Primos Double Bull vs Ameristep Comparison

Pick One Right Now Based on How You Hunt.

If you want the most solid blind for bowhunting the rut in farm country, I take a Primos Double Bull.

If you want a cheaper blind you will not cry about on public land, I grab an Ameristep and I do not baby it.

I have hunted whitetails for 23 years, and I have split plenty of sits between a 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois and public land in the Missouri Ozarks.

I have burned money on gear that did not work, and I am not doing that twice with ground blinds.

Decide If You Are Buying “Quiet and Solid” Or “Cheap and Replaceable”.

This is the tradeoff that matters, not camo pattern or marketing.

Primos Double Bull feels like a nicer tool, and Ameristep feels like a consumable.

Here is what I do when I am choosing for a season.

I ask myself if this blind is going to sit in one spot for 30 days, or get carried, stuffed, dragged, and moved every weekend.

In Pike County, Illinois, where I might sit the same field edge five mornings in November, I want fabric that does not pop and hubs that do not tweak.

In the Missouri Ozarks on public ground, I expect branches, rocks, and people, so I would rather have a $129 blind than a $399 blind.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, I killed my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical, the morning after a cold front.

I remember the stand tree, the wind, and how dead quiet my setup had to be in that still air.

Noise Is the Real Difference, So Make a Choice About Your Shot Distance.

If you are bowhunting inside 20 yards, noise is not “nice”, it is the whole deal.

Primos Double Bull blinds tend to be quieter fabric with tighter stitching, and they do not sound like a chip bag when you shift.

Ameristep blinds can be fine, but some models have louder fabric and louder window toggles, and that matters at 12 yards.

I learned the hard way that “I will just move slow” is not enough.

Back in 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, and never found her, and I still think about it.

That was not a blind issue, but it taught me I do not accept small “probably fine” problems at close range.

If you are hunting tight timber in the Missouri Ozarks and your shots are 8 to 18 yards, forget about fancy camo and focus on quiet windows and silent fabric.

If you are hunting a picked bean field edge in Southern Iowa and you might shoot 30 yards, a little fabric noise is less likely to ruin you, but I still hate it.

Decide If You Need a Blind That Survives Wind, Or One You Will Tear Down Often.

This is where Double Bull usually earns its money.

The hub design and frame on many Double Bull models feels stiffer, and that matters in 22 mph wind on wide-open ground.

Ameristep hubs work, but I have seen them flex more, and fabric can slap if you do not stake it right.

Here is what I do on any blind, cheap or expensive.

I carry 4 screw-in dog tie-outs and 4 lengths of paracord, and I guy it down like a tent.

I also run stakes through the bottom loops even if it “looks fine” at setup time.

My buddy swears by just throwing brush on top to hold it, but I have found that wind finds the one corner you did not secure.

In Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country, wind swirls, and blinds can act like sails on ridges.

If you are hunting hills and swirling wind, forget about leaving the blind un-staked and focus on guylines and a spot tucked below the crest.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer move in the wind when fronts and gusts change their travel.

Make a Call On Windows, Because Bad Windows Cost Deer.

I care about three window things.

I want quiet opening, I want a dark interior, and I want shooting height that fits a chair and a kid.

Double Bull windows are usually cleaner and quieter, with better darkening inside, and that helps hide face movement on a close doe.

Ameristep windows vary a lot by model, and some are great, but some have loud hook-and-loop and bright interior seams.

Here is what I do the night before a hunt.

I sit in the blind with my bow and rangefinder and I practice opening the exact window I will shoot from, three times, in the dark.

If I hear rip or pop, I fix it with a rubber band, a small binder clip, or I tape the loud spot.

I learned the hard way that “I will just crack it a little” turns into a rushed draw when a doe locks on the sound.

When I am trying to time deer movement for blind sits, I check feeding times first so I am not fidgeting during peak movement.

Decide If You Are Leaving It Out for Weeks, Or Packing It In Each Sit.

If you leave a blind out, weather is going to test it.

Sun kills fabric, wind works seams, and freezing rain finds weak hubs.

In Pike County, Illinois, I will leave a blind out for stretches during November if I can lock it and hide it.

That is where I would rather have a Double Bull, because the fabric and build usually takes abuse better.

In the Missouri Ozarks on public land, I do not like leaving anything out.

Here is what I do on public ground.

I pack the blind in, set it fast, hunt it, and pack it out, even if it is a pain.

If you are hunting public land, forget about “semi-permanent” setups and focus on speed, low weight, and not getting your gear stolen.

This also ties into how much cover is around you, and I lean hard on edges and thickets the way I described in deer habitat so the blind is not sitting in the open like a trash bag.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If you are bowhunting inside 20 yards in calm air, do Primos Double Bull for the quieter fabric and better windows.

If you see deer staring at the blind but not blowing, expect them to circle downwind and pick out movement through the window.

If conditions change to 15 to 25 mph wind or a hard front, switch to extra stakes and guylines and hunt the lee side of cover instead of the field edge.

Make a Budget Choice, Because This Is Where Guys Lie to Themselves.

I grew up poor and learned to hunt public land before I could afford leases, so I do not romanticize expensive gear.

I also hate buying things twice.

Primos Double Bull models often cost more, but they usually feel like you are paying for better materials and tighter build.

Ameristep usually gets you in the game cheaper, and sometimes that is the right play.

Here is what I do with my money.

If I am setting a blind for my kids where I need room and quiet, I spend more once.

If I am experimenting on a new spot, I buy cheaper until the spot proves itself.

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference, so I do not get starry-eyed over “systems”.

I would rather spend that money on gas, tags, and time in the woods.

Product-Level Thoughts From My Actual Use, Not Catalog Talk.

I am not a professional guide or outfitter, just a guy who hunts 30-plus days a year and drags his own mistakes around.

So here is how these brands feel in real hunting conditions.

Primos Double Bull, The Way I Look At It.

If I am setting a blind on a field edge for a November rut sit, Double Bull is usually the one I trust to stay quiet and hold shape.

I like how the darker interior hides movement, because I have watched does at 14 yards pick apart bright blinds.

One downside is I do not like carrying an expensive blind deep into public land with people around.

If it disappears, that is a bad day.

Ameristep, The Way I Use It.

Ameristep is what I buy when I need something that works and I am not trying to impress anyone.

I have used Ameristep-style pop-ups on fast sits where I am slipping in for one evening on acorns.

The downside is some models have louder fabric and less “blackout”, so you have to be more careful with movement.

That is not theory, that is watched-deer-do-it reality.

Make a Comfort Call If You Are Taking Kids, Because Fidgeting Will Bust You.

I take two kids hunting now, and comfort is not “soft”.

Comfort is what keeps them still at 6.45 a.m. when it is 28 degrees and boring.

Here is what I do for kid sits in a blind.

I bring a low-back chair, a small foam pad, and snacks that do not crackle like chip bags.

I also set the chair height so the window is natural, not a stretch.

If you are hunting with kids, forget about a tiny two-man blind and focus on space, quiet windows, and a dark interior.

This connects to shot choice too, and I stick to the same basics I laid out in where to shoot a deer because kids need simple, repeatable aiming points.

Decide How You Will Handle Scent, Because Blinds Can Trap Stink.

Ground blinds can hold your breath, your boot odor, and yesterday’s gas station burrito.

I am not a scent-control cult guy, and I proved that to myself with that $400 ozone waste.

Here is what I do instead.

I play the wind, I vent the blind a little, and I keep my entry and exit clean.

If you are hunting a tight funnel with marginal wind, forget about magic spray and focus on setting the blind where your downwind side is hard to access.

When rain is coming, I also plan for deer to shift, and I keep this page in mind on where deer go when it rains so I am not staring at an empty field.

Make a Setup Decision, Because A Bad Location Makes Any Blind “Suck”.

Guys blame the blind when the real issue is they put a square object in a spot deer want to look at.

I set blinds where deer already accept junk, like brush piles, round bales, fence corners, and field edges with tall weeds.

Here is what I do when I have 48 hours before a hunt.

I set the blind, brush it in light, and I leave it alone so deer can get used to it.

Here is what I do when I have to hunt the same day.

I set it tight to cover, keep windows small, and I get inside before first light or well before prime evening movement.

Back in the Upper Peninsula Michigan, I learned fast that deer notice new objects in big woods, and they will skirt you by 60 yards with no apology.

If you are hunting big woods with low deer density, forget about placing a blind on the “best view” and focus on hiding it where a deer can walk by without seeing the outline.

FAQ

Is Primos Double Bull really quieter than Ameristep?

Most of the Double Bulls I have handled are quieter in fabric and windows, and that shows up most inside 20 yards with a bow.

Some Ameristep models are fine, but you have to test them at home and fix the loud stuff before you hunt.

Which one would I take on public land in the Missouri Ozarks?

I would take Ameristep most of the time because I can pack it in and out and not stress about it.

If I take a Double Bull on public, it is because I have a very specific spot and I am not leaving it out.

How long should I leave a ground blind out before hunting it?

If I can, I like 2 to 5 days so deer accept it, especially in open country like Pike County, Illinois.

If I have to hunt same-day, I tuck it into cover and keep the windows tight.

Do I need a “blackout” interior for whitetails?

If you are bowhunting close, yes, because it hides face and hand movement that mature does pick off fast.

If you are gun hunting at 80 yards, it matters less, but I still prefer darker.

What is the biggest mistake people make with pop-up blinds?

They set them in the open and then open every window like it is a deer blind showroom.

I keep only the shooting window and one crack for visibility.

Will deer attack a ground blind if they see it move?

They usually blow, stomp, or bail, not attack, but you can still get run over if you surprise one at 6 yards.

If you want the real risk, I broke it down in do deer attack humans because people misunderstand what “aggressive” looks like.

My Bottom-Line Setup For Each Brand, So You Do Not Overthink It.

For a Double Bull, I set it for comfort and silence, and I plan longer sits during rut and cold fronts.

For an Ameristep, I set it for mobility, accept more wear, and I focus hard on hiding the outline.

Here is what I do no matter what blind I buy.

I range three landmarks at 15, 22, and 30 yards, and I mark them in my head before a deer ever shows.

This ties into knowing what you are looking at in the first place, and I still see new hunters mix up buck and doe talk.

If you need a quick refresher, I point guys to what a male deer is called and what a female deer is called so camp talk stays clean and clear.

Next Tradeoff To Think About: Bow Only, Or Bow Plus Gun Season.

I am primarily a bow hunter and have run a compound for 25 years, but I still rifle hunt during gun season.

A blind that is perfect for bow can be annoying for gun if the windows do not give you safe angles.

Here is what I do to avoid that mistake.

I decide before season if that blind is “archery only” or if it needs a safe, stable rest and wider view for a rifle or straight-wall gun.

If you are hunting Ohio-style straight-wall zones, forget about tiny peek windows and focus on a stable rest and a window height that does not force you to hunch.

This also impacts how you plan to recover deer and handle meat, and I do all my processing in my garage like my uncle taught me when he was a butcher.

If you want to plan that part too, I keep these two pages handy on how to field dress a deer and how much meat from a deer.

What I Would Buy Today, With My Own Money.

If I am hunting my Pike County, Illinois lease and I plan to sit long hours through the rut, I spend on a Primos Double Bull.

If I am bouncing around the Missouri Ozarks on public land and I might move three times in a weekend, I buy an Ameristep and treat it like a tool that can get beat up.

Here is what I do before I ever hit “buy” on either one.

I write down how many sits I will use it, how far I will carry it, and if my kids are going with me.

Make One Last Decision: Are You Protecting a Spot, Or Protecting Your Time.

If I have a proven spot, I protect it with the quietest, steadiest blind I can stand to haul.

If I am still learning a property, I protect my time by staying mobile and not getting married to one setup.

I learned the hard way that forcing a “perfect” blind into a bad spot wastes whole weekends.

Back in 2016 in the Missouri Ozarks, I carried a nicer blind way too far, set it on the “best view,” and watched deer skirt me at 55 yards all evening.

Here Is What I Do On The Ground, So It Works Either Way.

I clear the floor down to dirt so leaves do not crunch when I shift my boots.

I put my pack behind me, not beside me, so I do not bump it during a draw.

I keep one shooting window ready, and I keep the rest barely cracked for light and air.

My buddy swears by opening every window “for visibility,” but I have found that bright holes make deer stare right at the blind.

Do Not Repeat My Dumb Money Mistake With “Accessories”.

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference, and I am still mad about it.

If you have extra cash, spend it on stakes, paracord, and a good seat, not on gimmicks.

Here is what I do for a cheap upgrade that actually helps.

I run a basic set of heavy-duty stakes and 550 cord, even on calm days, because calm turns into 18 mph at 4.30 p.m.

Know What You Are Trying To Beat: Deer Eyes, Not Deer Noses.

In a blind, movement is what gets you caught most, especially by mature does.

When guys ask me if deer are “smart,” I tell them they are not reading books, but they are good at patterning easy stuff.

When I want the quick explanation for that, I point them to are deer smart so they stop underestimating what a doe at 12 yards can notice.

If you want a blind to help you, pick darker and quieter, and then act like you are sitting on the ground with no cover.

Wrap It Up The Way I Hunt It.

I started hunting with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12, and my first deer was an 8-point buck in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri with a borrowed rifle.

I am still the same kind of hunter now, just older, more stubborn, and better at admitting what matters.

If I am hunting tight and close with a bow, I want quiet fabric, quiet windows, and a dark interior, and Double Bull usually does that better.

If I am hunting public land where things get torn up, wet, or stolen, I want cheap and replaceable, and Ameristep fits that reality.

Pick one based on how you hunt, not based on the logo on the carry bag.

Then set it like you mean it, sit still, and let the deer make the mistake.