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By Kat Ainsworth Stevens
Soyou’ve picked out your ideal Shadow Hunter blind, hit the order button, and set up a delivery time. Now what? There are a few things you need to know about your blind when it comes to accepting delivery and handling transport and setup. To make things easier for you,we’ve put together a handy list of tips and tricks.Don’t stress; setup help has arrived.
Quick disclaimer: This information is meant to be educational and based on experience anddoesn’t necessarily reflect the views of themanufacturer itself.
Here’s the thing about getting a box blind: it takeswork. Some hunters avoid the permanence of a box blind due to the machinery and timerequired to get it in place, butI’m here to tell youit’s entirely worth the sweat and frustration. Before we get into big details, there are some thingsyou’ll need to do before the delivery truck even arrives:
Confirm—and re-confirm—the delivery time and location. Answer phone calls from numbers youdon’t recognize during this time, because you might have a driver using their personal cell phone to make sureyou’re home (this happened to me).
Make sure you know what the process requires. For example,as a general rule, all the heavy “lifting” is up to you.Don’t be shocked that the truck drivercan’t andwon’t simply leave the blind sitting on your property.
Clear the delivery area. For me, that just meant making sure therewasn’t an errant four-wheeler parked in an inconvenient location.You’re going to need a significant space to fit the truck, remove the blind, and maneuver the blind onto a trailer (or the ground). If you live in the suburbs, see if you can accept delivery at your hunting lease.
Have all necessary equipment—and people—available on-site. No delays, no waiting. The delivery truckwon’t be able to wait around while you get organized.
Don’t have a forklift or tractor? No problem. Anotheroption that can save you some hassle is picking up yourblind directly at the shipper’s terminal.This completely eliminates the need to have unloading equipment at your property, and it gives you a bit more control over the timing and handling. Ifyou’re interested in going this route, the Summit Outdoors customer service team can walk you through the process and help coordinate terminal pickup in your area.
The time to consider every angle of accepting delivery is before the truckgets there.You’re not going to be able to unload the box blind with your bare hands, not even if you have a bunch of friends to help. Equipment is necessary. The Shadow Hunter 6x6 Octagon weighs 315 pounds empty, meaning thatdoesn’t include the pallets and packing materials required to get it to you in one piece. Thenthere’s the stand and ladder, whichadd another140 pounds, not including padding and boxes. Any chairs and accessories increase weight even more, and all those things will be packed carefully inside the blind itself. Itisn’t light and the shape and sizeisn’t exactly easy to maneuver by hand.
Equipment you need to get the box blind off the truck includes:
A forklift or tractor equipped with pallet forks.It’s also possible to use a tractor with hay spikes, something Itested out for myself.
A trailer to move the blind to the correct location. This meansyou’ll also need a truck to haul thetrailer and the truck might need a specific type of hitch depending on the trailer you use. Check the lights on the trailer before the day of delivery.
Gloves to protect your hands.
Heavy-duty ratcheting tie-downs to secure the blind to the trailer.
You’ll need to inspect the blind for damage upon delivery, but you can only do so much whileit’s still on the truck. I walked around it and looked for obvious damage before signing off on delivery, andthat’s the best I could do before taking it off the truck. The good news is, Shadow Hunter blinds are packed extraordinarily well, and that meansthey’re well-protected from damage during transport.
Getting the shipping pallet—and the box blindthat’s on it—off requires someone who knows how to handle heavy equipment. This is not the time to learn tooperate a forklift or tractor, so if you need to borrow one from a friend, borrow the operator with it. Slow and steady is the way to go to ensure the weight of the blind is balanced (my complete packaged weighed in at719 pounds).There’s significant height to this blind, and although the team packing Shadow Hunter blinds does a stellar job, items inside can still shift around when you move it.
The easiest way to handle moving the blind is by taking it directly from the delivery truck to your own trailer. That waythere’s no need to lift and move it again. Some people have dedicated trailers for their box blinds—mostly outfitters or those with large enough private properties to justify multiple blinds—but odds are youwon’t. You need to be aware that your average ATV or lawnmower trailerprobably won’t be wide enough to accommodate the blind. The last thing you want isoverhang on raised edges, so go ahead and get a trailer large enough so the entire blind fits on the bed.It’s going to remain upright during transport; itisn’t a great idea to transport anyblind on its side.
Before you get excited and race off with the blind sitting on your trailer, stop to make sureit’s properly secured. Heavy-duty, ratcheting tie-downs are best for this. The narrower tie-downsaren’t a good planat all, and you can get the big, heavy yellow ones easily at many brick-and-mortar stores, or online. Have more than one, because you might need anywhere from one to four to keep the blind in place. Itisn’t worth risking the blind tipping or sliding. Here in Texas, speed limits of 75aren’t unheard of, and high winds can wreak havoc whenyou’re hauling big items. Plan for the worst and you should get the best possible outcome.
Once your blind is ratcheted into place,it’s still not time to head out. First, you’d better have all the necessary tools in your truck.
What tools do you need for a Shadow Hunter blind?
For the sake of thoroughness,let’s assumeyou’ve ordered the blind, stand, and stairs. The good news is that the Shadow Hunter blind shows up fully assembled. The carpeted floor is sealed with heavy plastic, the windows are protected bycling sheets, andthe entire thing is so well wrappedyou’re going to need a sharp knife just to get to it. However, the stand and ladder do require some assembly, andit’ll all have to be attached to the blind itself.Here’s what I found useful for the assemblyportion of getting a new blind:
9/16” box wrench or a 9/16”for an impact wrench, the latter of which is a lot faster. Charge a spare battery just in case.
Torx bit and driver (1/4”x2-1/2” lag screws are included and haveTorx heads)
Stable ladder, or you can stand in the bed of your truck like I did.
Tractor with forks or spikes to move the completed blind and standinto place. If you prefer to attach the stand while the blind is on the trailer and then tip it into place, make sure you have a good tow rope or wench to pull it up with your truck.It’s possible for a couple people to get it upright if you built it on its side on the trailer, butit’s not safe or good for your back.
Anchoring equipment to brace the blind and protect it from falling. #5 rebar can be used along with asledge hammer, but four heavy six-foot T-posts with baling wire was the way to go for me. High winds made T-posts a necessity over rebar.Don’t forget your post driver ifyou’re using T-posts.
Although not technically required items,it’sa good idea to have drinks and snacks on hand. When I raised my Shadow Hunter 6x6 Octagon, it was 95 degrees out and we went through a lot of water.Drinks might not be at the front of your mind on blind delivery day, butmaybe they should be.
When I took delivery of my Shadow Hunter blind, I set an entire day aside to handle it from start to finish. It was delivered in the morning and set up that same day, but it was tiring.Don’t expect this to be a fast process, because doing it right is more important than speed.The end result is well worth it.
