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Archive 2022 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

Jim Dockery
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

I'm planning on spending more time birding up here in western WA this winter/spring. Wondering how many of you use small portable blinds, or wear camo? I don't have a place to leave a blind so the animals get used to it, so nothing fancy.

The LensCoat LensHide looks simple and light. Anyone use and have a review?

Nov 06, 2022 at 04:43 PM

shredder1656
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

I have used pop-up hunting blinds for wildlife. But, they are not light and are cumbersom.

I won a raffle at work for a gift card to a military surplus store. I picked up a ghillie suit there. That works really well. I throw a small folding chair, the suit, some other camo junk, and then strap my monopod onto a backpack. Once I get to where I am going, the suit is great. I have had squirrels, birds, and deer almost land on or run over me.

Nov 06, 2022 at 07:22 PM

Photog Guy
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

shredder1656 wrote:
I have used pop-up hunting blinds for wildlife. But, they are not light and are cumbersom.

I won a raffle at work for a gift card to a military surplus store. I picked up a ghillie suit there. That works really well. I throw a small folding chair, the suit, some other camo junk, and then strap my monopod onto a backpack. Once I get to where I am going, the suit is great. I have had squirrels, birds, and deer almost land on or run over me.

.

I wish you would post a picture! That sounds like quite a getup.
Phil

Nov 06, 2022 at 08:13 PM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

shredder1656 wrote:
I picked up a ghillie suit there. That works really well. I throw a small folding chair, the suit, some other camo junk, and then strap my monopod onto a backpack. Once I get to where I am going, the suit is great. I have had squirrels, birds, and deer almost land on or run over me.

.

Like most camo clothing, they are generally a waste of time. The most effective camo 'colors' are white when shooting in snow, and black when doing something? at night.

Even if you are wearing a gillie suit, the pattern does not match your surroundings, and you are easily seen when you move. Wildlife that has excellent eyesight can see both your eyes and the front element of your lens.

With just my lens sticking out of a blind, I have had eagles scared off by the slightest movement of the lens and even the sound of a DSLR, and that was at distances over a hundred feet.

P.S. This forum is for the presentation of images and discussion only of such images posted.

The correct forum for gear discussion is:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/54

Eagle at about 60 feet away from blind. It got used to the clicking sound from my DSLR. No cropping.

Nov 06, 2022 at 09:14 PM

n.v.m.
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

I have a Tragopan blind, and it is an amazing tool. 5 minutes to setup, probably slightly longer to pack up. I also bought the specialized low folding chair. it's always on my back whether I use it or not, I don't even know it's there.

Nov 06, 2022 at 10:53 PM

shredder1656
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

Imagemaster wrote:
Like most camo clothing, they are generally a waste of time. The most effective camo 'colors' are white when shooting in snow, and black when doing something? at night.

Great shot!

To each their own on camo. It certainly doesn't make a person invisible. I will leave it at that, because you're right about this forum.

Nov 07, 2022 at 05:47 AM

Dragonfire
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

I've been using the Lenshide for years and I have had Glossy Ibis walk within my MFD and never know I was there.

Without a doubt the most efficient blind you can carry and setup quickly.

I photographed Mr. Egret 3 times with my not-so-silent silent shutter and he looked at me and never saw me at about 15'.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV EF400mm f/5.6L USM +1.4x lens 560mm f/8.0 1/2000s 800 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 07, 2022 at 08:12 AM

Jim Dockery
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry about posting to the wrong forum. Wonderful photos shared here!

Nov 07, 2022 at 09:57 AM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

Jim Dockery wrote:
Thanks for all the replies. Sorry about posting to the wrong forum. Wonderful photos shared here!

Jim, some of my best and closest shots of wildlife have been taken from both blinds just made out of branches and other vegetation, and others from a vehicle.

The advantages of using vegetation is that it blends in with the surroundings better than any artificial camo material, and you can leave it there all year without worrying about it. Of course I only used that type of blind in areas rarely visited by other people.

The advantages of shooting through a window-blind of a vehicle are you have a comfy seat, and can keep warm and dry. Of course you need to be able to park in a suitable location. A vehicle window-blind only has to be a piece of cloth material with a slit cut in it for your lens. You can make any adjustments just using safety pins and cloths pins.

This shot of a Belted Kingfisher with a crayfish was taken from my vehicle. No Gillie suit required.

Canon EOS 7D EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens 400mm f/8.0 1/250s 1600 ISO -1.0 EV

Nov 07, 2022 at 11:16 AM

Jim Dockery
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

Thanks again Imagemaster. Another sweet shot of one of my favorite little guys we have up here.

Great advice on a simple car window blind. I'm planning on doing a fair amount of shooting from the car since a large part of my new birding interest stems from ACL replacement surgery I'm having on Wed. to repair an injury from a bike crash. Normally my outdoor days (and photography) are back-country or X-skiing during the winter or spring but not this year. I should be able to walk on even surfaces within 6 weeks but most of the birding I'll be doing will be easy access for quite a while.

Nov 07, 2022 at 11:31 AM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · How many of you use blinds or camo?

Jim Dockery wrote:
Thanks again Imagemaster. Another sweet shot of one of my favorite little guys we have up here.

Great advice on a simple car window blind. I'm planning on doing a fair amount of shooting from the car since a large part of my new birding interest stems from ACL replacement surgery I'm having on Wed. to repair an injury from a bike crash. Normally my outdoor days (and photography) are back-country or X-skiing during the winter or spring but not this year. I should be able to walk on even surfaces within 6 weeks but most of the birding...Show more →

Jan 01, 2024 at 12:20 PM


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