best hide for bird photography

[Kiran Poonacha]

Kindly request dear members to help me choose a right hide for bird photography.

I will be useing it mainly in evergreen forests of india, As Alan bhai suggests the Ameristep Dog house is good but I was wondering if the realtree camouflage would work in an evergreen forest.

Also if possible kindly suggest where I could buy it online.

Please help out.

Regards,

Kiran

[Dave Hassell]

Try www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk/ they make excellent hides/blinds and the materials are better than some of the other ones available.

Hides are also available from http://www.ameristep.com/retailers/index.html

Regards,

Dave.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I think the pattern might be less important than breaking the shape of a person. This is why many birds don't mind if you stay in your car, even if you are visible inside.

[Harshad Barve]

I think the pattern might be less important than breaking the shape of a person. This is why many birds don't mind if you stay in your car, even if you are visible inside.

Well said Axel ,
Kiranbhai , there is one vendor in Pune who should be able to give you WHAT you want. He is specialized in custom built hides, camera bags , trekking camps etc. let me know , I will give you contact info

[Kiran Poonacha]

Thank you all for the help, Sure dave bhai, will see the site. I think Alex bhai has got a point, harshad bhai, please give me his contact.

[Rahul Sachdev]

Harshad bhai, I would love to have the contact number of this person as well...

[Bob Decker]

The Ameristep Chair blind seems to be popular with several folks I know. It has a smaller "footprint" than my Outhouse blind... lower profile, possibly less intrusive/noticeable to the subjects. It also has the advantage of a built in chair. I've seen it used and was impressed enough with it that I ordered one myself, but haven't had the chance to try it in the field.

[Karl Egressy]

Hi Kiran.

I can suggest two products. Each costs about $ 100 US.
One is an Ameristep Doghouse blind.
It is basically a tent accomodating two persons, primarly designed for hunters.
It is good for setups, stationary shootings.
If you are on the move or travel, Kwik Camo is your choice.
I have them both and use the Kwik Camo more frequently as it fits my shooting style more.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'm a fan of the Ameristep blinds. They fold up nice and small, and seem to weigh less than the clothes on your back (great for hiking). The light weight becomes an issue with wind and open spaces, but they do come with stakes to fasten to the ground.

As for patterns I agree with Axel, and from experience it does not seem to matter what the print on the blind is. My "realtree" patterned blind works well in forests, fields, marshes, backyards, summer, winter, doesn't matter...:cool:

[Bob Decker]

Hi Kiran.

If you are on the move or travel, Kwik Camo is your choice.
I have them both and use the Kwik Camo more frequently as it fits my shooting style more.

I've never used one of these, but I'm tempted. I think the thing that holds me back from buying one is a) It seems to me they wouldn't mask movement too efficiently. I suspect movement is a huge factor in alarming subjects. b) It probably shouldn't but it bothers me that these things are more expensive than a blind built on a frame. Materials wise that seems counter-intuitive. I realize it's a supply vs. demand thing but I have a hard time making myself cough up the cash for a piece of material with a few strategically placed openings, closures, etc.

Do you find animals detect your movement when using one of these?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I've never used one of these, but I'm tempted. I think the thing that holds me back from buying one is a) It seems to me they wouldn't mask movement too efficiently. I suspect movement is a huge factor in alarming subjects. b) It probably shouldn't but it bothers me that these things are more expensive than a bling built on a frame. Materials wise that seems counter-intuitive. I realize it's a supply vs. demand thing but I have a hard time making myself cough up the cash for a piece of material with a few strategically placed openings, closures, etc.

Do you find animals detect your movement when using one of these?

I couldn't trick a kingfisher with the throw-over blind. As soon as I panned he was gone. It worked quite well with ducks, though.

[John Haig]

I have several Ameristep blinds...doghouse, outhouse, and the chair model. The chair model was destroyed when I made the mistake of setting it up on uneven wet ground and leaned too far over...the legs of the chair stuck in the mud and the leverage was enough to pop the rivet holding the legs where they cross, which led to a catastrophic collapse of the entire unit. Kept my lens out of the muck, though. I don't suspect it would be a problem with someone weighing under 200 pounds, though.
One thing I've noticed about all of the blinds I've owned...long term exposure to sunlight tends to fade them to a fairly bright shade of pink. My original Doghouse blind is now roughly the color of a pink tomato, but the birds could care less.
I've purchased most of my blinds at Cabela's...they ship world wide.

[girish vaze]

Harshad Bhai,
i am also interested in this contact in pune who gives custom hides. Please forward me his contact details
thanks

girish

Well said Axel ,
Kiranbhai , there is one vendor in Pune who should be able to give you WHAT you want. He is specialized in custom built hides, camera bags , trekking camps etc. let me know , I will give you contact info

[Oscar Dewhurst]

Have a look at http://www.ultimatenaturegear.co.uk/

Oscar

[Kiran Poonacha]

Thank you for all the info guys, really appriciate it..

[Harshad Barve]

My appologies for such a long delay in response , but trust me it took 2 days for me to find out number of Mufibhai. He was small man few years back. After calling him I came to know this man is on web now:D

Mufibhai, Pune , +91 9822397741 or visit http://gypsytents.com

I hope this helps

[Kiran Poonacha]

Thnak you for the update bhai...

[Harshad Barve]

you are welcome Bhai