Build Your Own Hunting Blinds on a Budget

Every hunter knows that having proper cover is essential for getting close to your prey. But for many hunters, those fancy manufactured hunting blinds that cost hundreds of dollars are simply not in the budget.

Luckily, you can create incredibly effective DIY hunting blinds for deer, waterfowl, and turkey using affordable materials found around your home, in hardware stores, or simply out in nature.

In this guide, you’ll learn foolproof techniques for building your own hunting blinds that blend into the environment, conceal your movement, and allow you to remain undetected by animals with keen eyesight and strong sense of smell.

Ground Blinds for Deer Hunting

When it comes to hunting whitetail deer, simple ground blinds that you can position anywhere and brush in work extremely well. Here are some cheap builds:

Burlap Sack Blind

Cut out openings for shooting ports and to see through
Use bailing wire to fashion frame to keep burlap off your barrel
Brush in with surrounding branches and leaves

Camo Netting Blind

Drape over branches or frames to break up outline
Wrap strips of burlap or fabric around framing to seal gaps
Brush in extra foliage all around for concealment

Cotton Stalks Blind

Useful for agricultural areas
Bundle dried corn/cotton stalks in front of clear shooting lane
Sit or stand behind densely bundled vegetation

Permanent Tree Blinds for Archery Season

For archery season, build a comfortable blind secured up in a tree along the deer’s trail that can be used year after year:

Wood Pallet Deer Stand

Lean pallet up against tree and screw into trunk
Build walls and roof frame out of 2×4 lumber
Cover walls with mesh netting and roof with tarps or metal sheeting
Equip with shooting rails and padded seat

Elevated Hunting Platform

Construct base frame platform using 2×6 boards secured to tree trunk
Add walls and roof using prepared OSB board panels
Camo paint/brush all exterior surfaces

Log Cabin Style Box Stand

Construct three-sided enclosure built around trunk
Notch corners and stack logs Lincoln style
Chink gaps between logs with rags, mud, or foam
Make shingled roof with overhang to keep interior dry

Natural Hunting Blinds for Waterfowl

For hunting ducks and geese, the best approach is to scout the marshes and shoreline vegetation to select tactical ambush spots. Then enhance them by weaving in natural camouflage:

Cattail Hide

Sit in opening inside thick stand of dormant cattails
Weave dead reeds from prior year’s growth across open front
Use vegetation, burlap, or mesh to break up silhouette

Downed Tree Boat Blind

Position boat behind large tree blown over at shoreline
Add brush, branches, and leaves to hide boat shape
Use surrounding reeds and grasses to seamlessly blend in

Corn Stalk Boat Hide

Bundle dried corn stalks, prop against boat interior
Cover boat except for shooting ports
Align boat to seamlessly blend into shoreline terrain

As you can see, with just some simple and cheap materials combined with a bit of elbow grease, you can create incredibly effective camouflaged blinds that allow you to disappear into any terrain and wait for the perfect shot.

Now get out there and start preparing your hiding spots well ahead of hunting season! Set up multiple options and approaches based on wind, visibility and shooting lanes relative to deer trails, funnel zones or waterfowl flight paths. Maintain these concealed spots with fresh natural camouflage to remain undetected. Perfect your hunting ambush spot and this season you’ll easily fill those tags from the comfort of your DIY concealment.