Heater for deer blind/box stand

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Django11

New member
Anybody have any good idea for heaters for use in a blind while hunting? I think battery powered would be pretty nice and I would prefer to avoid dealing with propane if I could. I generally deal with the weather conditions just fine but I have a young niece that can’t get enough of deer hunting and I would like to keep it more comfortable for her when the the temperature starts to drop later this season. Any ideas are welcome.
 
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Django11

New member
After looking around the internet, it appears there may not be a strictly battery operated heater. I guess I assumed with today’s technology there would be. Looks like i might have to settle for propane; no big deal. I would like to find one that is reliable, quiet, and easy to operate. I would also like to stay as compact as possible. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
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NoSecondBest

New member
I've been using the same heater Capt Rick is using for years now. Works like a charm. You can easily heat a blind at very cold outside temps and stay warm inside. Even with the windows opened enough to see and shoot out of. A one pound bottle will last 5.5 actual hours and it's easy to carry two bottles and the heater in a small tool bag with a shoulder strap on it. It's about the best seventy bucks I've ever spent. I probably use it at least ten days a year and it makes my hunting much more enjoyable.
 
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Ricklin

New member
Battery technology

Battery technology has come a long way in the last couple decades.

Making heat using electricity provided by batteries is not in the cards. The folks that own Tesla cars will note that using the cabin heat in the winter will shorten the range they can drive.

Propane is your best answer for easily portable heat.
 
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HiBC

New member
Captain Obvious here: Safety. Some of the modern catalytic propane heaters are rated to be safe (carbon monoxide) for inside enclosures. Among them are the Mr Heater products. Do read the product info.These heaters come from fairly powerful,with fan,to small 3500 btu versions that screw onto a propane cylinder ,take no batteries,and might be just enough.

Some of the older ,lower tech "blind heaters" would insidiously fill a goose pit or blind with carbon monoxide. Folks died that way.

An option that might fit for a few blind sessions are the "hot packs" available at the pharmacy for use as a local "heating pad" for lower back pain,etc.
Wrapping one of those around the kidney area can work well.Do read the instructions and warnings.
Apparently they CAN get TOO hot. (Per the warnings) .

I actually had a Dr prescribe them too me for a back injury. I saw potential for ice fishing.
They aren't cheap,but neither is an $80 propane heater. One hot pad is about the price of a 1 lb propane bottle. Its an option. Its not hard to buy and try first.

Of course,the"Hot Hands" packets inside gloves can work well.,too.
 
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T. O'Heir

New member
Propane is your best answer but also not. Propane dislikes igniting in cold. It doesn't vapourize reliably at extremely low temperatures. The CF(Canadian Army) converted a bunch of trucks years ago and actually said to light a fire under the fuel tank to get the LPG to ignite in the cold.
It'd be far better to take the kid shopping for good winter clothing. Where you're hunting matters. Lotta places Stateside don't get cold.
I can attest to the winter kit the CF issues(that may be in your local surplus joint.). Available on-line anyway. Mukluks, winter combat parka and winter combat pants(not made any more though) kept me warm at -40(doesn't matter if it's "C" or "F". The scales meet at -40 and I can't swear enough to emphasize how cold it is.) on an exercise long ago. It was a logistics nightmare. The Army gave us fresh rations. Tomatoes turn to rocks at -40. And three feet of snow.
You'll be out of the wind in a blind and it's unlikely to be anywhere near -40, so a heater may not be necessary. Kind of depends on what you think is cold, but any propane heater will do. It's highly unlikely any battery will last long enough to be of any use.
 
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NoSecondBest

New member
I've used the small Mr. Heater described earlier at -14 degrees in a small blind with snow on the ground. The blind has a foot print of 60x60" and it stayed warm enough inside to unzip my coat and actually remain fairly comfortable. At that temp there was no problem lighting the heater. I never had the opportunity to hunt at really, really cold temps, and don't mind that at all.
 
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Scorch

New member
Years ago, I used to use a Coleman catalytic heater. Loved it. I didn't realize they are no longer produced, but there are numerous catalytic heaters using propane instead of the old white gas fuel. I would reccomend a catalytic heater over a heater with a burner due to the hazards of CO exposure, being burnt or equipment being damaged.
 
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reynolds357

New member
Scorch said:
Years ago, I used to use a Coleman catalytic heater. Loved it. I didn't realize they are no longer produced, but there are numerous catalytic heaters using propane instead of the old white gas fuel. I would reccomend a catalytic heater over a heater with a burner due to the hazards of CO exposure, being burnt or equipment being damaged.
Click to expand...
I had an old Coleman fuel one, It worked great. I got the propane version of it and it was never reliable.
 
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Blindstitch

New member
Mr heater buddy heater. Depending on the amount of heat you want they have small to large. I have the Portable Buddy it costs about $69-79. 1 pound propane tanks on high I think last 4 hours. It has two settings 4,000 btu and 8,000 btu. I use mine for ice fishing and it does a good job.
 
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Sure Shot Mc Gee

New member
You could look around for a Zippo hand warmer. Or better yet a old Ronson hand warmer like I still carry occasionally. There are also packages of chemical mix stuff that's sold in the best of sporting goods stores. No doubt that pkg {gravel} stuff will keep hands and feet warm for a short period.

I have a couple of above ground fully enclosed 6X6 deer stands that are heated with Big Buddy heaters. I know for a fact my choice of L.P. heaters will immediately shut off if accidentally tipped over. Both heaters do however require a ever so slightly opened window to vent their minute amount of carbon monoxide. Although
the best known body heater is the layering of warm clothing.
 
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Ben Dover

New member
If you have any welding skills, a small, light wood stove can be easily made that will warm a blind all day with a handful of small twigs. (and you will never run out of fuel:D)
 
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