Building a Hide

[John Mc]

I went a Walk today to get shots of a building close to where i live.
The grounds were Closed,so i decided to go get shot's down by the river,and not waist my day.i decided that i would use my telephoto lens and use Film,as ive not got a telephoto for my Dslr.
It's safe to say,i've found that i enjoy shooting Wildlife,Duck's,Herring's Otter's! the one thing that upset me,and annoyed me,is that when i got Close(about 50-100 yards) the Birds and animals could either see me,or smell my scent.
So im considering building Temporary Hides up the River at certain point's,But i dont want them to be Perminant,i want to build them off the Land so to speak. Does anyone have any links or ideas how to build a 2/3 man hide? im considering putting an add in the paper/wanted ad's to see if theres anyone around where i live interested in the same plan.

John
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[Formatted]

Make sure you get permission from the landowner.

I'm putting together (as I wouldn't really call it building) a small hide for myself and chair. At the bottom of the river bank (the bank is 3 metres high) with room for a ladder upto the top of the bank. In an area where on the opposite side of the river there is a Dipper nest (or was last year) and a small pool just off the river where kingfishers fish.

I've gone for a construction of a wooden poles sunk into the ground in a frame shape then with screen of reed / bamboo nailed to it. Its pretty small and cheap to build, will probably get washed away in the floods in the winter.

 

[Overread]

I'd try to avoid building a hide that might get washed away - check the weather reports and remove the hide least you end up causing some damage downstream.

Myself I've not done much hide building, mostly because finding a good spot is the tricky part (that and time and the weather is all dull and grey). I will give a few tips that I've picked up:

1) Jamjar - put a jamjar in the hide in the rough position that the lens will be (bottome facing outward). This simulates the light reflection of the lens and gives the wildlife a chance to get used to the idea of the glass being there when you are not.

2) Space - if you're using the hide for long hours make sure you've got space for a tripod, seat and also a little room to move around (ie to stretch your limbs without disturbing the hide). Last thing you want is to be cramped up and unable to move for hours on end - also the space to move means that each little motion you make won't disturb the outer shell of the hide

3) If you've the gear and the space many find that operating a hide is best done with 2 lenses - one long range (often a prime but not always) and the second a shorter focal length lens/zoom to allow for when some animals might come closer.

4) Flash - if you're going to use flash (and yes you can use it though always treat it as a one shot chance) then its best to have it mounted forward. Many use a custom strap around the lens hood with a slot to hold the flash on - the idea here is that mounted forward the flash moves with the lens - this is easier than if you have the flash camera mounted and thus way back inside the hide.

5) If you are putting the hide up in a place that gets regular or semi-regular human passage keep a mind to trying to shield the hide both from animal and human view. This pertains both to purchased hides and to custom builds - the last thing you want is someone to run off with your hide/damage it/sleep in it (homeless people + drunks)

6) Time - remember most hides will need a period of time before the wildlife will grow acustomed to the disturbance of the hide. Thus often you might not see much at all during the early days of the hides use after construction and often many will purposly leave a hide unused for several days during this period.

7) Food and perches - might pertain more to land based than marine/wateredge based hides; however give a mind to the use of food to help lure some species out of hiding and into the open and also into closer positions to get photos of them. With birds food and the placement of sticks/twigs can be used to create perches for them since often birds will perch before darting in for food.
Remember this food should only ever be a boon for the animal and not a major contribution to their diet - thus keep a mind to the amount and the time frame over which you use baiting. A handfull of seeds over two or three days won't affect an animals feeding habbits - however if you provide regular food in larger quantities every day over the period of a few months you will affect how the animals feed and establish their terretories. This is of more concern during the more leen months of the year such as winter when there is less food around for animals to shift to eating and when a large regular food source might tempt them to remain in an area rather than migrate away to find other food.

 

[Formatted]

check the weather reports and remove the hide least you end up causing some damage downstream.

This is also important, I've been frequenting this river since I was 10 years old, I've almost drowned in it twice, I learnt to row, kayak and drive engine craft on it! I know that even if my hide was to get washed away it won't be the biggest thing out on the river!

 

[John Mc]

Thanks guys. Im going to see if theres a Birdwatching club around me willing to help.
The hide(s) are going to be on Public land but off trails,so im reducing the ammount of passers by. it also means that i dont think i need Permision of the council if its not a permanent structure,and as i plan to use only wood(and a little tar poling for the Roof) it would be bio degradable.im going to Camo it by using fallen branch's,mud and moss,which i know will also insulate it aswell and mask some of my scent. I dont plan to use much bait,non at all really. as for location,its going to be by the river bank,above the flood line.it means it would probably be a year round structure with maitanence on a monthly basis.

Im still going to speak to my local council,if theres any clubs around that are interested aswell,and also see if there would be any funding that might be available for nature watcher's ect.

Edit: also,do you think i'll need room for a tripod?i was going to build a rail mounted ball-head on a shelf inside the hide.or have 2/3 points where i could screw the Ball-head onto.

 

[Overread]

You'll want something to rest the lens on otherwise even with a lighter lens you'll not last that long before fatigue builds up (and that just makes you frustraited and increases handshake problems). If you can build a fully stable bench setup that's great - though you might find that you'll only use one or two points on the rail (screwing and unscrewing the ballhead might make a lot of motion and also won't be fast enough for quick changes) so chances are you'd be just as fine with a tripod (often I see the 3rd leg sticking out of the front of a hide when in use).

Also try to make sure its waterproof - last thing you want is to get soaked or have a wet seat.

I'd also say contact a local photography/wildlife club before contacting the council - might be that you have to talk to a specific department to get the right answer/any needed permissions and talking to the wrong department might give you the wrong answer.

 

[John Mc]

well,i was thinking,a sturdy bench would be best,means im sat at a Desk(type thing)
I wouldnt be moving the ball head,i'd design it so i would have a minimum of 120degrees of movement,left to right, more if i can afford it.means i would only use one mount at a time,and others can be there for mounting scopes or bino's or other cameras.
I'm planning on using Tarp's on the roof and making sure theres an over hang so no water gets on the lens when its raining.

im going to contact my local club's,and then speak to the council for confirmation of law's about structures.

 

[Overread]

Guess the next question is how much you'll charge for rent in the hide

 

[John Mc]

Haha,no no,i plan on building 2 or 3 up the River,if i have help,then im ovb aware theres going to be different people in different hides. If its just me,then im going to make them compact(with space for two people for it i take a friend)

 

[Tommo]

How did you end up going with the hides? if you're still around TPH