About Us

In 2002 at the age of 36 (a late bloomer I guess!) a man named Jeff Winters introduced me to something I have come to love; deer hunting.
In the beginning I hunted out of a climber and then buddy stands strictly for the ability to hang a curtain which allowed me to move around some. It was hard for me to sit still for long periods of time due to a previous injury and I was thinking there must be other hunters
with this same problem.
I really missed using my climber but I discovered that there was very little available for concealment while using a climbing tree stand; (my personal favorite).
It never failed as I found myself moving that's when there would be a deer looking dead at me! This was happening every time I used my climber and it was frustrating.
I knew there must be a better way and this is how the idea of the Virtual Concealer was born. In 2006 I built 4 prototypes, giving them to experienced hunters. In return all I wanted was their testimony about their experience using the new blind. Shane and his wife being avid bow hunters made us aware that we needed to accommodate bow hunting as well, and the bow attachment was incorporated. Shane killed two deer using the Virtual Concealer for the first time, stating the deer came within 10 yards without him being noticed. He was so enthusiastic and impressed by the blind, that he volunteered to go to our first show, the 2007 Buckarama, to talk about and demonstrate what he experienced. Thanks Shane!
As news spread our demand was more than we could supply. I was totally consumed looking for parts and materials to make the Virtual Concealer hunter friendly. Trying to think of everything a hunter would like, while still keeping it lightweight and portable.
My wife, Bobby Jo, had not sewn since high school and it was just her and I constructing these, and before we could finish them we ran into a great dilemma; out of money!
We shared our ideas with my parents and they came to our rescue funding us until we could get going; Thanks Mom and Dad!
The manufacturing started again, we enclosed our carport, bought sewing machines and with the help of my wife's parents the sewing begin. We even had her dad sewing and my dad stringing bags.
This is defiantly a family affair. However we are still working our regular jobs and due to the demand we were able to hire two excellent seamstresses which have worked endless hours to see our vision come to life. Thank you, Tammie and April!
Today we are still working out or our home from dusk till dawn and as mush as it is tiring it is more rewarding and we can see progress and improvements almost daily. Right now we are a small company, but we believe the Manning Company will one day soon make a big contribution to the hunter of all types. (Whether in the back yard or in the safari)! We hope to make an impact to the hunting industry one blind at a time. God gave me the vision and has seen it through and we have overcome many obstacles to get to where we are, but I know it's been God opening and closing all doors, some not to our understanding; but we've learned to trust him in all things.
Sincerely, Darrell & Bobby Jo Manning