blinds for deer

[Darron]

Does any use blinds on a consistent basis while hunting deer? I have a couple plots that have small trees around them where stands cannot be hung and I was thinking about hunting out of a ground blind.

Any tips for using blinds for deer?

[wtnhunt]

I like using fence rows to place ground blinds. Works really well for me. Let the vegetation at the edge of the fence grow up enough for natural cover and it makes the blind blend in pretty well. If that is not an option, you can brush the blind in well with brush from the area.

[Wimpy]

We use blinds. My wife and I both killed deer out of them last year. The key I found was to put them out at least a month ahead of time so the deer get used to them. Once they are used to them you will be amazed at how close they will get.

[Doc]

Does any use blinds on a consistent basis while hunting deer? I have a couple plots that have small trees around them where stands cannot be hung and I was thinking about hunting out of a ground blind.

Any tips for using blinds for deer?

I use ground blinds 100% and have for a most of my hunting over the years . However, I have not yet gone to the commercial, manufactured ones. I construct blinds out of existing, local materials and use them year after year with a just a bit of renovation each season. After a while, they become just part of the scenery, and they don't even catch the deer's attention. However, I am seriously considering buying a pop-up blind. I'm thinking there may be some scent containment benefits as well as some advantages of portability, not to mention some additional level of confort and protection from the weather.

As far as "Any tips for using blinds for deer", I will tell you that you need to work on maintaining your composure in exciting situations. You will find that having a nice deer at ground level conditions where he is just a few feet away and eyeball to eyeball, can really touch off the old buck fever, more than any treestand encounter ever will.

Doc

[woolybear]

I'm with Doc on this one. I don't do the whole treestand thing gun or bow and although I've owned a few commercial blinds, I wasn't very satisfied with the way they made me feel comitted to the chosen set up location.without unnecesary disturbance when I decided to pull them and relocate. After having one grow a set of legs and walk..... well that was enough for me.

Since then I've constructed several permanent blinds of my own, taking into consideration a variety of wind directions, deer travel routes and food sources. Making all these in the off season has proven very rewarding as the deer adjust before seasons start becoming accustomed to the new stick pile durring the summer to fall/winter transition. Durring season, and afterwards unless alerted to the set up they just become another obstacle in their travels. Placed in a strategic location will have them skirting them daily to no alarming possabilities of spotting a "black hole", or worse yet scenting one long after your gone if you decide to leave one unattended for any time. If you've ever spent any time in a bar, you're going home reaking of booze and smoke.... same way it smells in there after you leave just because it's got a roof on it to contain your scent.

Guess what so do them commercial blinds, not only hold the scent but the fabric absorbs it and holds it over a longer period of time. Far as I'm concerned, it would be the same as a stand hunter leaving a stanky pair of socks under his perch when the hunt is over for the day then returning the next morning to wonder why his stand has gone cold.

I'm hoping to make it to one of my hunting props this week to get another turkey hunt in. If I do, I'll snap a couple pics for ya with a little explanation of why they are where they are, and why they produce year after year.

[Shaun_300]

I've only hunted out of one a couple times last year with the crossbow. I'll probably hunt more out of it this year, in rifle season as well depending on where I'm hunting exactly. My dad took it up and used it where we hunt on the edge of a big field. He put it under a big pine tree to make it blend in a bit. Sure is a good way to hide yourself. When I was hunting with the crossbow I set up in a bunch of smaller raspberry bushes about 30 yards from the runway which entered the field.

[gzilla45]

Due to a crazy fear of heights I have, I only hunt out of ground blinds. I've used a couple of commercial blinds and have good luck with them. I put them up a few weeks before the season starts and let them stay all year. I also make sure to spray them down with scent eliminating spray whenever I'm there. I've had deer as close as 10 feet to me without them knowing. I would recommend using natural vegetation with them also to give them the 3-d camo effect.

On a side note, be careful if you are using them gun hunting. I had a close call a few years ago with someone trespassing on our land and shooting at a running deer. The scumbag had no clue I was there even with my big orange head looking out the windows. I put orange cloth over the roof now even on our land where others shouldn't be.

[turkeydude]

I agree with Wimpy 100%! Put the blind out a month early and let things adjust to it and you should be good to go! Good Luck!

[wtnhunt]

Years past I always just used brush around a section of canvas from a wall tent that I had picked up from a military surplus store. Used section of heavy wire mesh to hold up the canvas.

Here is the ground blind setup I had for the bottom last year in the same spot. Wife got us the doghouse blind after season had opened up towards the end of November. This pic was taken in December if I remember right. Will brush it in better this year in the same spot. Should be a good option for the youth hunt, muzzleloader and, early rifle seasons.

[buckee]

I use ground blinds all the time, when I'm not still-hunting or in a tree-stand.

You don't need a fancy bought one either. They are pretty easy to make out of the available brush or grass in the area. Sometimes it's just a matter of cutting out a little clearing inside a hedgerow, brush pile, etc.

The biggest trick I've found in ground blind hunting, is having a good idea which direction the deer will be coming from so you can position yourself accordingly, so that when the deer does come strolling by, you won't have to be shifting around trying to get into position for the shot. You can hide behind a patch of grass if you're not moving

[ildrhntr]

I have a couple of spots I use ground blinds only because of lack of good trees. I didn't want to leave my double bull out for long periods of time because of the close proximity of some houses. I was afraid of someone with sticky fingers. So I built them out of Cattle Panels and steel post's. I also bought some cheap flat black cloth at walmart and covered the inside like a double bull. It helps with not getting back lighted. I actually got the idea from a Monster Bucks Video where Bill was hunting the Perlitz Ranch I believe and was on crutches. I covered them with Grass hay I rolled out of a round bale and attached it with some plastic zip ties. I check them from time to time and if they need some upkeep I fix it and get out. They almost resemble a big hay bale.

[camoman1]

So far I have only turkey hunted out of the pop ups I have. Mainly because all but one are too small for me to draw my bow in. I do have a big one that I plan on campin out in all day during november.

I do gun hunt out of ground bllind though. I normally make a few wooden stakes(flat sided), and push them in the ground in sort of a triangle shape in front of a good tree. I use a triangle so I only have two square shapes instead of three. Then I take some camo burlap and staple it to the stakes making sure that it wont flap in the wind. Lean some branches in front and against it and there you have it...Just make sure the burlap isnt so high you cant shoot out of it, but high enough that the deer dont see ya squirmin around;)

(The burlap will eventual fade and need to be replaced)

[buckee]

I have a couple of spots I use ground blinds only because of lack of good trees. I didn't want to leave my double bull out for long periods of time because of the close proximity of some houses. I was afraid of someone with sticky fingers. So I built them out of Cattle Panels and steel post's. I also bought some cheap flat black cloth at walmart and covered the inside like a double bull. It helps with not getting back lighted. I actually got the idea from a Monster Bucks Video where Bill was hunting the Perlitz Ranch I believe and was on crutches. I covered them with Grass hay I rolled out of a round bale and attached it with some plastic zip ties. I check them from time to time and if they need some upkeep I fix it and get out. They almost resemble a big hay bale.

I wouldn't mind seeing some pictures of those. Sounds great:cool:

Here's the ones I make

http://www.realtree.com/forums/showthread.php?p=924414&highlight=Fence+blind#post924414

Edited May 29, 2009 by buckee

[Illinois59]

Wow buckee. Those are some sweet ground blinds. I have lived in houses that didn't look that nice.

[ildrhntr]

Next time I drive over there I will take some photo's