Ground blinds?

[ErikHimmel]

Looking to get back into hunting whitetails this fall and will probably be with my Wife for a decent amount of that. Long story short, I see some ground blind hunting in my/our future. I've never hunted out of a blind before but I see myself buying a couple for us. Whats everyone use? And what's with this shoot through netting? How the hell does that work and not mess up arrow flight?
 

[Rhino]

First...welcome aboard!  My ground blind hunting days go back to the old days before popup blinds.  I used to make them out of full foliage limbs, etc. cutting out shooting holes to bowhunt.  I used electrical tap to tie everything together including the edges of my shooting holes.  Zip ties would work for that too.  I'd add camo netting to the back of the inside of the blind to make my camo clothing blend in.  I still have brush/limbs on the back side of the blind but not as thick as the front.  I've had deer within several feet of those natural blinds before.  On average, it would take me about 2 1/2 hours to make a natural foliage blind that way.  They did fine in a wind too.  Certain trees hold their leaves better than others when they dry out.  Here Water Oak limbs work best for natural.  Their leaves turn brown but wouldn't fall off the limbs like others.  If you have the time and have a particular spot in mind this is also an option.  Obviously pop-up blinds are mobile and provide more protection from the elements than natural blinds.

There are a lot of different commercial ground blinds available now.  If you are planning to hunt with your wife, opt for a larger one designed for 2 hunters.  5' to 5 1/2'  square is too small in my opinion for 2 adults.  Sometimes they'll advertise saying it's a 2 person blind it actually doesn't have enough room for 2 adults so check out the dimensions.  You have choices for window design options too.  Just make sure they are to your liking and your arrow has clearance.  Shoot through netting...I have to admit, I've never trusted it.  I won't either.  Why?  At the moment of truth you obviously are going to be excited so I'd rather not add another variable to be concerned about with a shot.

Next you'll need 2 chairs that adjust for uneven ground.  I prefer a 3 leg ground blind swivel chair where each leg will adjust to level the seat for uneven ground.  A lot of the old fold out cloth type seats will work too but I found they are not as quiet. 

[Rhino]

BTW...consider this about shoot through netting (why I hate it).  Before you draw your bow you're going to want to be aiming toward the deer through the window, especially if your wife is in the blind with you.  Now at the moment of truth you have to make sure your broadhead never touches the shoot through mesh before and when your draw your bow.  It's highly likely the end of your arrow will need to stick outside the shooting window to draw your bow so the elbow of the arm you draw with (right or left handed) doesn't hit the back of the blind and make noise.  I've hunted from a number of different size and styles of commercial ground blinds and I've never been able to draw my bow without at least sticking the end of the arrow out the window. 

[RangerClay]

Make sure you have it up and brushed in about a month before season so the deer will get used to it.  Turkeys don't need that.  Make sure you brush it in well.  Don't forget to pull it before it snows or it will get crushed.