How to Make Your Hunting Blind Last for Years: Maintenance & Storage Tips
Our Stump blinds are designed to withstand an array of different weather elements. They will hold up against rain, snow and harsh UV rays thanks to the polyethylene material, so you can confidently use them in any season. Learn more about how you can make your hunting blind last for years with our maintenance and storage tips, below.
Check for Batteries
Before you store your blind, make sure you check that any electronic device that has batteries is shut off. This includes any lights, heaters, radios, and rangefinders that you store in the blind. If you leave your blind on public property, make sure you take any major devices with you when you leave. Minnesota laws allow you to leave your blind overnight on certain public land, but any blind on public land is considered public property and other hunters can use them, so make sure you’re not storing anything in your blind you wouldn’t want another hunter to use. You can also equip your blind with our Locking Door Handle to make sure other hunters can’t enter. It comes with two keys so you can keep one and give one to your hunting partner.
Moisture
Make sure the inside of your blind is dry before you close it up for an extended period of time. The outside of our blinds are made with polyethylene material that deflects moisture and dries quickly, but the inside of the blind will still need the same care you would take with a rug that you don’t want to get moldy. If you spill something inside the blind, wipe it up with our ultra-absorbent and quick-drying Blind Towel. Leave the windows open so you can air it out further.
You can also use the Blind Towel to clean the outside of the blind. You can use the towel wet or dry so you can use unscented soap and water to clean off the outside of the blind. Avoid using any chemicals that will produce a strong smell that could deter wildlife and break down the material of the blind.
Elevation Systems
If you use a wooden elevation system for your blind, consider taking it down if you’re not using it this summer. When wood is exposed to heat it will expand and warp. Consider dismantling your wooden system and storing it in a cool, dry place while you’re not using it.
If you’re using our Steel Tower System, that’s not a concern. According to the American Institute of Steel Construction, steel remains largely unchanged until it hits 600-degrees Fahrenheit. Our tower systems are compatible with all of our blinds excluding the Scout and Ice options and come in elevations of 4 feet, 8 feet and 12 feet. You can also fit the system to our Deck Plates. The deck will give you a secure platform to stand on in rainy and snowy conditions.
Whichever Stump blind you choose, you can continue to use it for years to come with proper storage and maintenance. If you’re still using your blind over the summer for scouting, keep it clean and remove it from public property as regulations dictate. If you’re storing it during the off season, make sure it’s dry and store it safely on your property.
How do you protect your Stump blind so that you can use it year after year? Let us know in the comments below!