Portable hide?

I have a small pop-up hide... I never use it. But if I had a place I could set it up and leave it (so wildlife acclimated to it) it would probably be near ideal.

The same company makes "bag hides." I have no experience with their products, but I use one I made myself from camo netting I bought cheap at the sporting store. Much easier to transport/use, especially with uneven terrain. I usually sit on the ground which is better for most things IMO. Mines less of a "bag" and more like a big rectangle closed on two edges (except lens opening). Sometimes I'll hook it on/prop it with branches instead of being "in" it.

BTW, my favorite thing for sitting on the ground is a cheap folding boat seat... back support, dry, relatively comfortable for longer timeframes. But it weighs more and is kind of bulky to carry compared to just a pad.
 
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I have seen them left, in one instance permanently but I have never left mine in the couple of times it has been uses and as a consequence it remains pristine ... they are easy to carry around as well.
I have thought of selling mine as I generally use specific areas and hides now, if interested you could view it or I might just list it in the classifieds now you have reminded me..
 
I bought one that is very similar to this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B9F0ONI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

I say similar, as I purchased it from that link back in May of last year but that actual one pictured is slightly different to the one I received.

It's very good. Lightweight, easy to pop up and does what it's supposed to do.

I leave it setup in the garden for a couple of weeks at a time, sometimes.

Also, take it to places where I have permission from farmers i.e. fields, ponds, etc.

It's waterproof to a certain degree too, as long as it's not constant heavy rain!

One tip I found out though and that was, apparently, birds have the ability to count to one. E.G. If they see you enter the hide on your own, they can take quite a long time to appear. If it's in the garden and I want to get some photos, I get one of my daughters to come out with me, go in and then walk back into the house. Within a few minutes the birds are there.

It's very strange but it works!

:)
 
I'd avoid any that are a copy of the Ameristep Brickhouse. The windows are too high to comfortable in any camping chair or stool I've tried.
 
I too have a hide with a built in seat . Room for tripod three openings for camera found it on the dreaded Bay.
 
sk66 said:
I have a small pop-up hide... I never use it. But if I had a place I could set it up and leave it (so wildlife acclimated to it) it would probably be near ideal.

The same company makes "bag hides." I have no experience with their products, but I use one I made myself from camo netting I bought cheap at the sporting store. Much easier to transport/use, especially with uneven terrain. I usually sit on the ground which is better for most things IMO. Mines less of a "bag" and more like a big rectangle closed on two edges (except lens opening). Sometimes I'll hook it on/prop it with branches instead of being "in" it.

BTW, my favorite thing for sitting on the ground is a cheap folding boat seat... back support, dry, relatively comfortable for longer timeframes. But it weighs more and is kind of bulky to carry compared to just a pad.
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That boat seat looks handy! Can't imagine just sitting on the ground for too long. Wouldn't you be a bit low to stick the camera out of any window though?

The W said:
I'd avoid any that are a copy of the Ameristep Brickhouse. The windows are too high to comfortable in any camping chair or stool I've tried.
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At that price the Brickhouse looks well out of the question.

Wezza,

Thanks for the suggestions and comments.

It looks like a toss-up between a chair hide and a bag hide for me. Don't want to spend too much dosh until I know I'll get good value out of something more expensive. I'll probably stick to one of the established manufacturers in the UK.
 
jerry12953 said:
That boat seat looks handy! Can't imagine just sitting on the ground for too long. Wouldn't you be a bit low to stick the camera out of any window though?
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The bag hides don't have a frame. The "window" is wherever you put it.
I've used mine at wildlife preserves... I think it works better at camouflaging me from other people than it does fooling wildlife.
 
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jerry12953 said:
Has anyone used one on an RSPB reserve, for example?

Do you get dirty looks from passers by?
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Hi Jerry,

I normally use mine on private land, but a couple of times, I have used it down our local pond. People normally are curious what you're doing but don't look down their noses at you lol.

Their bloody dogs running up to you give the game away, along with scaring all the wildlife off.

You would've thought that it'd be nice for them to flush it your way, once in a while! :D
 
wezza13 said:
Hi Jerry,

I normally use mine on private land, but a couple of times, I have used it down our local pond. People normally are curious what you're doing but don't look down their noses at you lol.

Their bloody dogs running up to you give the game away, along with scaring all the wildlife off.

You would've thought that it'd be nice for them to flush it your way, once in a while! :D
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Nice to think that we smell more interesting than wildlife, though........:naughty:
 
One thing i'd advocate too, even in a hide, wear gloves and a face mask if you're using a largish window.
It's the shine off our skin that I believe glows like a light bulb to wildlife.
 
If it's a location where you are leaving out the hide for an extended period of time, one option is to make a fake lens hood out of drain pipe or something of a similar size, shape and colour and leave it poking out the hide. While it won't mimic the movement, it does at least allow the subjects to habituate to the shape of the hide in use.
 
The W said:
If it's a location where you are leaving out the hide for an extended period of time, one option is to make a fake lens hood out of drain pipe or something of a similar size, shape and colour and leave it poking out the hide. While it won't mimic the movement, it does at least allow the subjects to habituate to the shape of the hide in use.
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Good idea!
 
jerry12953 said:
Has anyone used a bag hide? It looks like the answer for me at the moment. Dipping my toe in the water, so to speak......
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The one I have advertised in the classifieds is a great portable option with integral chair if your looking for something affordable Jerry. It is so easy to carry, can be put up or down in a couple of minutes literally and has several viewing slots for camera. Just a thought ;)
 
BTW, I made a couple. The first one I made was from the camo mesh netting (lightweight). What I found was that it was too "transparent" unless completely shaded. I made my next one from the "cut fabric" type of netting which works better IMO... I cut out/sewed in a "viewing window" made from a double layer of the camo mesh for when I want it over my head.


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jerry12953 said:
Thanks very much folks. I will have a look at the chair hide that you have listed, Chris, but I'd more or less made up my mind on the bag hide. I might change my mind if it's still available.
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Its still available Jerry, pictures aren't great but it's in unused condition. There is a youtube video of it. Imo its better than a bag hide having the seat and being more rigid but that's personal choice I guess.
Its there for sale at a low price if it fits your requirements.
 
The W said:
I'd avoid any that are a copy of the Ameristep Brickhouse. The windows are too high to comfortable in any camping chair or stool I've tried.
Click to expand...

The Ameristep hides (blinds in the USA) are primarily designed for hunters shooting standing up and though good and with some made with scent lock material they aren't ideal if you want to sit down unless you get a stanley knife out and cut your own lens slots.
 
The W said:
I'd avoid any that are a copy of the Ameristep Brickhouse. The windows are too high to comfortable in any camping chair or stool I've tried.
Click to expand...

The Ameristep hides (blinds in the USA) are primarily designed for hunters shooting standing up and though good and with some made with scent lock material they aren't ideal if you want to sit down unless you get a stanley knife out and cut your own lens slots.
 
I use a pop up hide and have had great success with it. It folds up and I can carry it on my back, it has a frame and can be pegged down. There is plenty of room and you have 360 vision if you open all the windows:

Riverside Outdoor Camo Protector 2 Pop Up Hide Decoying Photography Tent https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BBR7J9Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_rcd-wbFYZGCSC

I also put a small fold up stool which fits in the bag of the hide, I use this and can be on it for a few hours:

Lafuma PH Folding Stool Beige Seigle https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0030GEUKM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_Jed-wbNFJSKBC
 
I use Wildlife Watching Supplies. They're great quality, although a bit pricey.
 
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