I like to hunt ground blinds, but I am hesitant about the tent variety. One important consideration for me (while gun hunting) is a steady, solid rest. I haven't yet seen a tent-style blind that offers this feature.
So I set out to build a mobile ground blind out of wood. Now, keep in mind, this is a heavier blind (@ 60#), not something you would want to hike with. It is compact, however, and easily stored or transported by vehicle. You can carry it for short distances if the weight is not a problem. If you can drive close to your hunting spot and have a hand truck or deer cart, it might be the ticket. It is built on a basic hexagon box pattern as detailed below.
I bought two 3/8" fiberboard panels at Home Depot and had them cut each into 2' x 4' strips. This produces 8 strips: six for the side walls and two for the roof. On the six sidewall strips I cut a neat window about 16" wide x 9" tall at my sight height (see chair below) with a jigsaw. Next I connected these panels together with pairs of lightweight hinges, alternating sides of the panels with the hinge mounts so that all the sides fold together like a paper fan. The last panel-to-panel connection is not hinged, but held with a simple latch mounted inside close to a window for easy reach-in.
The two remaining roof panels were hinged together and four small angle braces attached to the bottom face so that the braces aligned with four opposing walls of blind. Once the six side panels are folded out into place to make a hexagon (super easy task), the roof is folded out (hinge side down) and placed on top of the side walls. Four short screws connect the angle braces of the roof to the side walls, which further stabilizes the whole affair and makes it a cozy, quite sturdy, and effective blind. The fiberboard pattern even gives it a sort of cammo look, too. Folded up, it is compact enough to fit in a car trunk or back seat easily.
I used a collapsible canvas chair (Walmart $5) inside, which lowers the sight height to allow head clearance in the 4' high blind. I am 6'2" tall, and it worked fine for me. You can also use chunks of wood or scrap pieces of 2x4 to raise the whole blind off the ground (one under at least three corners), but this changes the sight height, so keep that in mind.
I used this blind to hunt in Missouri this year, and the first day we had 35 mph winds. I was on top of a long hill where the wind raced up an empty bean field for half a mile before slamming into my blind. The blind did not shake or even hint at toppling over. The wind did rush through those windows, though! I sure was glad to have a solid blind in those conditions.
I would post a picture, but I left the blind up in Missouri for next year. I plan on building another before next year down here in Texas. The whole blind costs around $50 and one afternoon to make.
