Heaters in ground blinds - experiences?

wasa

wasa

CGN Regular
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Location
SSW Ontario
Hi.

With big game hunting going on right now, I was wondering what others have experienced using a small portable heater in a ground blind. In particular, the propane Mr Heater Buddy or Little Buddy.

Except for ignition, they are quiet and allow people like me to stay in the blind all day vs having to leave to warm up after a few hours when it's really cold. (yes, I have used the "Hot Hands" shakers, and they do work but I feel they also have an odour plus not always easy replacing them in your boots in the blind).

I can see them being good during gun season as your range is 100 yards plus, but during archery season? If I need my deer to be within 30 yards, not sure I want the scent of the propane heater scaring away deer.

So, what have been your experiences with a portable propane heater in a ground blind for hunting? Gun or bow.

Thanks!
 
I've used my Mr Heater. whatever keeps you in the field longer is a bonus. Yeah the igniter is loud. Grab an EZ light bic to light the pilot. No idea if the scent would scare off deer. I doubt it.
 
I've used small tins of sterno with mixed results. Sometimes they smell quite strong other times they don't. Sometimes they sputter sometimes they're silent. They're best when put in the bottom of a tin can with a bit of a lid to use as a dampener and to hold the heat in the can so it doesn't just rise out of the blind.
 
I've used them in a box blind many times with deer walking just feet away and not spooking even a bit. Haven't used them in a more open ground blind yet.
 
mr buddy heater
i have two for my blinds
added bonus i cook/warm food on them.if you can,wait til spring and the ice fisherman start selling them off
cheap. make sure you get the hose to run the 20lb propane bottle
 
I have two portable blinds in different locales and run a heater in each. Both are hooked to 20lb propane bottles. I place the bottles outside the blinds and run the hoses under the closest wall to give more space inside the blind and one less thing to accidentally touch and make metallic sounds. I have the 9000 BTU Mr Heater and the 18,000 BTU Big Buddy heater. The big buddy igniter is MUCH louder than the 9000 btu unit and much more finicky to fire up. Depending how high I run the temps a 20lb bottle will last the full one month of rifle season and I hunt at least 5-6 days a week.
 
Thanks for the comments! I have been using a Mr Heater Buddy during gun deer season, but have been hesitant to use it during archery season. Last weekend (archery) was cold in my blind, and I was wishing I had it with me. Not wanting to carry it into the bush along with my crossbow, chair, blind, and hunting sack, I just ordered a Mr. Heater Little Buddy. Will give it a try.

Appreciate the info.
 
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