Review: ALPS OutdoorZ Dash Panel Blind

When I first heard about the new ALPS OutdoorZ Dash Panel Blind, I couldn’t wait to try it. Just looking at it, you can see how this three-panel blind will be very beneficial for firearms hunters who like to run and gun. I wondered, however, how well it might work for bowhunters.

Right out of the box, it quickly became apparent the beauty of this blind lies in its simplicity — it’s easy to use and highly functional. What I loved most was the quick and simple setup. From taking it out of the bag to securing the anchor stakes in the ground, it took less than two minutes, and that was without reading the instructions. Erecting the blind involves unfolding it, placing it flat on the ground and pushing the hub in the middle of the blind to lock the frame in place. Next, stand it up, spread the side panels out to your desired width and insert the anchor stakes into the ground to secure the blind. The blind stands 54 inches tall, and its side panels can be adjusted for an overall blind width from 40-80 inches, providing ample room for two hunters.

With its ease of use, generous coverage and Mossy Oak Obsession camouflage, the Dash Panel Blind is perfect for spring turkey hunting. It’s also lightweight (5.5 pounds) and can be easily carried by its handle or secured to your backpack. The fact that it can be set up so quickly makes it ideal not only for hunters who like to cruise in search of birds, but also if you happen to have a hot gobbler respond to your call at close range. The flexible frame and adjustable side panels also make it easy to erect whether you’re hunting a field or in the woods.

The Dash Panel Blind’s shooting window is incredibly easy to use, thanks to the SILENT-TRAC system that is essentially a series of slides for opening and closing the window. There’s no need to secure the cloth out of the way or worry about it flapping in the breeze. Fully open, the window is approximately 14 inches high by 38 inches wide, providing plenty of room for compound and crossbow hunters to maneuver and shoot. One thing to note, however, is that the frame’s crossbars pass diagonally through the center of the window opening. So, you have to get comfortable shooting around those. The blind also has 4x13.5-inch mesh windows on both side panels for added visibility, as well as a small mesh pouch for holding calls and accessories.

It’s important to set up your chair in the blind before going afield and practice shooting at a target or turkey decoy. This will help determine the proper chair or seat height for solid alignment with the shooting window opening, as well as provide opportunities to practice shot setups in different situations and terrain. Compound hunters will likely need to sit a little farther back from the front wall than crossbow hunters to give them a full range of motion, but the side panels can then be drawn in to provide additional cover.

A final note about the Dash Panel Blind is that it is almost as easy to pack up as it is to open. Closed, this product folds down to 47 inches long by 4.5 inches wide, making it easy to tear down and move to several different locations throughout the course of a morning hunt.

For turkey hunters on the go, the Dash Panel Blind is definitely the way to go! MSRP: $99.99 | alpsbrands.com

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