| It was not long ago when the waterfowl hunter's | | | | be most effective in fooling those smart birds. On |
| options for waterfowling blinds were few indeed. | | | | the other side they are somewhat confining and |
| Bedside's natural cover, the other common blind | | | | are definitely not for the claustrophobic. |
| was the famous "pit". | | | | If you are in search of diving ducks including |
| For a waterfowl blind "natural cover" is still | | | | canvasbacks, greater and lesser scaup and |
| preferred. First and foremost a natural cover is | | | | redheads, it is best to locate dense beds of |
| "natural". Whether as a hunter you are in hiding in | | | | submerged food plants such as sago pondweed |
| cattails along marsh edges, in willow clumps | | | | or celery. This can be difficult if you are not out |
| surrounding potholes, behind grasses in flooded | | | | on the water, but watching for these birds from |
| timber or in the tall grass along slough margin its | | | | shore often reveals clues in their preferred |
| all for the same purposes in waterfowl hunting. On | | | | feeding sites. If you cannot locate feeding areas |
| the other hand if there is a suitable natural cover | | | | opt for points of land that extend well into the |
| available - a convenient place to put a bucket on | | | | lake. These are good spots from which to decoy |
| which to sit and adequate shooting lanes, you | | | | divers flying between their roosting or loading |
| may well not even have to erect that hunting | | | | sites and prime feeding areas. |
| blind. | | | | Lastly there is one of the most effective blind |
| Today's commercial production line blinds come in | | | | styles available that is generally referred to as the |
| more than several formats. Popular among goose | | | | "coffin blind" Though this design has been part of |
| hunters across Canada are so called "goose | | | | the duck hunter's world for years, and is the basis |
| chairs" , a one man blind that is little more than a | | | | for the sneak boat and similar hunting styles, it is |
| modified reclining lawn chair over which a super | | | | only now with the introduction of commercial |
| sized goose shell is hinged. To the birds these | | | | upland versions of this coffin blind into the |
| waterfowl or specifically goose blinds these look | | | | marketplace. As the name suggests this type of |
| just like the rest of the decoys in your spread. | | | | waterfowl and duck blind has a very low profile |
| The hunter sits back in the chair and with the | | | | replicating the look of a coffin. Based upon the |
| goose shell pulled down over his body, and then | | | | same lightweight frame over which the |
| peers through narrows slits in the shell to watch | | | | camouflaged nylon is attached, it features two full |
| for the birds. When thee birds are in range the | | | | length top loading doors that swing open to allow |
| hunter just flips the shell back over his head to | | | | the hunter to swing open and shoot. Coffin blinds |
| shoot. These chairs can be quite effective though | | | | have lounge chair like suspension systems within |
| somewhat awkward to shoot from, particularly | | | | them that allow the hunter's head to be |
| for older hunters who may find it difficult to | | | | somewhat inclined. They are actually quite |
| complete the sit=up required before shooting. | | | | comfortable to lie in, even for extended periods. |
| Relatively newer are waterfowl hunting blinds that | | | | Pile in a little natural cover around a coffin blind |
| are little more than modified versions of modern | | | | and it virtually disappears, especially from the |
| backpacking tents. These consist of camouflaged | | | | perspectives of an incoming duck or geese. |
| nylon covers available in a variety of patterns | | | | What is amazing is the level of camouflage that |
| stretched over shock corded aluminum frames. | | | | these professional duck and waterfowl blinds |
| They are easy to erect, light and highly mobile. | | | | create. The hunter can be virtually impervious and |
| Depending on their manufacture the can have a | | | | oblivious to the waterfowl around him. That is the |
| number of removable panels or openings through | | | | whole point of the waterfowl blind to the hunter is |
| which the hunters shoot. These same blinds can | | | | it not ? |