Tragopan Grouse V+ Hide
Grouse V+ photography hide provided by Tragopan is a perfect compact use photo blind which can be used for a variety of scenarios. It has enough space to fit one person and plenty of space for any essentials. I recommend buying the waterproof Awning extension that is compatible with both the Grouse V+ and Tragopan V6, to get the full extension of variability that this hide has to offer. The waterproof Awning will allow you to lay on the ground while doing photography allowing you to get those low down-to-the-ground eye-level shots with closer subjects. I also recommend purchasing a camping stool of some sort in order to be able to sit still for those long waits; prepared to take photos whenever the action happens. The hide on its own weighs around 3.45 kg and arrives in a compact sack. The sack enables the hide to be very easy to carry meaning you should have no problem packing it up for your adventures. The tent itself comes with 1 Camo Long Lens Sleeve w/Zippered Flash Port, 1 Mesh Long Lens Sleeve, 1 Mesh Shooting Pane, 8 Ground Stakes, 4 Guy Lines, and 2 Aluminum roof poles. The Grouse V+ comes ready to use right out of the box!
Setting up the hide is also very easy and is almost done instantly. Once you take the hide out of the sack, it will already pop up, hence why it is called a pop-up hide. It requires little assembly other than placing in the aluminium rods and inserting the pegs in the ground. Everything is relatively easy to follow and if any help is needed there are many well-explained youtube videos that demonstrate how to set up your hide. The addition of the Awning is also really easy and self-explanatory when it comes to setting up and allows for more space within the hide. I have only had this hide for a few months, however, it has proven its usefulness on multiple occasions. From photographing black grouse to chamois and foxes, pop-up hides are essential in getting close to shy species. If done properly pop-up hides will get you extremely close to wildlife and subsequently allow you to capture intimate and action-filled photographs.
It is very spacious within the hide, which, as you can see, allows me to place my bag, water bottle, and any other essentials. Placing a tripod can be a bit tricky but even once placed the hide itself has a lot of space. The hide has 3 windows, giving you a 360° view of your surroundings; however, these windows are up top and not down below meaning if you are photographing from the ground you have only one place to put your camera. Unassembling the hide, however, is a bit of a challenge. The pop-up hide is folded in its bag, and despite the instructions sown onto the bag that comes with the hide; assembling does take some practice. So try assembling and unassembling in your yard to ensure you are fully prepared for the field. In conclusion, the hide is a great option for getting into photo hides and its versatility enables a variety of uses.
