learn how to properly set up your ground blind, you should not have to worry about poles or hubs breaking. Follow the instructions provided, and never force a pole into place. Be especially careful with new tents, as the material may need to stretch a bit before it fits the length of the poles.

Follow the setup instructions as described by the manufacturer. Setting up the blind any other way could make the rods and hubs more likely to break.

For KillZone hunting blinds, the best way to learn how to set up your ground blind is to watch the instructional video included on the product page:

• Turret XL Hub Style
• Turret Pop Up
• Lay ‘n Slay© Layout

Exposure

The other reason that poles and hubs break, besides improper setup, is exposure to extreme weather. The longer your blind is exposed to the elements, the greater the chances that the blind will be damaged by storms, strong winds, and other forces of nature.

A heavy snow load on top of the blind places a significant amount of stress on the poles and can easily cause them to break. Also, exposure to extreme cold can make the poles more brittle and therefore more likely to break.

Avoid leaving your blind out for longer than necessary. It is not designed to withstand the elements for the entire hunting season.

360 Hunting Blind

Here’s a ground blind review on the 360 Hub Style from one of our customers, posted on the forum at USAHuntingPros.com:

Post Subject: KillZone 360 Hub Style Ground Blind

“Just got mine today and I can’t wait to try this thing out in the woods. I popped the blind up tonight inside and I couldn’t believe how easy it was.…

The size of this thing is awesome. From corner to corner 72”x72” and there is plenty of room for movement, seats, heaters, and two people can fit comfortably for those who like to film or hunt with another person.…

So far this thing looks awesome and I can’t wait to put it to the test come season to see how it holds up to the weather and outdoor climates. For the price, I don’t think you can beat it.”

In a follow-up post a few months later…

“Just an update on the blind. I used it all during turkey season and couldn’t of been more happy with my purchase. It withstood some nasty weather and high winds and did not once pull out from the ground or get any damage. The blind has plenty of room for two people and has quiet zippers and attachments to open and close the windows.

I rate this as the best blind I have purchased so far for its price.”

See the full forum post with pictures at USAHuntingPros.com! Or get a 360 Hub Blind for yourself!

Turret XL Hub Blind with Zero Detect camo

Turret XL Blind

“Couldn’t be more please with my purchase. Forget the instructions, watch the online video…and it is as easy to put up as the guys show. Very study, water repellent just enough room for two people. Shooting through the screens works like they say. Doesn’t affect your arrow trajectory. Also impressed with shipping and tracking info that is emailed to me at every step of the way.”
- Jim A., Colorado

“This is the first blind that I have owned and I could not be happier. This blind is so easy to set up that it took me all of 60 seconds out of the box on the first try. The inside is very roomy and fit me and my two boys 17 and 15. I think the construction is of great quality and will stand up to many years of hunting. Opening morning we had 3 bucks 6 does, one coyote and a turkey walk right by us. You could not beat the price for this blind based on the size and quality. If you are looking for a high quality blind do not hesitate purchasing this one.”
- J. Ryan

“We were very pleased with the blind. We ordered it for our son for Christmas and then ordered another for my husband after seeing the first one.”
- C. Randall

2 Person Chair Blind

2 Shooter Chair Blind

Pop Up Blind

“Great blind for the price. It is light so it may need staked down. Plenty of room and easy to set up. Velcro on the windows are loud.”
- S. Mishler

“Great product–fits my turkey and deer hunting blind needs!! Like the light weight-14 lbs.”
- Roger S.

Layout Blind

“Had problem with push buttons on head rest and a fiber connector snapping in extreme cold. Customer service was pleasant and responsive and replaced with new blind. Would recommend.”
- D. Jones

“It is a good product. It works like they say it does and does the job. The only thing is its not made for healthy people. By that I mean us more rotund fat boys. I can barely close the flaps all the way and be comfortable. Other than that no complaints at all.”
- Chance Burnett

This pop up ground blind has a water repellent finish.

So why don’t ground blind manufacturers add a rain fly, like on camping tents? The problem with a rain fly is that it will flap in the wind and spook game from coming anywhere near the blind. This defeats the purpose of the blind in the first place.

If you really want to make your blind watertight, you might want to try using a seam sealer or waterproofing spray. Keep in the mind that any sealant product you use will leave behind an odor. To get rid of this odor, let the blind sit outside for a few days until the smell is gone.

If you leave your ground blind out overnight, use tie-downs to keep the sides taut and prevent water from pooling in pockets on the roof or other places. If enough water builds up on your tent, it can cause damage to the tent material or poles.

Hunting Blind with Carbon Scent Elimination

If you hunt from a blind, the fabric walls of the blind will naturally block much of your scent, but the odors on the blind itself will be picked up by the breeze and carried right under the deer’s nose.

To keep your blind’s scent from giving you away, most manufacturers are now using carbon scent protection in the material of the blind. Activated carbon works by absorbing odor rather than merely covering it up.

Unlike spray-on odor elimination, carbon protection won’t wash off or wear off in the field. It’s designed to work effectively in harsh conditions over a long period of time.

All KillZone Hunting Blinds are designed with scent-blocking carbon protection to eliminate odor and increase your chances of hunting success. With odor-absorbing carbon protection on your hunting blind, you won’t need to fret about shifting winds, and the protection of the hunting blind from the breeze will also help block any lingering odor from your sweat or your clothes.

Portable ground blinds are designed with lightweight materials to withstand short-term exposure to the elements.

Most blind manufacturers, including KillZone, do not recommend leaving a portable blind exposed to the elements permanently or for an extended period of time.

Why not? Portable ground blinds are made to be portable, which means that they are designed using lightweight materials that allow you to carry and move the blind quickly and easily.

These materials are strong enough to withstand short-term exposure to the elements over many hunting seasons, but long-term exposure can cause the material to break down faster than normal. Strong winds, storms, and excessive exposure to UV rays and sunlight can also damage the blind.

Leaving your portable blind out for a week at a time is fine. If you are hunting in the same location for several days in a row, or if you want to allow game to get used to the blind before you hunt, leaving your blind up can give you an advantage.

If you choose to leave your blind out, however, make sure that you check the weather first (don’t leave the blind out if there might be a storm that week) and stake the blind down tightly to keep the wind from blowing it away. Ultimately, it is up to you as the hunter to decide how long you are willing to expose your blind to possible damage from the elements.

If you are hunting on public land, check the guidelines first before leaving your portable blind up overnight. Many public hunting areas do not allow you to keep your blind set up overnight.

Keep in mind, too, that ground blinds are an easy target for thieves. If you’re concerned about your blind getting stolen, don’t leave it out overnight.

Shoot Through Mesh on the 360 Ground Blind

Repair Tips:

The best way to repair minor holes in your shoot through mesh is to use nylon thread to sew the tear shut. Pull the thread tight to keep the mesh taut.

For a larger hole, use a small square of mesh to patch the hole. Sew the patch into the mesh and make sure the mesh stays taut.

If the hole is large enough or there are too many holes to patch, you may want to consider replacing the mesh rather than trying to repair it.

Replacement Tips:

For replacing mesh, you can either buy a mesh kit from a ground blind manufacturer or you can purchase camouflage mesh netting from an outdoor sporting goods store or a fabric store.

Use safety pins to attach the replacement mesh to the blind. Cut the old mesh out and attach the new mesh to the fabric of the zipper or to the hook-and-loop strip.

To make a gun slit, use one piece of mesh for the top of the window and one piece for the bottom of the window, letting the two pieces of mesh overlap several inches.