Hunting In A Hurry with Rapid Blind

Other — By ATV Mag on April 4, 2006 at 12:00 pm

Quads are a great tool for getting all the necessary gear to the site, but then what do you do with it? Many try to create makeshift camouflage from natural material, others drive far off site, then have to hoof it back to their hunting post.

But, what if you had a blind that attached to the machine? What if it could camouflage an ATV, two hunters and a dog? If that sounds like a dream setup for your hunting days, Arctic Cat may have something for you.

The Rapid Blind attaches to Arctic Cat’s Multi Rack Platform system. It slips into the MRP, where it is held securely by the standard locking pins. Once in place, it lays in the MRP Gear Cradles on the driver’s right side. A full-length zipper keeps the fabric from flapping around during the ride, whether it be traversing rough terrain on the ATV or a trailer-mounted 70 mph blast down the highway to get from your home to your cabin. Once you arrive at your favorite spot, simply remove the cover and open the blind, right over the top of the ATV.

Setup takes a few minutes. After unfolding the main structural support, six aluminum poles snap in place using nylon fittings. Installing the poles could not be easier — all locations are color coded, so it’s simple and straightforward to set up. The main vertical supports are adjustable, so the blind can stand tall or be minimized for especially wary game. When extended to full height, the blind is 89 inches tall.

A large front panel door zips open for quick access in and out of the blind. For shooting, the roof zips open and rolls up out of the way. In its place, a camouflage net attaches with hook-and-loop fasteners, ready to be quickly pulled down when the birds fly in. The dark interior and camo neting make it difficult to see what’s in the blind from a distance of more than 10 feet.

During our North Dakota snow goose hunt, the geese flew right to us, never suspecting that there were several hunters and an ATV in hiding. Snows are generally wary birds — the average age is 14 years — and they aren’t dumb. Luckily we held the advantage. When the birds flew into range, a simple yank on the net’s rip strap gave us an open shooting lane.

In addition to the large opening overhead, there are additional portholes for bowhunters or gun-hunters working on big game, predators or varmints. Each of the portholes zip open, and can be covered with shoot-through net for total concealment.

Hunters should check state laws where they hunt for regulations on hunting near a vehicle. In Minnesota, where Arctic Cat is based, it is illegal to hunt from the seat of an ATV. However, it is legal to hunt standing next to a machine provided no part of your body or firearm is in contact with the ATV.

The blind is available in two camo patterns, Mossy Oak Shadow Grass and Mossy Oak Breakup. A solid blue version called the “Rapid Shack” will also be available for ice-fishing applications. On our hunt, it snowed the night before we set out, so don’t be surprised if Arctic Cat releases a white version for snow geese soon. The unit is constructed from 400-denier Cordura nylon. Cordura is windproof and water resistant, along with being fire resistant and rot proof.

We definitely noticed the benefit of the blind on a cold day. Inside, out of the wind, staying toasty warm was not a problem. Meanwhile, laying outside on the snowy ground was damp and cold. If the temperature is really bitter, a small sunflower heater will warm the inside up significantly. This is especially valuable for ice fishing use.

The Rapid Blind sells for $650 in blue and $800 on Camo. Though that’s expensive compared to most pop-up hunting blinds, it is also larger than many blinds on the market, and it completely conceals an ATV.