Hunting blinds are an essential piece of equipment for any hunter that wants to be concealed as much as possible, who wants to blend in with the surroundings and environment, and get close to the prey, but still remain comfortable for a longer period of time.
The use of hunting blinds has significantly increased in the last 20 years, and in this time, hunting blinds have significantly evolved.
In this article, we’ll talk about the evolution of hunting blinds and their future, the innovations and advancements in hunting blind technology, and design. To better understand the future of hunting blinds, we’ll also dedicate a small section to the history of hunting blinds.
The History Of Hunting Blinds
Hunting has been a part of human history from the dawn of time. Even in the earliest days, hunters used anything in their environment as a form of concealment. In the very beginning, hunters used branches, leaves, and other things they found in their surroundings.
As civilization and technology evolved, so did hunting evolve. Different weapons were being used, and hunters started using other types of hunting blinds to increase the success rate of their hunting efforts. In the middle ages, hunting blinds were made out of wood and stone and they were permanently placed in rich hunting areas. Portable hunting blinds weren’t used before the 19th century. At the time, they were made from canvas and other lightweight materials.
Native Americans, for example, used blinds that they previously dug up and covered with leaves, branches, and grass in the near surroundings. Once the hunted animal was close enough, the Native Americans would use the element of surprise to shoot the animal from a much closer distance.
Modern hunting blinds are far more sophisticated than those used by hunters 100 years ago. They’re made from various materials, they can be permanent or portable, and some of them include a number of very useful features that significantly increase hunter concealment and comfort.
What Makes Modern Hunting Blinds Better?
The basic function of any type of hunting blind is to provide hunters concealment and protection from the elements such as wind, rain, or snow. Many hunting blind manufacturers came up with certain features and additions to their blinds that improve their effectiveness and versatility.
One of the biggest innovations when it comes to hunting blinds is the fact that they can be set up or taken down in a matter of minutes. One way of making this process easier is by using central hubs where a number of poles are connected that support hunting blind walls. Setting up or taking down one of the hunting blinds with a hub is as easy as it gets.
Another great advancement in making it easier to set up hunting blinds is that some of them are inflatable. Although it takes a bit longer, inflatable hunting blinds take up far less space when deflated, and they provide better protection compared to blinds made from canvas. Even though they’re lightweight, they can withstand strong wind and can be set up even on rougher terrain.
The third significant advancement is camouflage. Before, hunting blinds had printed or painted camouflage on the canvas, while modern hunting blinds include three-dimensional camouflage that includes artificially made branches, leaves, grass, and other elements of the surroundings. Because it’s prohibited to cut any live vegetation on hunting grounds, this type of advancement provides much better concealment than traditional hunting blinds.
Lastly, more and more modern hunting blinds include one-way visibility mesh that includes the same camouflage as the rest of the blind. Before, these windows were narrow openings that stood out, but now, hunters can rest assured that even if they move inside the blind, animals close by won’t be able to see them as easily as before.
Although there are some manufacturers that make hunting blinds with a scent-hiding feature, this is one of the things that will be perfected in the future. For now, there are various products you can use to eliminate or reduce your scent.
Conclusion
We can all agree that the difference between hunting blinds used 50 years ago and today is massive. Today’s blinds are made from lightweight materials, they’re easy to set up, and provide much better concealment than before.
Even though advancements in the last two decades have made hunting blinds significantly more effective, there are still many upgrades that can make these blinds even better.
