Great deer hunting blinds, or premium shooting houses, are designed to be superior. These are crafted from better materials. Also, they have optimal doors, logical windows, great stair systems, better sound dampening, and more. They even offer air-tight designs, which keep out bugs and hold in scent. All said premium shooting houses are worth their price tag. Here’s what you should know.
Premium Materials
The longevity of the blind is likely the most important element. After all, who wants to spend thousands of dollars for it to rot and wither? No one. We recently spoke with Texas Hunter Products about their use of quality materials.
“All of our blinds have maintenance-free materials,” Borgfeld said. “Even our base models, like the 4×4 and 4×8 models are made from HDPE starboard. They use it a lot in the marine industry for boat decking and cabinets. So, it’s an all-weather material. You never have to paint it — it’s not going to rot, crack, peel, or chip. These are going to last forever. These blinds are made for being in the elements. The materials are made to withstand the elements.”
Air-Tight Designs
Modern deer hunters want hunting blinds that are sealed well. “Today, people are wanting more sealed-tight windows and doors, so you don’t have to worry about wasps,” Borgfeld said. “These are a little bit more weather-tight. It’s just a nicer fit and finish on the premium side.”
Of course, there are other reasons, too. The scent is a big one. Being able to retain more scent within the blind offers hunters a significant advantage.
“With scent, once you open a window, your scent is being emitted,” Borgfeld said. “People like higher towers for limiting scent that gets out, because you’re staying above the deer. But the sealed windows do help because you can open minimal windows, as opposed to scent gaps in other styles that you might find.”
Essentially, as long as the windows are closed, and you keep these closed until time to shoot, it effectively holds in the scent. That’s a big win because you’re effectively eliminating a deer’s biggest defense mechanism — its nose.
Premium Doors and Windows
Quality doors and windows matter, too. Having doors and windows that open quietly (even silently) is a major plus. Of course, window systems that offer different shot opportunities, accommodate different weapons, and help conceal hunters are important factors, too.
“In the Wrangler, we have the rifle windows, which are horizontal,” Borgfeld said. “The neat thing about those is the Hide-a-Way window system. These are concealment panels on the outside. They have tinted windows on the outside. You can open the window on the inside and still have the concealed panels on the window. If you don’t like these, you can take them out.”
Today, many hunters prefer blinds with both gun (horizontal) and bow (vertical) windows. This allows them to use bows, crossbows, and firearms more easily from the same blind.
“In the Wrangler, we also have combination windows,” Borgfeld said. “It consists of three rifle windows and four vertical bow windows. The vertical windows are about 36 inches, which is a good size. The combination style is the most popular because it opens ways to hunt more.
“In the Rugged blind, we currently only have rifle windows,” Borgfeld continued. “We are in the process of offering a combination bow and rifle setup.”
For those who want even more concealment for their blinds, hunters might consider adding optional window kits. These are good for providing more cover for those within the blind.
“Also, we offer camo window kits,” Borgfeld said. “These are perforated window film. These can go on the outside of the windows if the customer chooses. This dresses up the blind and conceals you better. Still, you can see out.”
Premium Stair Systems
Falling from an elevated position is the leading cause of harm in hunting. With elevated hunting blinds, a quality stair system helps mitigate that. It minimizes risk of falling. It also makes it easier for hunters who may be having a harder time getting around get into the blind silently and safely.
“The stair system is important,” Borgfeld said. “When we go to shows, we see that our stairs are superior. By far, it’s the best out there. Some competitors will say they have a good stair system, but I’m cringing, because it’s not really a stair system. Instead, it’s a ladder and one handrail. These aren’t as safe or as easy to use as ours. The Wrangler and Rugged blinds, and others, have stair systems that are very nice,” Borgfeld continued. “It’s easy to get up with a gradual slope. It has two nice handrails, so you can go right up into the blind.”
Premium Sound Dampening
Additionally, hunters want a blind that’s quiet, too. A blind made with that in mind is immediately more appealing to serious hunters.
“In the Wrangler, the rubber floor matt’s are nice,” Borgfeld said. “It’s not carpet, either. Because the first time you walk in there with muddy boots, it starts to mildew and get nasty. With rubber mats, you can pull these out, hoist them, and spray these off. You might even pull these out and do what you need to.”
“This system shields any noise,” Borgfeld continued. “If you drop a shell while trying to load a gun, or drop binoculars (or anything like that), it’s basically a noise-dampening system. A lot of customers buy one or two for each blind.”
Buy the Right Blind for Your Location
Of course, if you purchase a premium hunting blind, you want to get the most out of these. Checking certain boxes helps with that. It starts by putting these in the right place(s) on your hunting land. “Put them in the right locations so you don’t have to move them multiple times,” Borgfeld said. “We’re in Texas, so almost everyone hunts over a feeder here. We don’t get the rains for food plots.” Lastly, secure the blind. “Tie down these blinds,” Borgfeld said. “People call and ask for replacement parts. They got a brand-new blind and didn’t tie it down properly. Spend the time to tie these down with the instructions we provide. Anchor them properly.”
Realistic Expectations
Along with other products, hunting blinds have increased in price recently. In most industries, prices have risen with inflation. That’s true for hunting blinds, too. This is largely due to increased costs in materials and labor. Even so, these blinds still offer quality return on investment. Those in the market for a hunting blind might consider some of the options available from Texas Hunter Products.“We have a full lineup,” Borgfeld said. “We start out with more affordable 4 by 4 and 4 by 8 hunting blinds with sliding doors. Then, we have a 4 by 4 and 4 by 8 with full doors. These are more affordable. We’ve made these for 60-some odd years.”
5X6 Rugged and 5X7 Wrangler Hunting Blinds
“If you’re looking for a more premium blind, these are a little easier to move around,” Borgfeld said. “They’re lighter weight. We have our 5 by 6 Rugged and 5 by 7 Wrangler. The 5 by 7 Wrangler is our highest-end blind,” Borgfeld continued. “It has aluminum siding. It’s carpet on the inside. For one, this is a sound barrier. We use composite flooring on this one, so it’s never going to rot. Plus, on these, the windows seal completely. These are flip-open windows. The door is a full, RV-style door. It has steel rings for support.”
Add the Extras
Of course, once settled, consider purchasing some of the add-ons that make these blinds even sweeter. For example, cupholders, gun rests, sandbags, shelf system, and other important objects, can be added to the blind. “Our chairs are really nice,” Borgfeld said. “They fold up. The legs adjust. And it’s a Silent Swivel chair. A lot of guys will take their old office chair out there. But they take it out of the office because it’s squeaking.”
You don’t want a squeaky chair in the deer blind.
