[Zeboy]

Anyone have any suggestions on pit blinds? I have permission on a farm field that is corn silage every year and the geese always use it in mid September to mid October. I think I could get the OK to put a pit blind in.

I've looked on the internet and most pit blinds are quite expensive and from other parts of the country. I'm looking for suggestions that are local and won't break the bank account.

Thanks for your help.

 

[SWAMPY]

i thought that pit blinds were illegal here in michigan.

 

[allrightnow]

uh no there not...

 

[Coldwater Charters]

You are probably thinking of Sink Boxes that go in the water and the top is just above the water level. They are illegal. A pit Blind dug in the dirt and no water butting up to it is legal. I have never hunted out of a pit blind, but would like to have a few around. Can't tell you what to use to build one, you must have a very understanding farmer eh.

 

[Mike L]

A pit blind is a lot of work, and I'm quite sure the farmer would want you to replace the dirt you removed to make it, at the end of the season. Geese get very smart real quick, If it was me I would make a temp blind that is moveable. One where you could lay right in or in front of the decoys. That way you can change your set-up and also change where your located in the field. You have to be flexible when you hunt the Big Bird.

 

[Zeboy]

Thanks for the input. I was actually thinking about something that I could cover up and leave in the field (pay the farmer to work around) from year to year. Maybe I'll just invest in a couple of Avery blinds instead.

 

[Branta]

Pits are the Cats Meow... when the birds want to be in that specific spot.

Like many things, You can go as cheap or as expensive as your imagination can take you and because they are such a pain to put in, you only really put them where you know you'll have the spot for many years and more importantly... the ducks/geese will always be back. (in Illinois they are quite popular and some very extravagant... but really only on the club properties and long term lease fields next to refuges.)

I can tell you they are a lot of work to put in, but where you can use them it doesn't get much better. If I can find the pics, I'll post up some photos of one pit we placed out on a mud flat for geese and black ducks. the material was relatively inexpensive... buddy found a box we could use, real cheap/ free. (Love that word "Free") . Then he told me where he got it and what it was... Coffin Shippers! GASP!! gave me the heebee geebees!!!

we had to bail it out at low tide everytime we wanted to use it and the Atlantic busted it all to heck by the end of the season, but it was fun while it lasted. We sure pounded the birds out of it!

Like the earlier posts, my suggestion for hunting MI would be to go with some of the great layout blinds that are now available (and now cheaper than ever before). Considering the quality of these new blind systems, their cost/portablity, the michigan season and our reduced bag, it's not worth putting in a pit anywhere here.

 

[Branta]

found the pics last night of that pit and some others you might want to take a gander at.

1. taking the "coffin blind" (<-as we referred to it! ) out at high tide and to the Hammock marker (the jug).

2. falling tide means you get to work!

just about completed

3. the end result was many memorable shoots... but only for the one season before the Atlantic tore it up.

Off to a good start with my 3 black ducks. Kinda different to have your hunts dictated by "the tides" vs. "shooting times"!

4. Pic of one of our field pits. bad picture, but this is a white "bib" collared Canada!

5. finally, a typical Arkansas rice field pit.

 

[Branta]

One more thing about pit blinds... maintenance.

Not sure how you spent New Years day, but I spent mine pumping 3 ft of water out of our pit! ahhh, that's after breaking 2" of ice to get the pump down in there. (that really, really sucked) and once the water was down, I then had to hop down in and get all that ice out. You definitely can't just throw it up/out and leave it by the pit, sooooo you end up "haulin ice" out of the field. (that really, really, really sucked!

of course it's only made harder because of the cross beams every 2 ft in a 16 ft. pit.

I'm going to tell ya, that's alot of ice, alot of water and I didn't mention yet trying to shovel decomposing crops/mud out so the guys wouldn't get stunk out of it on Saturday. try shoveling muck over your head without hitting beams every 2ft in confined quarters!!

guess it was worth it though.

 

[plugger]

Galvanired tube like they use for culverts, cut off and buried make good 1 man pits,

 

[Branta]

Plugger made an excellent suggestion. these work extremely well for "buddy" hunts and have some distinct advantages over full pits - even easier to conceal and easier to put in. what you give up are some conveniences of a full pit that some people could do with out- like making breakfast , stretching out on the bench (napping )

You can go with a "spider hole" trap cover or I would suggest a Mag super mag Carry-Lite shell and trim the tail down and cut out slits along the top/sides (like a goose chair deke). place the shell over the hole and you're golden. that way, you can keep on and work your birds while still being concealed.

I'd also suggest a "false bottom" to keep you out of the water. always go out to the field with a bucket - you'll envariably need it one day and it will be the day you forgot your rubber boots!!