A sniper suit provides camouflage for crawling and crouching.

If you need the best possible combination of camouflage and mobility, a ghillie suit is your best bet. You have instant camouflage wherever you go, no matter what type of terrain. Ghillie suits are popular for paintball, airsoft, hunting, wildlife photography, and other outdoor pursuits.

Buy or Make?

The first question to decide is whether you want to make your own ghillie suit or buy one that’s already made. Making your own suit from a kit takes a lot of time. The process is tedious, but it’s the best way to customize the suit for what you need.

Buying a ghillie suit is easier, and most ghillies come with extra threads so that you can modify the suit to better fit your terrain.

Synthetic or Natural?

Ghillie suits are made with synthetic or natural materials. Synthetic materials are lightweight—best for warm climates and running while wearing the suit. They are also naturally mildew resistant and fire resistant.

Jute ghillie suits are made with natural materials, which makes them easily blend in to the natural environment. Jute threads are straighter and coarser than synthetic threads, and they have a natural odor.

How Much Coverage?

Ghillie suits come in different styles, including ponchos, sniper suits, and 3-piece ghillies. Which style you need depends on how you plan to use the suit.

Ponchos provide full upper body coverage and come in one piece. If you need to run, however, the poncho can get in the way of your legs.

A sniper suit works best for low crawling positions. Since there are no threads on the front of the suit, you don’t have to worry about getting caught on bushes and twigs when moving at a crouch or when crawling.

A 3-piece ghillie provides full body, 360-degree coverage with pants, a jacket, and a hat. Some suits come with a gun wrap as well. This type of suit is best for standing and walking, as well as sitting under a tree or crouching in the grass.

Keep in mind that a full ghillie suit is heavier and hotter than a partial suit. If you need full camouflage but without the weight, consider an ultralight synthetic ghillie.

"Easy to put up and take down, and slips into the backpack type case easily." - C. Loop

Want to know what other customers say about the KillZone Pop-Up Ground Blind? See below for hunting blind reviews on this 1-2 man tent.

“A good buy if you are looking for a one person blind. I am six feet tall and need to duck a bit when inside, but once you’re in your seat it is perfect for a one person show. I can shoot my bow out of it no problem (just make sure you have a low stool, bucket seat, etc.), and the shoot through mesh is great for using a rifle. Easy to put up and take down, and slips into the backpack type case easily. Instructions were a little hazy, but easy to figure out once you do it a few times.”
- C. Loop

“This blind is exactly what I wanted. It is a pop up blind that sets up and collapses in seconds. If you are looking to get a ground blind look no further. Buy this now. On top of all this it showed up 2 days after ordering.”
- T. Lowman

“Works great!! I’ve read several reviews that the zippers are flimsy. While I agree they might not be heavy duty, I would not call the zippers ‘flimsy’. You just need to be careful about how tight you stretch the blind when you stake it down to the ground. You can relieve stretch in the fabric and make closing zippers easier by simply pulling the gap closed as you zip the door or windows shut.”
- Christopher H.

“I ordered a blind for me and one for a co-worker. I received them in 3 days and have both shot a bird out of them-one bow kill and one shotgun. Good product-great seller.”
- Michael H.

Setting up blinds in the field

Ready to duck hunt with your new layout blind? Here are some tips for using your layout blind in the field.

Get It Dirty

This is one time where you DON’T want to keep your new toy shiny and clean. The first thing you should do after taking your layout blind out of the box is to coat it with a fresh layer of mud.

Mud is one of nature’s best camouflage tricks. Mudding up your blind covers up any shine that the fabric gives off, especially when the sun hits it.

Remember making mud pies as a kid? Then you know how to mud your blind. Just mix up a little mud pie, use a paint brush or a broom (with your wife’s permission) to spread it over the layout blind, and let it dry in the sun.

Shake off the excess mud when it’s dried. All you need is a thin layer to coat the fabric.

Blend It In

Most layout blinds come with stubble straps for extra camouflage. When you set up your blind in the field, take note of what’s around it. Is the vegetation sparse? Thick? Tall? Short?

Do what it takes to make your blind disappear into the field. In most cases, less is more. You don’t want to end up looking like a haystack in the middle of a barren field.

Use the stubble straps to add vegetation, but only use enough to match the general pattern of the field. In fact, if the field is mostly dirt, your layout blind might blend in better without any extra vegetation.

Turkey blinds conceal movement and keep you dry.

There’s more than one way to hunt turkeys. Ground blinds are just one more trick to keep up your sleeve. While some hunters prefer sitting out under the base of a tree or running-and-gunning, there’s a place for ground blinds when it comes to turkey hunting, too.

Hunting in cold or rainy weather and taking squirrelly kids or a first-time hunter along are just a few reasons why you might choose to use a ground blind for turkey hunting.

Setting Up a Ground Blind

A turkey blind can increase your chances of success, or it can stick out like a sore thumb—it all depends on how you camouflage the blind.

Set up your ground blind with a backdrop behind it (such as a grove of trees) to mask the blind’s silhouette. Setting up in the shadows will also draw less attention to your blind.

Concealing Your Movements

Keep a dark backdrop behind you when you’re inside the blind. An open window behind you will highlight your silhouette and spook the turkey when you move. Make sure the window shade is closed and not just the mesh screen.

Camouflaging the Blind

Some hunters say they have turkeys walk right up to their ground blind without any hesitation. Other hunters have seen turkeys spook at the sight. Although movement spooks turkeys more than anything else, it doesn’t hurt to take a few minutes to camouflage the blind, just in case your turkeys are blind-shy.

Use dead branches and natural grasses to brush in the blind. This breaks up the outline and camouflages your blind to blend in with its natural surroundings. Don’t count on the blind’s camouflage pattern alone to keep you hidden.

Setting Up in Advance

If possible, set up your ground blind in advance. Once the turkeys get used to it, they’ll walk past without a second glance. Plus you can slip silently into the blind the morning of the hunt without making a lot of noise setting it up and scaring off any turkeys within earshot.

Training with an electronic dog collar saves you time.

Why should I use an electronic dog collar?

The genius of electronic dog collars is that you can train your dog from a distance—for example, while you’re watching from inside the house or vehicle. That way your dog knows that a certain action has negative consequences even when the owner is not around to reinforce his behavior.

Training with a collar is faster and more efficient than other forms of training. For a lot of hunters, saving time and accelerating the training is more than worth the cost of an electronic collar.

Will it hurt the dog?

Not if used responsibly (delivering the minimum level of stimulation needed). The electric “shock” your dog receives is similar to what you’d feel if you dragged your feet across the carpet and touched a metal doorknob. This unpleasant feeling is enough to keep you from doing shocking yourself again, but it doesn’t cause you harm.

How much stimulation should I use?

Only as much as needed and no more. Always start with the lowest level of stimulation and increase until you see a response from the dog: an ear twitch, a muscle twitch, scratching, furrowing the brow, trying to move away from the collar, etc.

If your training collar allows you to adjust the stimulation with the remote, you can increase stimulation when needed (for example, if the dog is distracted and barking) and then lower back down to the minimum level of stimulation when the dog is more responsive.

"Well built seat and lots of room." - Joel S.

One- and two-person portable chair blinds make it easy to get your gear into the woods, set up fast, and keep yourself hidden in prime gaming areas. Check out the hunting reviews below for what other hunters think about our chair ground blinds.

“Dad loves it! I bought this as a present for my dad, who can’t climb into tree stands anymore. When he opened it, I was very pleased with how easy it was to set up. The seat is very comfortable and well constructed. I’m not a big fan of the velcro due to the noise, but that is the only—and I mean only—negative. This is a great ground blind and will help my dad keep doing what he enjoys. I can’t wait to hear the story when he drops that big one.”
- Chris Sullivan

“Great product. Just as described, maybe better. Well built seat and lots of room. It is easy to use and portable. My dad loves it.”
- Joel S.

“I’m impressed with initial quality. I initially bought this with intentions of tearing it apart and using it to cover my outdoor motorized wheelchair. I like the blind chair so much as is, I can’t bring myself to tear it apart. I’ll have to wait for it to break or give out on me before cannibalizing it. In the meantime, I’ll just transfer from wheelchair to blind chair. While not evident in photos, all windows have removable camo bug netting. Will pair with Gorilla shooting stick (another bargain) to reduce any gun holding fatigue. Included camo backpack makes it even more of a bargain. Great product, KillZone.”
- Jay (Texas)

“Was pleasantly surprised how quickly the item arrived. Don’t know what would be different about blinds costing 2 and 3 times as much.”
- Jack S.

“The perfect portable blind for me and my 4 year old daughter. Easy packing, easy setup. Must buy.”
- Larry F.

“Very nice blind and look forward to using it this year.”
- David M.

“Great product. Very roomy and seems well constructed. Less expensive than others and does the job well. Would order again.”
- Harold Fultz, Jr.

“It arrived promptly and was a great product beyond expectations. The hunter receiving it was thrilled, and I was glad to have the opportunity to purchase a birthday present of such good quality for a great price.”
- John C.

Layout Blind Sale

Get ready for the spring waterfowl season with a Lay ‘n Slay Hunting Blind from KillZone. The Lay ‘n Slay is now on sale for only $99.99 with free shipping to the lower 48 states.

Choose from a classic khaki that brushes in to match any environment or the Zero-Detect camouflage pattern. The rugged 900D poly and reinforced 1500D poly floor are designed to perform in the field season after season. The floor is woven with a layer of PVC for weather and water protection.

Brush in the layout blind to match your surroundings with the attached elastic stubble straps. The large screen, quick-release doors open easily with one touch, and the padded seat and headrest keep you comfortable during the wait. Flagging ports and interior storage are included.

Features:

• Large Screen Doors
• Padded Seat and Headrest
• Stubble Straps
• Quick Fold Design
• Detachable Shoulder Straps
• Interior Storage for Flags and Ammunition
• Lightweight Steel Frame
• Weight: 17 lbs.
• Folded: 47″ x 17″ x 8″
• Open: 86″ x 36″ x 20″

"For whatever reason, this all brown layout blind tends to blend in equally well in all different types of ground cover that I have encountered." - Christopher B.

The plain brown canvas on the original KillZone Layout Blind might not be as flashy as the new camo patterns now available on the market, but its universal color blends in with a wide variety of settings. So whether you’re hiding in corn stubble in the fall or near marshy reeds in the spring, you can easily brush in the blind to match your surroundings.

See what Christopher Bowling, a waterfowl hunter from Kansas, has to say about his KillZone layout blind:

From Christopher Bowling:

“I have owned this blind for two years now and mainly use it for goose hunting in Kansas. I have used it approximately 5-10 times per year, and I consider myself a novice hunter.

“With that being said, this layout blind has worked extremely well for me thus far. I have used it in the extreme cold (-20 below) to the moderate heat (60 above) and in just about every type of weather conditions. I have had zero problems with it thus far.

“I usually hunt with slightly more serious hunters who I would consider above novice level but not professionals. All of my friends that I hunt with have $300-400 layout blinds purchased at Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop. All of them tend to like my blind better than theirs, especially for the price.

“My biggest concern with the initial purchase of the blind was the lack of camo pattern on the blind. However, it has never been an issue. In fact, the blind tends to blend in better than camo layout blinds.

“I have found that it is usually very hard to match the different types of camo patterns on normal layout blinds to the exact environment I hunt in. Since we rarely hunt in the exact same spot, we have a variety of different brush around us.

“For whatever reason, this all brown layout blind tends to blend in equally well in all different types of ground cover that I have encountered. I always mix the local vegetation in with the blind and normally disappear very quickly or better than my friends.

“It is well constructed and has also kept me dry in very wet / muddy conditions. My only complaint is the lack of back support in the design during very long hours of hunting. However, I don’t know of anyone in any blind thus far who doesn’t have the same problem.

“Carries well when folded up and is a very good buy for someone trying to save money.

“I would definitely purchase another one in the future. Hope this helped.”

We hope so, too! Check out the KillZone layout blinds for more information.

Last month, Tom McCullough (co-owner of KillZone) and his family spent the day out on Lake Winnibigoshish (“Winnie” for short) in northern Minnesota. Lake Winnie is known for its perch hotspots, and the McCullough clan caught a bunch. They nicknamed the fattest perch “Yumbo” versus Jumbo…because it tastes so good!

The pics below show the McCulloughs setting up an Igloo ice tent and enjoying their catch.

Setting up the ice tent

Popping out the sides

Look what I caught

"Yumbo" and friends

Fishing crew

Dog blinds keep your retriever out of sight.

Give your dog a place to hide with the Retriever Dog Blind by Classic Accessories Heritage Hunt. Newly available at KillZoneHunting.com, this dog hunting blind serves double duty as a field blind and decoy bag.

The shoulder straps let you fill the blind with decoys and carry it on your back. Then lay out your decoys and stake down the blind for your retriever.

The low profile, rounded blind is easy to camouflage with the sewn-in brush loops. The Realtree Max4 camouflage pattern works well in a variety of terrain and seasons.

The Retriever Dog Hunting Blind is large enough to conceal dogs up to 90 pounds. The bottom of the blind is reinforced with heavy duty fabric to keep it from getting scratched up by your dog’s claws.

Features:

• Realtree Max 4 camo
• For hunting dogs up to 90 lbs
• Frame collapses in seconds for easy storage
• Shoulder straps allow blind to double as a decoy bag
• Holds up to 24 duck decoys
• Includes four stakes and sewn in loops to secure blind from moving
• One year warranty