We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n Imagine a giant flock\u2014we\u2019re talking 1,000 or more\u2014of lesser Canada geese making the final hook into the wind and descending into the decoy spread, the first few landing right at your feet. That\u2019s what it\u2019s like hunting in a layout blind.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s an experience you\u2019ll want to do over and over again every fall, wishing the season never ends. But to \u201clive\u201d amongst the flocks of ducks and geese, you have to have the right gear. That includes a suitable layout blind for the species you\u2019re after and the location you\u2019re pursuing them in. Whether it\u2019s mallards in the marsh or snows on the prairie, there is a layout built for the hunt at hand. To help you find the right blind, I\u2019ve chosen the best layout blinds for fields, boats, and water across a range of budgets. Here are my picks.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve hunted out of just about every layout blind there is. Most coffin-style layout blinds (the ones with two doors you pop open when birds are in shotgun range) are the same. Some use a locking pin system, while others may have sliding bars to keep the frame in place while you hunt. The blind dimensions can be slightly different, as can the amenities, such as internal pockets, goose flag holders, and more. But at a basic level, almost all are conceptualized based on Ron Latschaw\u2019s<\/a> 1993 design of the Final Approach Eliminator. So, if you\u2019ve hunted in one coffin-style layout, you have pretty much hunted out of them all. I have spent time in dozens of these blinds.<\/p>\n Once you go outside conventional layouts, there are several back-board or mat-style blinds that are essentially a more comfortable way to lay on the ground while staying concealed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tanglefree, Lucky Duck, and MoMarsh all do this well with their blinds and chairs. And MoMarsh has probably taken layout hunting to its highest level. Founder Ira McCauley engineered blinds with telescopic legs, so you can hunt in up to 30 inches of water from a layout. And his Fatboy DP is likely the most inventive one-man boat blind you and your retriever will ever hunt from.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n The Power Hunter is basically a sleeping bag with a backrest and hood to keep you concealed. To set up the layout, you simply unfold it, lay it on the ground, then reach inside and push an aluminum bar backwards. Instead of flip-open doors, there is a mesh flip top that can be pushed open when birds are in shooting range. The hood can be brushed in, but you do need to leave spaces open so you can see. Visibility is somewhat limited, especially if you are trying to look behind the blind. But because there is no frame in the foot bag, you can roll to your side for better visuals. Stubble straps do an OK job of keeping brush-in materials where you want them to be. If you take your time and really load up the straps, less chaff will fall out. The low profile of the Power Hunter allows you to hide just about anywhere. And because they are so simple, the blinds tend to last forever. In fact, a Power Hunter we bought more than 15 years ago is still hanging in the garage.<\/p>\n Read Next<\/strong>: Best Duck Calls<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of steel pins, which can be difficult to insert with cold fingers on frosty mornings. Tanglefree uses four snaps to hold the aluminum frame of the Flight Series layout blind in place. The snap system is more convenient and faster for assembly and breakdown of the blind. It has a spacious interior (37.5-inches wide), and the backrest is padded for maximum comfort. There\u2019s even a little pillow to rest your head on for all-day grinds. Because the layout is just 16-inches tall, it can be slightly uncomfortable for large-bodied hunters. The bar that holds up the boot bag in place doesn\u2019t give you much room to slide your legs in if they happen to be as thick as oaks. But the blind\u2019s low profile helps with concealment. There are two storage bags along the rails of the layout that slide, so you can adjust them depending on your length of reach. The exterior of the blind is covered in a durable 600D material, and Tanglefree made the stubble straps on the boot bag horizontal so that it keeps brush in place.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n Guides Christian Locke and Baylor Parker (and their crew at Kansas Hurt Locker<\/a>) were responsible for the development of the Swag Blind after they started hunting lesser Canadas from Tanglefree\u2019s Ghost Blinds and using store-bought ghillie blankets to hide clients in a sea of silhouettes and windsocks.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tanglefree made it easier on the consumer by consolidating the backrest and ghillie into the Swag Blind, opting to include a mesh calling window so hunters can see birds working and know when to call the shot. The backrest sets up in seconds, and the headrest is adjustable from 12.5 to 17 inches. There is no need to brush in the blind, but you can throw cut crops on top of the ghillie<\/a> blanket to blend in better. Tanglefree offers three blanket colors\u2014Optifade Marsh and Timber, plus Snow\u2014so you can hide in a variety of habitats. Swag Blinds can be used to hunt big geese as well if you keep hunting parties small. They are great for public duck hunters who need to hide on levee banks without much cover. In any situation where the cover is thin, this blind excels.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n Using an oversized goose shell to hide in the decoys is not a new tactic, but Lucky Duck is the first to conceptualize it into a layout blind. Big honkers can often pick out traditional coffin blinds in the middle of a cut cornfield. This layout, even though it may look a little ridiculous, will keep you concealed and pique the interest of wary Canada geese (due to the massive size of the shell). Both will result in getting honkers in close. <\/p>\n Lucky Duck includes a separate mesh hood with the blind and a tan blanket that you can brush in. We typically don\u2019t use the blanket, opting instead to rake up chaff or cut cedar tree limbs to cover our legs up. The seat is padded with a small pillow to rest your head on. A PVC-coated mesh backing will keep you dry. Our only complaint is that there are too many viewing slots cut into the shell of the decoy. It\u2019s nice to be able to see more of your surroundings, but one cut-out in the middle of the shell would have sufficed. Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt or jacket will help fill in all those open slots so birds don\u2019t spook on approach.<\/p>\n Read Next<\/strong>: Best Duck Hunting Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether you hunt shallow marshes or big water, the Momarsh Fatboy DP Combo is an awesome tool to have at your disposal. Small enough to transport in the bed of your truck (or roof rack), the Fatboy DP has a removable transom that you can use a trolling motor or outboard with if the upright of the transom is towards the stern. Flip it around, and that allows you to use a heavier mud motor, bringing more weight forward so the boat balances evenly. The cockpit is 7 feet long and 29 inches wide, so there is plenty of room to lie down and stay hidden while hunting. You may want to buy an Invisilounge<\/a>, a closed-cell five-position ratcheting seat, or something similar to optimize comfort. There is also a spot for your dog to sit in the rear of the cockpit.\u00a0<\/p>\n The hand-laid fiberglass Fatboy DP is a great option for hunters who want to get away from the crowds. You can walk it into shallow waters that a bigger, heavier boat cannot get to. And if you need to portage the Fatboy DP over a sandbar or levee, it\u2019s doable. The boat\u2019s custom fit cover makes it much simpler to brush in, though an inventive hunter can create their own concealment system. The only limits you will face with this layout are the amount of weight it can carry (370 pounds) and its ability to perform in rough waters. You don\u2019t want to be on a big lake or flowage in a 95-pound boat when the wind kicks up and creates a big chop.<\/p>\n
\n Published Sep 1, 2023 2:41 PM
\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nHow We Chose the Best Layout Blinds<\/h2>\n
Best Layout Blinds: Reviews and Recommendations <\/h2>\n
Best Budget: Avery Power Hunter<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/Avery-layout-blind.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Best Full Size Field: Tanglefree Flight Series Snap Blind<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/tanglefree-layout-blinds.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/CD0AE136-C7CD-49B7-9158-3273EAE52AB2_1_105_c.jpeg\")
Best Low-Profile: Tanglefree Swag Blind<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/tanglefree.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/C2DE1D00-C426-41ED-933D-76A73F7BC4A7_1_102_o.jpeg\")
Best for Concealment: Lucky Duck Goose Chair Combo<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/goose-chair.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Best Layout Boat: MoMarsh Fatboy DP Combo<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/boat-layout-blind.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Best for Water Hunts: MOMarsh Invisi-Man<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/momarsh.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
![\"Waterfowl](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/01\/7E969609-2EB2-4B35-A892-113F6A05FCDA_1_105_c.jpeg\")