Security Considerations when Setting Up a Hunting Blind

When you are in the woods there are many menaces and risks; from falls up to fire guns injuries; being out there may be certainly dangerous, and blinds are not an exception.

Setting up a blind is for sure a remarkable way to keep yourself undetectable and have certain shelter, but same as your games, other hunters won't be able to see you, so you might in someone else's fire line accidentally. 

On the other hand, there are specific risks associated to blind use you must aware of, in order to act properly and minimize injuries chances, next you will see some tips that will allow to keep you and your hunting mates safe when using a blind.

1. Be aware of weather

A blind is prone to suffer damages due to severe whether conditions, i.e. it could collapse because of a heavy snow storm or might be hit by a tree branch falling because of intense wind blow.

To minimize this kind of risk try to set your blind on an area where natural elements provide certain protection; as it could be a natural cave, a robust fallen tree (be sure it's stable before setting your blind) and any other solid element which could serve as a shield for your blind.

It's also a good idea to look upside before setting your blind. You must look for loose branches, dead trees or any other hazardous element which could fall over your head while in the blind.

2. Don't forget about natural dangers on the area

Perhaps you are setting your blind near a small water course, but do you know if such creek is able to flood the are in case of heavy rain? So watch for signs of previous floods or even better, find local hunters advise regarding area risks.

Same thing applies to landslides, so be aware of terrain dangers and stay away from them.

3. Keep an open evacuation route

Regardless bad weather conditions, floods, landslides or even a predator attack, keep always an evacuation route open and near you. So avoid setting your blind near a cliff, near a deep river or in any other place where you could get trapped in case of an emergency.

Remember that some animals might become dangerous and aggressive if your shoot is not able to kill them immediately, so be sure to have an escape trail in case you are under attack.

4. Count with a plan B

Perhaps you thought about an evacuation route but weather conditions are wild or you are being attacked by an animal which can run faster than you can; so keep a Plan B in mind for such situations.

A big, robust tree to climb on near your blind is not a bad idea, in fact, it could safe your life in case of critical danger, as it might be an attack by a heard of wild boars.

5. Be sure other hunters are aware of your blind position

The fact is you wish to remain undetectable for your game, but this way other hunters could fire at your position accidentally, especially if you are on their fire line, located behind their own game.

To avoid such danger be sure other hunters know there's a blind out there. To do so, place an orange vest on the top of your blind or even a piece of orange fabric on a visible place. 

The aim is to inform other hunters your blind is there, but still being invisible for the animals, an explanation about why orange vests are not a concern to camouflage  is available Clicking Here.

 6. Set Up High Blinds Firmly

Last thing you wish is to fall down from a high blind, so take your time to set it up your blind properly and be sure everything is strong enough to hold the blind, your weight and weather conditions.

Another thing to keep in mind is the area where you will enter and exit from the blind; try to keep it obstacles free and as flat as possible, especially if you are hunting on dark conditions, otherwise there are many chances to trip over.

7. Be extremely carefully when getting in and out of a high blind.

That's the moment when most of accidents occurs. Perhaps because you miss a step or due to wet, slippery conditions. The worse hunting accidents not related to fire arms injuries are falls.

So, when you get in and out of your blind, do it slow and carefully, be aware of obstacles and try to have a sort of handrail (natural or man made) to hold in case of balance lost.

Remember that during the night, environment wet might turn on a tiny, very slippery ice layer, so be careful and avoid falls.

If your blind is too high or you are using a tree stand, the best option is to be buckled to a security line when climbing and descending; moreover, if you are using a tree stand, be sure to keep buckled all time long while your feet don't touch solid soil.

It remains clear that blinds are not risk free, instead there are many security concerns to keep in mind when using a blind, however if you use your common sense and follow basic safety rules; there will be nothing to be worried about.