Layout blinds

[poutpro]

What is the best layout blind to get with all the brands out there now? Where is the cheapest place to get one?

[shae1986]

Avery Finisher makes a good blind for the dollor, right now i would look at cabelas at Grand Forks in case they are having a sale on them right now along with the rest of their hunting and outdoor equipment. I have a Final approach eliminator blind, accually two of them, and i love them. But they are more expensive, the final approach blind is around $299 dollers while the Avery is between $199 and $249 dollers. I would definitly get one with an entire metal frame with sides instead of the ones that are all fabric that you pull over because on a windy day they flop in the wind.

Layout blinds are definitly worth their money, comfortable, work great, and if you are a little tired, a great place to sleep on those early mornings.

Good Luck hunting this year.

Andrew

[Fish'n guy]

I have a Final Approach X-Lander blind and that is the best blind that I have come accross so far. I used to have the FA Eliminator but the hassel of trying to take poles appart so that it fold down and the fact that it was such a high profile blind and those weary geese would sometimes spook was enough to make me go with the X-Lander. The X-lander for

1. Its cheaper

2. It folds up much nicer and has back straps.

3. It is lower profile so the geese won't be able to pick up the outline as easy.

4. Keeps you warmer becuase it is almost like a sleeping bag.

There is also a nice zip up storage area behind the backrest. I have had mine for not even a year now and have shot high numbers of geese and some cornfield greenheads in it.

Hope this helps!!!!!!!

[ortonville]

fish-n-guy how did you do in ortonville when you where out here goose hunting

[bigswede]

I bought the FA Legacy blind and LOVE it. It is awesome, espically for bigger/taller guys. I found it online from an outfitter in KS. Was $329, but worth the money in my eyes.

[snowgoose]

Big Swede

Glad to see you took my advice. I bought anougher Legacy this year also. You can't beat the size and comfort of that blind for us bigger people.

As far as the FA blinds being to high profile, I have never had a real issue with that. Fill those stubble straps with grass or whatever you are hunting in. I believe blending in is more important than the profile you are in.

I could be wrong but I thought I heard that geese have a hard time with depth perception.

Good Luck everyone.

[Nova]

It's true that geese have trouble with depth perception, but that's at close range. they can pick up on high profile at a distance. That being said, I would totally agree with being more blended in than with your profile. I have the Avery finisher and I love it. I have hunted out of the FA xlander, but had trouble holding the flaps shut and calling at the same time on windy days. The Avery finisher has bungy flapps to stay closed so you can call with 2 hands which is very necessary with a short reed call. If you use a flute call one hand is ok, but trying to call with one hand, hold the flaps shut with another, and reaching for your gun....wait I only have 2 hands...hence the issue. Otherwise Avery and FA make an awesome product.

[Wayne Sieber]

I have had a FA Eliminator for 4 years or so and totally love it! Very durable and comfortable. I keep my black lab in the blind with me (she lays down behind the back rest) and was wondering if she would fit in the Xlander too?

[poutpro]

how hard is it to get your dog to stay in one of those dog blinds? they look like theyd work good if you could get a dog to stay in one.

[snowgoose]

I don't have a dog but I have hunting partners that do. They keep thier dogs behind the seat of the FA Elimanator blinds. The only problem I see with that is if the dog breaks it could be right in your line of fire.

I would suggest keeping your dog in a blind of its own. Something like a hide a poach. Train them like it is thier kennel.

[Wayne Sieber]

Pout - I have a smaller style black lab so it really has never been a problem for her to fit in there - Even her larger mother fit in there just fine (and they are a heck of a heat source when it's cold out - When it's warm (like last weekend) it's not so good!) You will need to spend some time training the dog not to break when the doors pop open, but mine seemed to pick it up pretty easily.

[bigdog]

Gooseview Destroyer, not the least expensive but the best for features.

[poutpro]

Do you just give them a cue to retrieve before they go out then or what?

[Fish'n guy]

Ortonville, We didn't do to well for the weekend. 6 geese was our grand total. the lightning and rain hurt us on Saturday morning. there was about 80 geese landing in the field that we were hunting on friday night but they didn't fly on saturday.

How did you do?

[castmaster]

i use an avery finisher.

as far as some blinds being to high of a profile, easy solution...GET A SHOVEL!!!!

i always dig my blind down in the ground a good foot or so at least, then add some stubble or grass to the stubble straps.

[shae1986]

Better Idea, Use a Tractor, That is our lazy way of doing it, Important(You must have access to a tractor) I have dug them down before with a shovel also, it doesn't take long and i think it is worth the extra effort. I will say something about a lot of layout blinds. They are worth their money and very usefull in the field no matter how you acually use them.

[Finlander]

I have a Gooseview X-terminator which is a real good layout blind for the money! I love the camo pattern on mine which is corn stubble that seems to blend in with all surrounding ground you are in when you fill in the stubble straps!

[Bushwacker]

I second the Gooseview X-Terminator. This is my second year with mine and I love it. My buddy just bought one too and trying out all the different brands and models. Lightweight, comfortable, and some great features. I love the way it opens and closes.

[Rost]

I looked at the Gooseview, but decided to go against it and got a Final Approach. I will say that it does have some awesome features though. I decided against the Gooseview for the following reasons...

-Gooseview had a 900 Denier Floor VS 1200 with the FA.

-The frame is heavier on the FA (according to the sales guy)

-The FA is made by Kolpin Outdoors- a company that has been around for awhile and has great customer Service. Gooseview is a relatively new company.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the Gooseview still. I really like how you can fold it up into a back pack. And I like the dog slot.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Bushwacker]

I thought the dog slot would be a nice feature too, but then I thought about it and I didn't really want to blow my lab's ear drums out by shooting right over her. I bought a seperate blind for her. I do like how easy it is to clean by just opening the dog door and spraying it out with a hose. My favorite feature is the backpack capability. It is light and easy to carry out.

Back to the original post, I bought my blind last Sept. and Reed's was the best place to buy. I bought online and it was $20 off. So it ended up being cheaper than any store I looked at even after I paid for shipping. All of the brands were on sale, not just the Gooseview.

[mwktrapper]

You're right...FA has been around for a long time. Ron Latschaw started making them a long time ago for a quick, easy way to put his clients in a field. He then thought he'd try and manufacture a few of them and look at where he's at now. You will not find a company with as good of people and customer service as FA. Gooseview is a local MN company, though, being made up here in Grand Rapids. I don't like the Gooseview fabric used, in that you can see through it it's so thin. I can't imagine it repelling water that well.