Some thoughts on the Ghost Blind
Not as immediate as I had intended but here are my thoughts on my experience with the Ghost Blind.
In mid January 2011 I purchased a Ghost Blind. Before I bought one I did some internet searches for product reviews and they really don’t exist, at least not yet. I would also like to hear from other bow hunters and their experience with the Ghost Blind.
I’m an old guy (63) and I’m finding that I’m hunting more and more off the ground and less out of the trees, especially in late season. I have three pop up blinds for ground hunting and thought there was a place for the Ghost Blind in my ground hunting.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to cough up $250+ for the blind. But, it will probably outlast me, it’s made in America, not by a bunch of little people in China. I know that adds to the cost. I also know I couldn’t do a better job building one myself and I haven’t told my wife what it costs. I don’t think she even knows I own one.
I have used the Ghost Blind about a dozen times since I bought it. The first time was in a snow storm, the last time and last day of the season (Jan 31st) was in a snow storm. There has been snow on the ground (6-15 inches) every time I have used it. It comes with stakes and lines to stake it down but I haven’t had to use them yet. The first time out with the blind it was blowing and snowing. The wind was an issue. It blew the blind over twice. I just picked up the blind and moved it a few yards to where it was sheltered from the wind and it was OK for the rest of the hunt.
The thing I like most about this blind is it’s mobility. I can unfold it and set it up, take it down and fold it up in seconds. I don’t have to brush it in. I never had a deer spook when they looked at it. With my pop ups I’ve had deer turn inside out the first time they saw it. This Ghost Blind just blends in.
I was concerned about transporting this thing. It looked big and cumbersome. My Lone Wolf stands spoiled me. However, in the field it was relatively easy to transport. They make a back pack/carry case for it for another $100 and I didn’t get one. I used the transport belt it comes with. The belt slips through the closed blind and slips over your head and the blind hangs at your side as you walk with it. At 5' 11" the blind didn’t hang too low to be a problem. The longest I had to carry the blind was ½ - 3/4 mile. It’s way lighter than my pop ups and I no longer consider it a problem to carry.
The Mylar reflective side is folded in and doesn’t get dinged up during transport. The camo side does get dinged up. In my case, more from friction sliding around in the vehicle than from carrying. I don’t see where the mylar reflective side will get a lot of dings and the few dings the mylar reflective surface does get will not adversely affect it’s effectiveness.
Hunting in the cold and snow did affect it’s durability. Continually sticking the blind in the snow caused one of the corners on a panel to separate. Had I cleaned the ice and snow from the base of the blind before I threw it in my truck that probably wouldn’t have happened. This summer when it’s nice and warm I’m sure it will glue up with no problem.
The sun’s reflection was never an issue. Most hunts were overcast and the way the blind sets up it’s not going to reflect the sun back into the animals unless it’s an ant. With my tree stands I would be very happy if I could get the sun at my back and the wind in my face. With this blind I just hunt the wind.
When I find spot with fresh sign and I can get in undetected I know now I can hunt it effectively with this blind. It just blends in. What I don’t know with fresh sign is when it’s being made, i.e. during hours or after hours.
One of the cons is that I consider it a fair weather blind. There is no protection from the elements like a pop up. I also need to be more concerned with movement than with a pop up, especially when drawing and launching an arrow. I’m also a sort of wiggle worm, looking with binos, ranging things, grand kids along etc, I just don’t sit still well and I worry about that movement with the Ghost Blind. With a rifle or pistol you can keep the weapon below the top edge of the blind but not your bow.
I like hunting off the ground. My two best bucks with the bow have come off the ground. I expect next year I’ll get a lot more usage out of this blind. I have many private property spots I can hunt and not enough pop ups or tree stands to go around. But this Ghost Blind is so mobile I’m not worried about a blind to hunt out of. I know if it works in the snow it will work in anything. I also know that if the wind changes direction, relocating is simple.
I’m going to get my money’s worth out of this Ghost Blind. I’m satisfied with it.
I mentioned the blind goes up quick and easy. It also goes up quietly.
I did launch two arrows from this blind at yummy whitetails and both were misses. I'm thinking at 63 I should visit an eye doctor. Maybe I need glasses or maybe an anti adrenaline pill would help.
