Flight pond / hide

[PeterHenry]

Most of my flight ponds seem to have slightly too many mature trees around them - so you see a silhouette of a duck for a second and then you loose it. In a way this is a blessing, because everyone appreciates trees - however, its not so great shooting wise.

But, I have got one dew pond that has no trees anywhere near it - and its on the edge of a seven acre marsh. I did make a pallet hide a few years ago, but that was vandalised - so I'm reluctant to put up another and draw attention from anyone who wants to interfere.

So - I was thinking, can I get away with a portable / net hide, or can I just stand very still? I'm sure I've done the latter once in a flooded feild somewhere in Somerset - but it was about 10 years ago and I'm rather hazy on the details,  such as if there were tall hedges nearby (which in my current case there aren't)

All answers appreciated,

Peter

[Charlie Anderson]

Have you considered a layout blind? Nitehawk did them on eBay which are portable comfortable and low profile or you could just go with a standard net and poles? Mine I have added dyed raffia to and covered it basically 

[Krico woodcock]

Bring a small tri pod stool , small  cheap folding one. Low to ground. Better than standing  up, for them to make you out at dusk. A face mask,  and cap. Stay still.  They will come in, and as it gets darker you can stand up. 

[Walker570]

I have used potato boxes in the past.  Find a potato farmer and see if he has any slightly damaged ones he will let you have. I just cut a narrow entrance door in one side and put corner seats in so enough room for two people.  They are much mor difficult to vandalise. Stick so willow in around the outside and keep them trimmed back like a hedge. They will grow very quickly and mask the box.  Hope this helps.

[Lloyd90]

2 hours ago, Charlie Anderson said:

Have you considered a layout blind? Nitehawk did them on eBay which are portable comfortable and low profile or you could just go with a standard net and poles? Mine I have added dyed raffia to and covered it basically 

Layout blinds are for shooting on stubble fields etc aren’t they? I can’t see how they would be any good at all shooting a flight pond with trees around you. 
 

Just lean 2 pallets against one another and sit on a bucket behind it. 
 

Once done lie the pallets down on the ground. No one is going to vandalise 2 random pallets on the floor. 
 

A net and poles will just blow about in the wind and be a nuisance. 

[Charlie Anderson]

", I have got one dew pond that has no trees anywhere near it - and its on the edge of a seven acre marsh. I did make a pallet hide a few years ago, but that was vandalised - so I'm reluctant to put up another and draw attention from anyone who wants to interfere" I was assuming he was referring to the pond without trees around it? Perhaps I have misread the post. 

 

[Stonepark]

A multicam net will just about make you invisible against light grass, rush, etc

4 hazel poles left in place would mean only carrying the netting with you.

[Houseplant]

Ghillie suits work if you can stay still.

[PeterHenry]

On 08/10/2022 at 20:00, Charlie Anderson said:

Have you considered a layout blind? Nitehawk did them on eBay which are portable comfortable and low profile or you could just go with a standard net and poles? Mine I have added dyed raffia to and covered it basically 

I did think about a net and poles, but I was worried it might stand out in an otherwise flat, grassy field. The lay out blind might be good though 👍

On 08/10/2022 at 20:07, Krico woodcock said:

Bring a small tri pod stool , small  cheap folding one. Low to ground. Better than standing  up, for them to make you out at dusk. A face mask,  and cap. Stay still.  They will come in, and as it gets darker you can stand up. 

👍 cheers - that's the sort of thing I was hoping to hear.

On 08/10/2022 at 22:06, Walker570 said:

I have used potato boxes in the past.  Find a potato farmer and see if he has any slightly damaged ones he will let you have. I just cut a narrow entrance door in one side and put corner seats in so enough room for two people.  They are much mor difficult to vandalise. Stick so willow in around the outside and keep them trimmed back like a hedge. They will grow very quickly and mask the box.  Hope this helps.

Good call - thank 👍

On 08/10/2022 at 22:06, Lloyd90 said:

Layout blinds are for shooting on stubble fields etc aren’t they? I can’t see how they would be any good at all shooting a flight pond with trees around you. 
 

Just lean 2 pallets against one another and sit on a bucket behind it. 
 

Once done lie the pallets down on the ground. No one is going to vandalise 2 random pallets on the floor. 
 

A net and poles will just blow about in the wind and be a nuisance. 

👍 I've got a never-ending supply of wood pallets.

On 08/10/2022 at 23:05, Stonepark said:

A multicam net will just about make you invisible against light grass, rush, etc

4 hazel poles left in place would mean only carrying the netting with you.

Thanks - I'll look into those. They sound great.

On 09/10/2022 at 01:29, Houseplant said:

Ghillie suits work if you can stay still.

👍 cheers - good to know. I can see the local newspaper headlines now - 'Yeti sighted in Cheshire'

[Stimo22]

We have a similar problem so we keep some blue barrels that are the right size to sit on hidden near the pond. Each has  a camo net inside and we just make a small hide when we are ready to shoot

[PeterHenry]

11 hours ago, Stimo22 said:

We have a similar problem so we keep some blue barrels that are the right size to sit on hidden near the pond. Each has  a camo net inside and we just make a small hide when we are ready to shoot

Cheers - good advice 👍 

[jall25]

Maybe just use some straw bales - may attract a few rats but make a nice little hide from them easy enough

[PeterHenry]

11 hours ago, jall25 said:

Maybe just use some straw bales - may attract a few rats but make a nice little hide from them easy enough

👍