Field Blankets

[Kayser]

I'm in need of some good, portable ground concealment. But the bulk, weight, and price of layout blinds have me shying away.

I was considering making a blanket (4' x 6') to just roll up and throw in my decoy bag and drag around with me. My gun case is thick foam that fully unzips (shadowgrass/cornfield camo), meant to be used as a seat/ground pad, so that would keep me from getting too cold, wet, or muddy.

Now for the brass tacks- I've seen the blankets with raffia zip-stripped to leaf-cut camo, but I sometimes hunt in areas without a lot of vegetation to work in, and that might not be enough.. I was thinking about making a thicker "ghillie-suit" style blanket instead. This thicker camo would also come in handy if I have to brush a blind on public ground (they get beat down by the end of the season). I was planning on getting some lighter synthetic ghille thread in brown, gray, tan, and maybe black (no green), then tying that onto some 1" netting on top of some camo fabric. Hoping to keep it synthetic so it won't rot or hold too much water. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions on this little project? Probably going to be for ducks, possibly a goose or two.

[Feathers and Fins]

I'm going to go the way you don't want to. I have hunted since 1976 in fields the days when you had to dig down and lay on a tarp in the mud with burlap covering you. When lay-outs came along so did heaven.

There is no way you could get me to lay on the ground anymore without a layout! That said there are good layouts that are not extremely bulky or difficult to transport in the field. Sure if you go with the top of the line all the bells and whistles ones they are a pain in the butt. I use a Avery Power Hunter and it is simple to get in the field and keeps me warm and comfortable.

If your heart is set on laying in the mud and freezing your butt off and getting muddy and just being miserable though here is how we use to do it.

1. Get a burlap tarp

2. Get 2 5 gallon buckets of dirt ( preferably from the field you will hunt most )

3. Put dirt in wheel barrel add water till its soupy when stirred

4. Put in Burlap and stir around for about 10 minutes.

5.( This is added for todays tech ) buy packages of grass and zip-tie to burlap.

6. Let burlap sit in it overnight

7. Pull burlap out and hang over clothing line to dry

8. When its dry beat it on the line with a broom to loosen it up

9. Roll it up and its ready to go.

10. When you get to the field you will need to dig down ( digging only with landowners permission ) at least 16 inches deep by your body length long ad 2.5 ft wide.

11. Lay a tarp on the ground.

12. Lay tarp over the hole and use field cover to spike it in to at least your waist area.

13. when you are done fill back in the hole.

This system worked for many years till the comforts of layout blinds came along, It takes a lot of work and you will end up muddy, wet and cold but it works and brings birds in close. Price wise by the time you are done getting the ground cover ready it can still cost you around 90 to 150 bucks. The burlap tarp is around 20 bucks for a good one and the grass packs at minimum of 3 will run around 60 to 90. We use to just grab cattails and corn silage stocks to do it but they required much more maintenance and the rot smell from natural cover made the women folk upset when we stored it plus they broke down so the synthetic of today would be better.

Good luck, Everyone should play oldschool games once in awhile.

[Bird Watcher]

Kayser, I've got a shed full of layout blinds that haven't been used in quite a few years. Some work as is, some need a little repair. If you ever get down to SW corner of MO, send me a pm. I'll make you an offer you can't refuse on one.

[Kayser]

Like I said- the bulk and weight are steering me away from that route, not just the price. I've got a great walk-in spot on public land where the brush gets beat to hell early on, so I'm trying to avoid the pit and just hunt from the bank (or just use the blanket to help brush the pit). But it's a mile in with 3-4 dozen G&H water keels on my back, plus my backpack with a robo duck and food, plus gun and full clothing. And it's public ground, so making more than one trip risks giving up your spot.

Another spot is going to be picked corn on the outside bend of a large oxbow lake, and I'm hoping the geese use it this year, possibly even try to field-hunt ducks. I really want to try the blanket, as there are a few natural depressions I can squeeze into right now (6'2", 165lbs).

[BilletHead]

Man up kayser!

All joking aside we love our layouts. When we do walk any distance use my mule,

They are a bit cumbersome yes but not too heavy. Even a woman and maybe a child can do it. Like I say don't carry the load you do. Pop them up with six pins, a little camo from the native plants and brush where you set up and you are good to go and a dry rear to boot. Keep in mind to dry your blanket between trips and after you hunt the spot because the wet blanket will be as heavy or more than the layout.

Take up BirdWatcher's offer even if it is for the days you don't have to go far. Just my two cents for what it is worth but like I say we don't and cannot carry a load far. This sweetheart of mine carrying is 54 years young. If she reads this I might be in trouble for the age and mule remark, might just stir her up some? Make life exciting in the BilletHead household. Wanna know how much she weighs? On second thought I won't go there as I know my limitations!

BilletHead

[Feathers and Fins]

Oh she is so going to kill you for posting that picture again lol.

Kayser; what it sounds like you need is a cart! I can transport 2 layouts and 7 dozen magnum goose shells my blind bag, gun and other goodies on 1 decent cart. It takes the load off your back and makes for a much more enjoyable day. Cart also had all that and 73 snow geese on it at one time. You may want to look in to a cart no matter what.

[Justin Spencer]

Sounds to me like for what you want to do, just buy you some camo burlap to wrap up in and cover yourself with it and a little natural vegetation when you get where you are going, and see if it works. If you lie still and aren't out in the open, you'll be fine.

[BilletHead]

Only if someone tells her Scott! Crapola you and Chris have my number. Looks like I need a cart and harness and it will make it easier on me and Mrs. BilletHead.

Mr. BilletHead might be in the dog house?

By the way I drove up to Schell this morning. One of the area workers said there were sixteen teal there a couple of weeks ago, none now but two pintails and two shoveler spotted this morning.

[Feathers and Fins]

Marty the cart is the best thing I ever got especially for 4rivers, I love hunting pool 19 and 20 and its a long walk as you know and that cart makes life so much easier. I just drape the decoy bags over the cart ( turned on its side ) and instant blind. Just a deer cart from Rogers but kick myself in the butt everytime I think of the years of hauling in by back.

I scouted a little this morning found around 800 geese 30 teal and some Blacks I had to triple check and even pulled the field guide out to be sure I was seeing black ducks. Sundays Goose killing is looking great 4 fields I have permission for had fresh poop or geese in them and the lake had a few on it as well. They just happened to be where stripers are as well

[BilletHead]

Sounds good for you Scott. I was a bit worried and had to read your post twice. I thought you might of went whacko thinking I had read you had stripers in a field! I want a cart and as long as Mrs. BilletHead catches no wind of this post I may get one

My bad,

BilletHead