How to Build a Hunting Blind Using Spray Foam Insulation

A hunting blind is a structure designed to conceal the hunter from his prey. It must blend into the surrounding landscape; an unnatural structure can warn prey away. The blind needs to be light and not too bulky; most hunting sites are often far from a convenient road, meaning the blind must be carried. Hunting blinds take a beating; spray foam is a substance that can be repaired with an additional spray of foam and repainted.

Building the Simple Blind

Decide on the size of the blind. This will depend on whether you'll sit, stand or lie down, and how much you want to carry to the hunt site. Mark four of the pieces of wood to length -- the top and bottom pieces must be the same length, the two side pieces must be the same length.

Lay the four pieces out in a square. Tie the corners together with the L shaped fasteners. These fasteners often come spiked and can be driven into the wood with a hammer. If not, they'll have screw holes.

Cut the wire mesh to fit the size of the square using the snips. Lay the mesh on top of the square and tack it down with the staple gun.

Apply the spray foam to the mesh. Place newspaper or cardboard behind the mesh to catch the overspray. Thickness will depend on how you want your blind to look. You can carve the surface after it is dried or apply it at different depths to the mesh. An uneven surface will appear less obvious in the bush. Note the foam will expand considerably as it comes out of the nozzle and onto the screen. Expect expansion to be approximately eight times the size it was in the container.

Allow the foam to dry completely.

Cut the two remaining pieces of wood to work as legs. They must be long enough to support the blind leaning backwards. Attach the hinges to the legs at the end with screws. Attach the other side of the hinge to the back sides of the wood frame near the top.

Paint the foam. Use different colors to break up the surface to help it blend in with the surrounding terrain.

References

• Spray Insulation: Stage Props and Models
• Spray Insulation: Sprayed Foam Facts and Fiction

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Tips

This is a very simple one-sided blind. It would be possible to create sides much the same way as constructing the front.

The blind as it stands will be susceptible to wind. This can be alleviated by placing hooks at the top and using string and tent pegs to hold it to the ground, or attaching spikes to the bottom of the feet and frame.

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Warnings

Follow all safety instructions with the foam. Use it in a well ventilated area.

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