Building a Double Man Deer Blind

This design assumes you already have a 4×8 base built with the corresponding floor.

Item	Height	Width	Quantity
12×24 Deerview Windows	1 ft. 0.00 in.	2 ft. 0.00 in.	2
2×2 – 10″	0 ft. 10.00 in.	0 ft. 2.00 in.	4
2×2 – 1’6″	0 ft. 2.00 in.	1 ft. 6.00 in.	1
2×2 – 3’3″	3 ft. 3.00 in.	0 ft. 2.00 in.	16
2×2 – 3’4″	0 ft. 2.00 in.	3 ft. 4.00 in.	9
2×2 – 3’8″	0 ft. 2.00 in.	3 ft. 8.00 in.	5
2×2 – 4′	0 ft. 2.00 in.	4 ft. 0.00 in.	8
2×2 – 6’2″	6 ft. 2.00 in.	0 ft. 2.00 in.	4
2×2 – 6’6″	6 ft. 6.00 in.	0 ft. 2.00 in.	4
2×2 – 7’4″	7 ft. 4.00 in.	0 ft. 2.00 in.	2
2×2-10″	0 ft. 10.00 in.	0 ft. 2.00 in.	6
2×4 – 3’4″	0 ft. 4.00 in.	3 ft. 4.00 in.	2
2×4 – 3’8″	0 ft. 4.00 in.	3 ft. 8.00 in.	4
2×4 – 4’3″	4 ft. 3.00 in.	0 ft. 4.00 in.	1
2×4 – 6’2″	6 ft. 2.00 in.	0 ft. 4.00 in.	2
36×12 Deerview Windows	1 ft. 0.00 in.	3 ft. 0.00 in.	2
8″x4″ Plexiglas	0 ft. 4.00 in.	0 ft. 8.00 in.	2
8×4 Plywood Sides	6 ft. 6.00 in.	4 ft. 0.00 in.	6
Plywood 8’x4′ Roof	8 ft. 0.00 in.	4 ft. 0.00 in.	1
Tin Roof 4’6″ x 8’6″	8 ft. 6.00 in.	4 ft. 6.00 in.	1

Building your own deer blind is an easy and a ton of fun. It’s simpler than you might think, you just need a little direction, materials and the right tools.

Background

The following is an 8 foot by 4 foot deer blind I built after experimenting with a 4×4 and a couple of 4×6’s. The materials are somewhat negotiable as there is a balance between need, want and expense. In my case I am using 1/2″ OSB because I have plenty of high quality exterior paint on hand. Plywood would offer a better result at an additional expense. I wanted most of my expense to be in the windows which were purchase from the Deer View company.

Deer Blind Plans

There are many ways to build a deer blind. You can head to the lumber store picking and choosing material you think will work by going off a diagram in your head. This is called the “Ad-hoc play it by ear” method. It can be fun, as well as frustrating. I’m not going to recommend it.

Drawing Your Own Plans

I’ve become a fan of drawing my own plans. It’s not very hard if you have the appropriate software. In my case I have used Microsoft Visio 2010 which retails for about $200. It’s worth the price if you need to do a lot of diagramming, but there are alternatives out there.

DIA – https://live.gnome.org/Dia

This is a free program that I’ve heard is very good.

A complete list can be found on Wikipedia. Check out some of the online options as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagramming_Software

Once you have selected your software, it’s time to start drawing. The big advantage here is that you can measure everything virtually and see how everything will fit. One thing you will need to set up are your margins and scale. In Visio I set mine to the following.

One inch = One Foot.

 

Diagrams

 

The Front

The entire blind hangs below the base by about 2 and a half feet. I chose to do this to lessen the cuts required and provide a little more stability. It’s also probably good for wasp nests, so keep a can of spray in the blind.

My design calls for the base of the shooting windows to be at 43″ from the ground. Your mileage may vary, depending on your height. A good way to check is to use a 4 ft straight ruler and sit in a chair mimicking a shot to get an idea.

The windows need at least an inch of overlap to allow hinges and clasps.

You may not need all of the vertical 2×2’s framing out the bottom. It’s up to you.

 

The Sides

Same as the front except the windows are 12×24 and the perimeter vertical 2×2’s are inset by 2 inches to allow assembly.

 

The Back

I didn’t use the deer view windows in the back as this blind butts up against a tree grove. I wanted to save a little money and kept the OSB window cutout adding a Plexiglas inset. The door is straight forward.

The urinal is optional. I just think if you are going to have a big large blind, you might as well be comfortable for those long duration hunts. It is supplied by a company called Hunting Product Services and includes a mini septic system.

 

The Roof

The top is straight forward and uses a tin roof for the exterior. The top is not pitched as I have never seen a need for it when you have tin. Typically not enough water will pool on the roof for the time required to cause corrosion or rust.

 

Products and Files

Deer View windows and Pricing can be found here:
http://deerviewwindows.com/camo-hinge-window-2/

Urinal can be found here:
http://www.huntingproductservices.com/

You can download the PDF of these plans here.

deerblindv511

Note: Remember that 2×4’s and 2×2’s are nominal cuts and thus are not to the actual dimension stated. While these plans give you a good idea, make sure you adjust accordingly.