What's the blind of choice for the Pro Staff?

[Chris Downs]

Just curious as to what the lay down blind of choice for the Avery Pro Staffers was. I'm looking into buying one this year and can't decide between the Finisher or the Power Hunter. I was looking also at an X-Lander, but like the Avery features much more.

[Rick Frisch]

Greenhead,
As an Avery Associate Prostaffer, I think each blind has a use for different situations. If I have to do a walk-in hunt, I prefer to use the light-weight Power Hunter. If I can drive to my spot I used a Finisher Blind last year. That was until I saw the NEW Migrator blind two weeks ago. This blind has so much room on the inside. The doors are longer. It has an air vent in the back. It doesn't fold up as compactly as the Finisher, but if a person has the room, this blind is the real deal.
Each blind has advantages and disadvantages for each situation. I look at the hunt and decide what blind will be the best.

[Christian Curtis]

Greenhead,

My preference is the Power Hunter. Light, mobile, and LOW. Cooksey and I used them last year in Canada. One word...UNREAL.

[Chris Downs]

Are the Power Hunters pretty warm. When/if we get the geese in my part of Ky., it is usually pretty cold out.

[Mike Hungle]

Good question Greenhead Rocker.

I’ve shot birds out of both blinds and if the truth were known, I really like both blinds as each one has slightly different features that suit my various hunting styles. The Power Hunter, with its extremely low profile is great for flat fields and pea fields similar to those that abound in my home province of Saskatchewan. They are extremely lightweight and very versatile. It is aptly named the Power Hunter, because it gives you the power to control where you hunt.

The Finisher is a little roomier and allows me the luxury to sneak my camera into the blind along with my shotgun. But don’t be fooled, as they are also very mobile and low profile. With the design having you keep your shotgun inside the blind and the barrel pointing straight down range, the Finishers are perfect for large group hunts and for those hunters who may get a little too excited when the birds try to land right on top of them.

My advise to you is to choose the blind based on your personal hunting needs.

As for your second question, I’ve hunted out of both blinds in extremely cold and wet weather. They both kept the elements out and the wind away from me. However, I’d still advise a good pair of insulated bib overalls and some type of quad jacket, so that you can either add a layer or loose one. (I often wear the jacket liner while in the blind and then slip on the shell when I’m out of the blind). I also wear our Polypropylene Underwear as a base, because it is very warm and excellent at wicking away body moisture.

Have fun making your decision!

Mike

[Bill Cooksey]

Greenhead Rocker,

This is a tough one. If you told me I could only have one blind to hunt from, and I was going to keep hunting the same areas and ways I have in the past, I would probably pick a Power Hunter. That being said, if I were a Midwestern goose hunter, and spent whole days in a ground blind, I would look hard at the Finisher and Migrator. In that case, the ability to keep a ton of stuff in the blind, and out of the elements, could offset the things I like about the Power Hunter. If I could drive a truck to most of my spots, the Migrator would be my choice. If I had to walk or ride a four wheeler, I'd pick the Finisher.

Another factor I now have to consider is the availability of NeoTubs. These things are awesome for the Arkansas and Tennessee duck hunting that I do. They are only available for our Finisher and Migrator, or the F/A Eliminator. Because of this, I would probably go with the Finisher. I can stack several on a four wheeler.

Bill Cooksey

[Scott Threinen]

For me, late in the season is when I judge the effectiveness of a ground blind. Not which one might be the warmest or most comfortable, but the one that will help me kill the most geese. The Power Hunter is the only blind that will give you 360 degrees visibility and still keep you 360 degrees invisible, and with the lowest profile on the market, makes it a true killer.

[Rob Jepson]

I can see how making this decision can fall into the old Miller Lite "Taste Great vs. Less Filling" Ad campaign conumdrum. If pressed to pick one, I would go with the Finisher, simply for it's all around versatility. From transportation to it's application in the field for all game; ducks, geese, deer, predators, dove, turkey, and more. I have hunted extensively out of both my Finishers and PH's and have been very pleased with their performance. As Rick Frisch mentioned, the Migrators are just beginning to hit the U.S. (mine arrived last week) and I am anxiously awaiting the Sept Resident goose season here in Maryland to put mine to the test. It has allot of great features as Rick mentioned and is sure to make your buying decision a little tougher. But, just like in the Miller beer commercial, regardless of which one you like more, you will still be picking a winner!


Rob Jepson

[David Carrington]

My thinking on this is if you are comfortable you can hunt longer and have more movement and take more of your hunting equipment with you, so the Finisher is my choice of ground blinds.

[Chris Downs]

Thanks for the help guys. As of right now, I'm looking at the Finisher. I don't have to walk far to any of the fields that we hunt, so weight isn't an issue. I like the idea of more room and comfort as well. I also like the idea of the Neo Tub, which is a definate need in some of the fields we hunt. Thanks again.

[Sean Finke]

I LOVE TO HUNT WITH A DOG IN A FIELD OR AROUND WATER, SO I PREFER THE ROOM BEHIND THE SEAT OF THE FINISHER OR MIGRATOR. THE DOG CAN BE HID IN THE BLIND WITH YOU AND NOT IN THE WAY. THE DOG BLIND IS EXCELLENT FOR MOST OF THE SEASON AND ALLOWS YOUR DOG TO MARK BETTER, BUT LATE IN THE YEAR WHEN THE GEESE GET SMART I LIKE TO PUT HIM IN THE FINISHER WITH ME. YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW LITTLE TRAINING IT TAKES AND HOW MUCH MORE ENJOYMENT YOU GET, PLUS THE HEAT THEY PUT OFF, JUST MY 2 CENTS.

[BIG Sean]

well....if your a big guy like myself, the way to go is the new Migrator by Shawn Stahl...the room and options this blind has for this year are unreal...i have hunted out of every layout blind made, nothing even compares to everything that the Migrator offers...its like the Cadilac of all blinds!!!...you wil feel like a king in one of these bad daddys, because Shawn spent so much time thinking and pondering on what every hunter could possibly want in their layout blind... he took all this into consideration when building the Migrator...thats 'my two cents' ... sean~