For waterfowl hunters, a hunting blind is a home away from home, where lasting memories are made and, if they’re lucky, a limit of birds are harvested. Building a blind that fits into the natural landscape and conceals you will help bring the birds in close enough to shoot. It’s serious business, according to Steve Hickoff. He recommends hunters plan ahead and make a sketch of their blind, and offers other helpful tips for building a waterfowl blind.

Match the terrain, bro’. Ever hear of matching the hatch in fly-fishing? It’s the same deal in blind building—sort of. Use natural and man-made camouflage material to do the job. Realism is the key. Don’t put birch branches where there are none… Less is more in some cases, so avoid making your blind stand out by working on it too much! Find another spot someplace else as a backup.

Photos: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (top); Yamaha (above)