Layout blinds

[SMOKE]

I almost kind of feel dumb askin this but money is really tight for me right now and with all the places i usualyl hunt froze up all my friends are headin to the fields. I do have access to some pits but very rarely is there room for me. My question is does anyone know if to hunt in a corn field if u have to have a layout blind or can u basically lay on the ground and cover yourself with corn stalks? Yeah lol guys i know thats ruffin it big time but untill work starts up in the spring im kinda SOL. Dunno if me being in illinois makes any difference to other states or not.

Get down and cover up with stalks. As long as you are camo'd up and not moving it shouldn't be a problem. I started hunting that way and it killed geese until I bought a blind. As a matter of fact we did that during our early season because it had rained and we had to carry the Bigfoots in. The geese we hunted wanted in that field so bad we were done by 8:30 or 9:00 am!

[IowaMigr8tor]

for some odd reason it logged me as a guest. I was the last post Smoke.
FYI

[SMOKE]

Thanks for the reply. My big concern with doin this was if it was legal dunno why it wouldnt be but u never know. I know certain seasons depending on where u hunt u have to be in a blind of some sort and me being fairly new to this, wasnt sure how that worked. Any recomendations on keeping warm since it decided to snow here?

[IowaMigr8tor]

Thats a wierd law to have in place. I personally have never heard of that law but I usually don't travel out of state to go hunting. Best idea is to look at your Regs, ask friends, or contact your DNR officer.

[straitmeatshooter]

I've killed just as many geese out of my blind than being in it. I always get caught outside my blind while a flock comes in, so usually close my blind up and hit the ground next to it as fast as I can. As long as your all camo and not moving at all, you should be able to kill some birds.

IowaMigr8tor-

i guess i read the rules wrong. that rule only applys to commercial places. lol whoops. Guess i had my stupid sign on when i read that. I normally hunt at a waterfowl management lake and there the only time u can be out of the blind is teal season. Anyway i found a finisher real close to where i live at a good price so i think i might be able to swing it. just curious if anyone knows the mesauremants of it fully extended mainly length and width. Its between the finisher and the migrator. im a fairly big guy and i havent gotten up to jeffs shop to see if i can fit in a finisher yet but im hopin to sometime this week. Otherwise im gonna go check out the store where i found it for cheap and see if they will let me get in and try it out first.

[SMOKE]

OH yeah guess im still wearin that stupid sign the guest in the last reply is me. forgot to sign in DOH!!!!

[IowaMigr8tor]

I have two blinds myself. My go to blind is my Final Approch Pro Guide. It is a full frame Max4 HD Camo blind that works great if you can drive right to where you hunt
My Second (backup) blind is the Avery Finisher in Field Kahaki. I like this blind if I have to walk into a public marsh or if the field is just too wet to drive on. I found my finisher att walmart and it was $100 less than the camo version and $50 cheaper than other shops selling the Field Kahaki.
The Migrator is the larger of the two and if you are a large person get it. I am 180lbs and 5' 10" and the finisher works great for me and my dog. The finisher has a large foot pocket that your dog can curl up in. I am not shure but I think the migrator has a spring type opening on it, my finisher doesn't. I am a big Final Approach person just because all my buddies hunt out of them and it was the first blind I ever used. As a matter of fact FA has a blind that is almost identicle with the Finisher. It is called the Sport Utility Blind.
Hope you find what you want and make shure it is exactly what you want.

Im 6'2 250 and im thinkin im gonna hve to go with the bigger ones. I did see the SUB. I was actually lookin for one today at the local bass pro but good luck finding them this time of year. If i cant fit in the finisher im probably gona have to go with the SUB because of price. That or i may just hold out till i get some more money and get the migrator since i really want an avery. Guess either way it really wouldnt matter both would get the job done. Guess ita ll depends on what i want too

[SMOKE]

DOh!!!! did it again

[IowaMigr8tor]

That is true. Hey I've struck some deals on waterfowl stuff from Cabela's. I went in during the off season when they are desperate to move product for the next year and they cut $20 off of the Hawkeye decoys. If you think you can work a deal att Bass Pro or Cabela's I'd wait. I used to work a Sporting Goods store and they would work with you to get you to come back in their store and they hope you tell everyone how they helped you.
I bought my Final Approach when i worked there and the @ cost price is only $213.00 marked up to retail $299.99. Try to talk them down, they may not work with you during the season but try the off season.

[SMOKE]

Wish there was a cabellas near where i live. I honeslty think cabellas is a much better store. THis is a true story. I went to the bass pro and asked if they had a foiles migrators short reed meat grinder and the guy goes your in the wrong section for a meat grinder. I said what do u mean he goes there in the food processing section. I said no its a goose call.

I found a local hunting store who told me on decoys that they would beat bass pro or cabellas so when i go to get my decoys im gonna see what they can do. Im sure they would probably do the same for the blind.

Height wise id probably be better off with the migrator or SUB wouldnt I? And is the final approach as durable as an avery?

[IowaMigr8tor]

I've got that answer that the meatcutters would be in food processing. That when you know sombodys selling in the wrong area! and they are talking out their butt.

They both have their strong points. I think FA uses a thinker canvas and is easier to put stuff in the stubble straps. I can stay warmer in my FA because it blocks more wind and doesn't have a recessed head rest to send the wind down your back like the Avery.
The Avery is much more packable that my PRO GUIDE. The avery brand is used by lots of people and they are both great.
Choosing the right you have to look at useablilty. If you have to walk a long distance with alot of gear the FA SUB has a backpack style strap. The avery has a single strap and I find it tireing on the lond trecks into the Mallard holes at some of our local marshes. I know my packable blind is 18lbs and the FA is 17lbs.
My personal opinion is that the Final Approach is a higher quality blind and is more accomidating. Also I believe that Kolpin and Final Approach has made a heated blind seat so if you hunt in the cold cold cold weather.

[kingkilla]

hey iowamigr8tor, where do u live in central iowa. im from urbandale. i also have a finisher, and that thing is awsome.it even has a cup holder, a place to put your shells, and a flag den. its almost as nice as the marriot hotel room.

[IowaMigr8tor]

West Des Moines
I hunt all over the state. Moving where the birds are.

[SMOKE]

Sounds like the SUB might be the better bargain. Price of a finisher pretty close in styling and built for my big @$$ lol.

[IowaMigr8tor]

What ever works for you. Hunting is all in personal preferance. Especially waterfowl.

[kingkilla]

yea i totally agree with u iowamigr8tor. for example i might think my decoys look good but the other guy might not. its basicly what you like

[IowaMigr8tor]

Exactly. Bigfoot or GHG. Foiles or R-N-T (duh Foiles). Personal Prefrence.

[kingkilla]

i dont have any foiles calls believe it or not. I just started duck calling this year and i blew a flute last year and am trying to blow a RNT goozilla honker call this year but its tuff stuff.

[IowaMigr8tor]

I've heard that RNT's goose calls are hard blowing. I started off years ago with cheap polycarbs and last year sprung for the Foiles and Love it. I have a SMH & SMM. I also have a Tiber Rattler and HPH on layaway at Scheels. A Tundra Saver on layaway at Cabela's and My dad is getting me a Meatcutter.
I tell you these calls are addicting. I have been called crazy by my classmates when they hear how much money I spend on my calls but fellow hunters are astonished at the tone and capabilities of the SMH. I am planning on trying some competitions this year if I can get more practice under my belt and enough courage to do it. I hate testing a call out at the store because it draws a crowd. I have even had people come up and ask me if that was me calling, of course they were city people and were interested in what was going on. I don't want to make it sound like I am a expert caller because I am not.

[kingkilla]

yea i didnt know how to blow a short reed so i had a buddy who is a pretty good caller (he has a foiles honker call) test some out for me and at first the RNT was easy to blow but somthing happened to it because it is so hard to blow know. A couple of weeks ago i blew an illusion short reed and it turns over so easy.

[IowaMigr8tor]

The first Foiles I blew was hard but the one I bought is easy to call on. And I think everybody has their good days and bad days calling. There have been days where some of the basic calls just won't come out right.

[Max4Gooser]

Smoke,

I have enver heard any rules governing what is considered a blind or not, I would suggest buying some of that Die Cut Netting in Max-4, and just pulling it over you like a blanket and then covering it with some vegetation, that will break up your outline nicely, and only cost about $15.
Good luck.

Have you been seeing many geese down in the area, I thought about trying to hunt a couple of fields on my lease south of Hillview.

Jeff

[GearDownGang]

kingkilla - Sounds like you just need to retune the RNT call. Find someone that knows what they are doing and it isn't that hard to get it tuned back up.

The easy or hard blowing is mostly in how the call is tuned. I like mine tuned a little hard so when my excitement is peaked and I get on it, I don't squeak it. :wink:

I'm with Max4 on a blind. If you are covered up and the geese don't see you it counts. :)

[SMOKE]

Max4- Saw a few geese down by eldred the other day durin shot gun season but now ive been seein a lot more here lately. I went down 109 in jerseyville yesterday and it was geese galore. Id imagine the fields close to the river would be hot spots here pretty soon.

[kingkilla]

geardown. who should i let do that. if i sent it in to foiles would they do that. Its not a foiles so i dont know if they would do that or not. Just wonderen

[GearDownGang]

You could try one of their Iowa Pro Staffers (http://prostaff.richntone.com/?q=taxonomy/page/or/28) or find a Pro Staffer for just about any call and they should know how to tune it. You could also jump on RNT's site and contact them (http://www.rntcalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/displaypage/sid/1220010668294883646/numlis/12/lh/h-0/page/contact%5Fus%2Ecfm) about it. I am sure they would be more then happy to retune it.

[kingkilla]

thanks

[Jclasen0124]

king killa, you sound like your a pretty good shot?? Have you killed quite a few birds this year, The finisher is definatly the way to go! just picked up a demo one from scheels for half the price! gotta love it!

- jordan

[Killer Miller]

Hey Smoke, do you have any whites? You being in Illinios, there could very well be snow on the ground during these late seasons. I have a snow cover for my finisher, but I also just wear whites sometimes if its not too cold. Theyre actually my snow goose whites but i may wear them during our late season and let one of my buddies hop in my blind with the snow cover. Or the other way around depending how cold it is.

[Max4Gooser]

Speaking of whites, it reminded me of a hunt in southern Illinois when a big snow came in, so we "borrowed" some white sheets from our hotel room to help camo our blind, funny but their are a few hotels down their that wont let me stay anymore :wink:

Jeff

[SMOKE]

Yeah i got some old white sheets i could use. I found a ton of max 4 material at the local walmart the other day so untill i get the money for the final approach sub im just gonna make a make shift blind out of some material. then add the white sheets as needed.

[kansasgoosehunter]

well i believe in the lating out theory. before i made the investment in layout blinds that is how we did it. now that i have one though i dont think that i could really go back to laying out except to pass shoot them as they come off the ponds. soooo yahh laying out will work just get covered up and dont move. what might help more is actually make your own little cover up by using some burlap and actually connecting stalks with zip ties or string or something so that way your not re stalking the stalks evertime you move... just what we did for awhile.camo sleeping bags to that works. keeps you off of the wet ground and a lil warmer too.

[SMOKE]

After lookin at the specs on both the migrator and sub ive decided to go with the sub. sounds like its made for taller hunters then the migrator. Hopefully ill get one for christmas or ill get some money from santa to go buy one. Found a ton on ebay :D

[migrator00]

I'm 6'7" 225 and I fit great in my finisher. It is extremely comfortable and convienent to set up and take down. And as for snow, do what Jeff says and buy some spray on snow for x-mas trees. It comes off and is easier then screwin' w/ sheets. Geese are pourin' in down here boys!!
Send me a cripple....and good huntin'

[SMOKE]

Man how do u fit in that thing when its fully folded out its says its only 42 inches long?????!!!!! your whole upper body has to be stickin out of that thing lol. Or am i wearin a stupid sign and readin the 42 wrong and its actually 84 long???? Would the 42 be what it is folded completely up to carry or what it is laying completely out?

[IowaMigr8tor]

It has a pouch for your feet. The frame is probably 42" or 3.5 ft.

[Honkin1]

Hey guys,
I new to this forum and though I would say hey.
I use a layout blind (Avery Finisher), but have hunted alot just laying right out in the corn. Just cover yourself up good. Also it helps somtimes to hut just off to the downwind side slightly away from your spred, ...then the geese are looking at the decoys not you. If you have a large spread, just get in there and stay still. In the snow, use a white blanket and throw some corn stalks on you... this wors well.
:D

[SMOKE]

It has a pouch for your feet. The frame is probably 42" or 3.5 ft.


How long is the foot pouch then??? I realy wanted to get an avery but after checkin the cabellas website it didnt sound like id fit if it was only 42 inches long but then again how does jeff fit when i met him at the shop he seemed like he was about my size or a lil taller.

Anybody know the fully opened up length of either the migrator or the finisher?????

[IowaMigr8tor]

The pouch is about the size of the frame if not larger. I would say the frame is actually 4 ft now that I think about it. You should fit fine inside it.

[SMOKE]

So fully extended it should be about 7 foot or so

[IowaMigr8tor]

Pretty Close to it. I know my Final approch won't fit in my 6 ft bed it lacks and inch or two. I think 6.5-7 fit would be a rough guess on the length.

[SMOKE]

Awesome looks like ill be goin with the finisher after all.

The finisher is about 7ft. fully undone. It's an awesome deal i'm tellin' ya. The best thing about it is I drive a 04 f-150 4dr w/ the short bed and that finisher folds up like a pretzel and you can carry it over one shoulder like a briefcase and toss her right into the back of your pick-up like nuthin'. Definate good buy...Jeff just got a new shipment in last week!

[migrator00]

I forgot to sign in and it called me guest..but that finisher is the deal!