Choosing ground blinds and stools

A ground blind hides your movement, but only if you draw and settle inside its walls. Reaching an arm or bow out past the window to draw defeats the concealment the blind is built for.

The short answer

Draw inside the blind, not through the window

Footprint fit and site

Footprint has to fit the site you’re setting it in; a blind too large for the spot forces awkward placement that can crowd shot lanes.

Windows and shot lanes

Windows set the available shot lanes before you ever load an arrow. Walk the angles from your seat, not standing, since your eye level changes everything.

Stable seat and small movements

A stable seat reduces the small movements that show through blind fabric or mesh. A wobbly stool undoes what the blind conceals.

Clear shot lanes

Keep shot lanes clear and pre-checked; brush or blind fabric that catches a bow mid-draw inside close quarters is a common miss.

What the listings actually show

The current catalog includes 129 ground blinds and stools from 24 brands. Nearly every listing describes footprint, windows, and shot lanes.

Before you buy

Practice the full draw inside the blind before the animal shows up.