So you want to buy a deer blind, but you have no idea what to look for. With so many options to choose from these days, it's hard to know where your money is best spent. In this short article, we'll tell you what to look out for and hopefully get you closer to your perfect deer blind!

It's best to begin with how much hunting experience you have under your belt. Typically, the more you hunt, the higher your standards are, and that's perfectly normal! You wouldn't expect a pro fisherman to go out to fish with a starter fishing rod and the accessories it comes with from Wal-Mart. So don't expect an avid hunter to be satisfied with a starter hunting blind. However, there is a point of diminishing returns, as going to the extreme and buying the most expensive hunting blind that can double as a winter cabin might not be for you or your wallet.

Let's start with your experience. Do you hunt occasionally, a few times every season, every chance you get, or maybe you're just starting to try out your grandfathers hobby for the first time. Where you're at as far as experience should determine how much the 6 most important things in a hunting blind should matter to you. With that said, let's start.

1. Scent Control

Arguably the most important factor in a hunting blind is how much can a hunting blind help cover your scent. Hiding your scent from your prey is something to always keep in mind, as deer have much more sensitive smell receptors than us. Of course hiding your scent is much more complex than just stepping into a deer blind. There are so many factors involved. The type of clothing you wear, storing any food in a scent-proof container, what direction the wind is blowing compared to the area that the deer pass through, and the elevation you're shooting from.

But the materials and construction of a hunting blind can have a big impact on scent control. Rigid materials and tight seals can keep your scent in the blind and away from the deer. Deer stands or elevated deer blinds can also help a lot in avoiding your scent from wafting over to the deer your hunting.

2. Noise Control

Obviously noise control is another one of those foundations of hunting that every hunter learns. It's not just about being quiet yourself, but here, your gear can make a big impact. The material, construction, and overall quality of your hunting blind can either help you or hurt you. A squeaky chair or noisy window hinges can absolutely ruin your game. Strong winds can make fabric blinds flail and make noise, even blow your blind over if not secured properly.

3. Window Type

Connected to noise control, the type of window your blind has, if it even has windows, can be a blessing or a curse. Having windows that can provide a quick, silent, and easy open & close access is something that you'll want to keep a close eye on.

4. Blind Height

The height of the blind can play a big factor if you're a tall person or if you're a bow hunter. Bows require additional vertical space and you should keep that in mind when choosing the right blind for you.

5. Durability

The materials used in the blind construction will determine how long you can use your blind with the similar results each time. Deer blinds are made from a wide variety of materials like fabric, plastic, fiberglass, and metal. With this in mind, going back to your experience and how frequently you hunt, you may want to buy a blind that can last a good while for you. If you don't you may end up having to buy a new blind much more often than you'd like.

6. Comfort

Almost in the same category as durability is comfort. Making sure you feel comfortable in your hunting blind can make the hunting experience worthwhile regardless of your catch. Freezing your butt off for hours on a hunt maybe is something you could do for a while, but after some time it can make you question if it's worth it. Little luxuries like blind insulation, sound proof interior, storage cabinets, cup holders, and interior shooting benches can keep you loving every second of the hunting trip.

Remember that hunting is not only the catch, but the friends and family you take with you on the trip. Large insulated blinds can accommodate your friends and family, keep them safe and warm against the elements, and be a great place to create beautiful memories.

So what type of blind is best for me?

Let's go through some of the more common hunting blind builds out there and see their strengths and weaknesses.

Fabric Blinds

For those who are just beginning to hunt, perhaps the most common choice to start is a fabric blind. Typically being less than $100, it's appeal is its cheap price and the benefit of hiding your visual movements when you're waiting for the deer to get close. This can be a good start if you're not sure how invested you really are into hunting but you'll find these types of blinds will get wear and tear very easily, both in the field and during transportation. The lack of rigidity of a fabric blinds can also be a big downside as strong winds can make the fabric flail and make noise.

Upsides:

• Good for beginners just getting started.

• Can hide your visual movements in places with little coverage.

Downsides:

• If there's wind, the fabric can flail and make some noise, scaring off deer.

• Not ideal for cold temperatures.

• Doesn't last many uses. Easily collects wear and tear.

Plastic Blinds

Plastic blinds, typically made from polyethylene like HDPE, are usually a step up from fabric blinds. They're more durable but will still have problems with time due to UV rays breaking down the plastic and depending on the build, strong winds could move them around.

Upsides:

• More durable than fabric blinds.

• Provides some scent control and hides your movement.

• Will last you more than fabric blinds and still very portable.

Downsides:

• Typically doesn't have good insulation for cold temperatures

• Too much UV rays can toast the plastic and make it crumble

Fiberglass Blinds

Fiberglass blinds can be a much higher step up from fabric and plastic in terms of duration, hiding movements, and comfort being in the blinds. They are heavier than plastic blinds but are considered much lighter than most metal blinds. They can provide many years of use with little wear and tear. However, they can rot if humidity gets into them through cracks or bad window seals. Cracks or unsealed gaps near windows or edges can destroy the blind in time from either rot or pest infestation. Care should be taken to inspect the blind regularly to fix any issues that could shorten it's usable life.

Upsides:

• Can last many years with maintenance.

• Sturdier build for better weather protection and insulation.

• Hides scent, movement, and noise much better than plastic blinds.

Downsides:

• More on the expensive side.

• Heavier than plastic and fabric blinds.

• While more durable, it is possible for fiberglass blinds to rot if water and pests get into them.

Metal Blinds

Like the fiberglass blinds, metal blinds provide great scent control, noise reduction, hides your movements, and provide a more comfortable hunting experience and protection from the elements. They can last a decades in great condition, however they're not without challenges. Weight usually being one of them. However, that depends on the metal itself, portability may or may not be very difficult. Aluminum blinds for example provide all the benefits of a metal blind but in a much more lightweight package, almost similar to fiberglass in some cases.

Upsides:

• Great for avid hunters.

• Can last years without problems. (Requires little to no maintenance)

• Provides the most comfort against the elements.

• Provides great control for scent, visual movement, and noise reduction.

Downsides:

• Can be heavy and challenging to move around, although blinds made from aluminum are considerably lighter.

• The price is high for these hunting blinds. Mostly sought after by avid hunters.

In Conclusion

The question shouldn't be "What's the BEST deer blind i could buy." It should be "What's the best deer blind for me." Depending on how frequently you use a hunting blind, how much maintenance you want to keep up with, how much comfort you want to have, these things should be taken into account when buying a deer blind. Here at Bitter Creek Blinds, we're avid hunters who want the best experience on every hunt. We build custom all-aluminum hunting blinds for hunters who are looking for a solid deer blind that will last decades! Our insulated Deluxe Outfitter Series blinds provide the most sought after amenities one could find in a deer blind like leather interior, storage cabinets, and flip-up shooting benches. If this sounds like what you're looking for, take a look at our Outfitter Series Deer Blinds and if you're looking to experience being in one first, look for a Bitter Creek Blinds retailer near you!