I know dove hunting out of a pit blind sounds weird, but I have been considering installing some permanent pit blinds around my dove field. It's not really so much for concealment but more for staying cool. On average it's in the mid 80's to low 90's the first month of our dove season. my farm has no trees for shade so my buddy's are out in the open sweating there butts off.

I'm 28 and it doesn't really bother me, but a lot of my friends are in there late 50's to up in there 70's. I am seriously afraid they are going to get heat stroke. Even if they don't the sun takes the life out of them for a couple days after hunting.

Would a pit blind be hotter or cooler? Part of me thinks it would be a oven, and the other part thinks it would be like a ground cellar. What do you guys think? We have tried using large picnic umbrellas but if there is any breeze it causes the birds to flare!

It will definatley be cooler. The deeper you go the cooler it will be.

We always leave a row or two of corn strategically placed for shade and concealment. 2-3 rows of standing corn shade you well when seated on a dove stool.

If your friends are older you have to consider getting in and out of the blind. If its going to be a big pit wouldn't be a problem with a good set of stairs but if it was small you would have to climb straight up.

And you can put batteries in the blind with a converter to run a fan. Would make for a nice hunt for sure!


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Get some younger friends. Im 32...see problem solved:grin:

you could use 4 fence post 4' square and put a tin top on. put a piece of foam board under tin for heat. bursh 1 side for sun shade and leave the rest open. my wife uses a small battery powered fan at ballgames and that thing really moves some air. you can use wire to hang fan up close to head height or they have a base to set on.

Hey guys thanks for the info. The blinds I am thinking about would be a 4 man pit with 3 quarters covered tall enough for them to stand up in the back half with a couple steps up to a bench in the front for them to stand up on and shoot out of waist heigh. It will have steps for sure they are in good physical shape, but the heat is starting to be a problem. I am planning on hard wiring the with power and placing box fans in the blind.

O yeah they will be 4 man blinds but only placing 2 hunters in each blind. Will be building them out ply wood and 4x4's . Going to build 10 blinds so gotta save $$$.

Last year we killed 1700+ doves on my farm. With 120 hunters. I charged $30 a head. I am gonna go back to 20 of my buddies to much stress with paid hunts.

nathan, those blinds will be awesome. when i come in sept. i think im going to stay forever. LOL

Cr244 sounds good bud try you best to be here opening day we have lunch and awesome fellowship with a bunch of great guys!