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I’m considering buying a tent blind to use for the controlled deer hunt. I’ve Successfully used a tree stand for years but age is catching up with me. I love the view from the tree stand, but seem to get busted by any decent buck. Good idea? Ground blind tips?
I use both but prefer the ground blind as its rather nice when it's windy and snowing and the propane heater is running.
Ground blinds for us. You won't get hurt in a ground blind. Deer don't bust you and it's much nicer in crap weather. My hunting partner is in his 70's and has decided no more tree stands for the rest of his hunting
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More and more from a ground blind these days. Always had more success in a permanent platform type tree stand than the ladder style stands. I would get busted in a ladder stand more often than sitting in a chair on the ground.
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At this point I still use both...different hunting locations and conditions require different approaches.
Still like a tree stand for longer range visibility, I wrap a burlap screen around the front/sides to cover any movement with my hands of legs, very rarely get busted.
But yes, in foul weather that comfy chair in a pop-up sure makes a difference on how long I'll can stay out. :)
Looks like I'll be hunting from both. I've been watching my target buck come out in the same place but too far from my treestand for a comfortable shot and may not even see him with the leaves still on for early bow season. I'll be putting up a ground blind closer to where he is coming into the fresh seeding. Or I'll sit in the long grass against a tree at least until the frost knocks the crap out of the undergrowth.
Your decision should be based on the specific hunting site, your physical capabilities and comfort. Some sites are best hunted from an elevated platform while others from the ground. If you opt to go with a ground blind, if possible, set it up in advance of your hunt so deer become accustomed to it. Also, try to blend it into the natural surroundings. Even though it may have a camouflaged pattern, it might still stand out.
Started out hunting out of a Tree Stand only. And as mentioned by others started finding my self in the blind more and more. Easier to get in and out of, less gear to bring and keeps me dry and warm when it crappy out. But do enjoy both still.
For myself, it's strictly ground blind. I've got a "pop-up" and a semi permanent I use. The semi is put up and taken down each year as that is what the land owner asks of me. Its comfy with my Mr. Buddy heater and swivel office chair! My day's of swaying in the cold wind are long gone.
Ground blind 6'X6' so you can use as tent for the night and for ice fishing to.
Closed cell foam for floor little propane fireplace .... Cot for the night ...
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Originally Posted by ysyg
That sound like a nice change. How long before the hunt do you put up the pop up? I will only be using it for a week.
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Originally Posted by Bushmoose
The pop-up is more of a backup. The area I hunt has a few nice rocky ridges that I can overlook without fear of alarming the deer of its presence. Depending on the wind and conditions, I'll use it as an alternative to the semi which I'll erect in the next few weeks as soon as I get my arse in gear and do it? LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by ysyg
We still hunt ladder stands for deer and black bear. We are looking at putting up platforms with wood huts on top for warmth and comfort. Looking like this winters project to build a bunch for us old farts. The young lads still want to hunt out of ladder stands......for now lol
If you build box blinds on stilts use wood boards for floor not plywood. Plywood won’t hold up unless your better builders than us. Lol
Three soft blinds stay out year round two more will go up this or next week
5 wood box blinds 4 tree stands. 5 soft blinds everyone gets two different sits
We have never used a treestand for the controlled hunt. Our gang has hunted these properties for 30+ years. Only reason we don't is land owners don't want any stands there. We are only allowed to hunt the 1 week of the shotgun hunt so we don't want to put up stand the day before the hunt.
We all sit against trees or bushline, No blinds or anything. We don't have any problems getting deer every year.
In fact I pretty much sit in a different spot everyday depending on wind direction.
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Thanks for the tip....much appreciatedQuote:
Originally Posted by js4fn
I have kinda gone in reverse. Used to hunt almost exclusively from the ground. Hit my mid 50s and discovered the Summit climbers and they are now my goto. Super portable and comfortable but they do require some effort to get up the tree with your firearm and pack hanging off your harness.
I do hang on,TrophyLine Saddle ,Climber and sitting against tree trunk.
Each have their reasons why i use them there.I find myself more leaning towards sitting against tree trunk lately.But i climb trees 60-70 % of my hunts.
No pop up blind or ladder for me(hunting mainly public-so i recon easier to hide few screw in tree steps for a hang on,or for the saddle,or climb a straight tree with the climber.
Nothing wrong with sitting against a tree trunk(like turkey hunters do)if you have some cover around to break up your silhouette.Or sitting in a tree row ,overlooking a runway on an angle,if you sit back 20-30 yards and never cross the runway so not to leave your scent-the deer will never know you are there.
We use Ground Blinds because we hunt from the middle of the field. i made you kinda a diagram of what we do, the blinds are way more spaced apart throught the field it was just a quick sketch hahah ( the red squares are our blinds everything to the left of the green line is trees and then swamp further back west)
Attachment 40745
we basically know they come out to eat from the swamp and from cover into the field where we go, so its much easier to just wait until they come out to the open field for us rather than sit in a tree stand and only be able to see 1 lane. not to mention what a couple guys already said about how its way warmer.
i bring
cabelas 360 swivel chair https://www.cabelas.ca/product/60191...60-blind-chair
Mr buddy heater https://www.amazon.ca/F232000-000-BT...12969175&psc=1
a rug for the floor because theres usually snow and once my heater is going for a while it becomes a muddy soggy pit
and i picked one of these up this year im gunna try out, its basically a shelf for your ground blind https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
im usually the only one who will go sit in a another spot for the afernoon hunt or something for a day, when i do that its usually on a treeline
Thanks for the info and links. Looks a lot more comfortable than my tree stand. I see deer almost every time I’m in the stand, rarely a decent buck though. Is the success rate good from the open field blind?
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Originally Posted by Bowjob
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Originally Posted by ysyg
np, We hunt on a farm weve known the land owner for decades now, not going to lie to you, the land we go to is a gold mine haha the bucks come from the swamp through the treeline into the open field to feed, on the other side of the field theres also just piles of potatos (not perfect enough for the company buying them) so that spot is also great to go to cause its basically a buffet for them haha. we have success everytime. i have a few videos of us there during spring tukey actually and while i was sitting ont he floor i literally seen dozens of deer running across the field where we put out blinds every year, ill try and get the videos up for ya :)
If you can blend the blind in some the deer should be less skittish. Put one between a few bales of hay? A cousin of mine used to have pretty good success making a triangular blind from 3 round bales.Quote:
Originally Posted by ysyg
Another word of caution, if you use a pop up hub style blind make sure you support the centre roof hub if you leave it set up and unattended. Rain and snow can collapse the centre hub and/or break it, and it also stretches out the fabric making it "flappy" afterwards.
Make yourself some really stout stakes and use the guy wires with the blind rather than tent pegs to keep it down in the wind.
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keep in mind we are turkey hunting at the moment int he videos, so the last 2 videos in basically along that field we set our blinds up looking to the right into the trees, the deer here like to run across the field sometimes to the neighbors to feed as well.
we use to do that, the farmer on our property had some family problems recently so we havent bothered him to bring out the haybales, and yes i agree get better pegs for sure, what are the "guy wires" youre talking about? ill check that out thanksQuote:
Originally Posted by GW11
ah i see what youre talking about, might give that a try this year thanks
Yeah extend the lines outward from the hubs and stake the blind down on all 4 sides, driving the stake in at an angle. I don't even use the tent pegs, they just get lost in the ground.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowjob
Don't trip over them in the dark...lol
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going to princess auto tomorrow looooolQuote:
Originally Posted by GW11
We are 3-4 guys in our early 50's. We hunt a large family farm in Niagara and have 11 permanently mounted stands & blinds on the property - plus we each use a ground blind and I have a climber. Over time, and as we got older, we have been replacing the old(er) tree pegs/hang on stands with ladder stands stands simply because it is easier to get up and down and provides a more comfortable sit.
Presently we have a 11 different hunting options depending on location, wind direction and time of year.
4 x single ladder stands
3 x double ladder stands
2 x perm mounted blinds
2 x Bubba'd stands......hang on tree stands with TV antenna's (they are slated to be replaced with double ladder stands - one this year and one in 2021)
https://i.imgur.com/RCJ4i0h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lKzNA7n.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UTt9EVB.jpg
I love the perm blinds or ground blinds for all day sits, or sits in the rain or snow because you have room to move about - read, eat or simple to adjust your position. They are great to hunt in but sometimes climbers offer the best views around.......in areas that do not see hunting pressure.
https://i.imgur.com/Hk4OZF0.jpg
......yes we were drinking when we camo'd the blinds.
hahaaahha hey they look good, when my dream comes true of owning some land this is the plan for me. good stuff! my uncle has a property build similar blinds, he actually has glass sliding windows on them too. i really like the first one alot! well done .Quote:
Originally Posted by 410001661
Thanks......ya that first one is a special one. I built it with a guy from our camp that is no longer with us - he passed away in 2016. There is a little memorial plaque on the bottom for him. As in life, the stand has not been able to harvested squat, but each of us spend an evening or two in it during the bow season - it is being moved this weekend to a new home on the property so hopefully the luck changes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowjob
Awesome blinds and I'm sure your friend wants some success from the blind he helped build....keep us posted
Ah sorry to hear that, im sure you'll get something soon in it, dont scratch the paint job! goodluck this season!Quote:
Originally Posted by 410001661
hey just to send ya a update i went to princess auto today grabbed some of that wire and the bolt connections and some new 12 inch stakes, looking forward to this year! thanks for the little tip, question tho, do the deer seem to care about he shinny wire?? i plan to just spray paint it if i have to but im just curious on that. thanks! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by GW11
I ground hunt without a blind well. Allows me to move into a better position if I see deer in the distance not heading into range, or if the wind changes.Quote:
Originally Posted by SongDog
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A saddle is a great way to hunt.
Saddlehunter.com
Mobile, light and not bulky
https://youtu.be/XcGh5yPV52Y
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Or FB. Saddlehunter Canada
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/4552...871/?ref=share
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Sounds like you've taken it up a notch! I just use ropes or the cords that come with the hub style blinds for the wires and a few cut saplings for stakes. The thinner cord has snapped in the wind before so I'll only be using rope from now on I think. About your question on deer being spooked by your setup... if you set it up a couple of weeks in advance the deer will get used to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowjob
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yeah i noticed what you were talking about after the fact haha, its okay tho, ive had issues with my tent being blow away/ i have suspicions the neighbor may be just taking the stakes out and letting ti fly or stealing it. basically what i did was cut a couple feet of this wire and used the closing clips to lock them around simple pull locks. i wrapped the wire and attachments in black tape so the shiny wire or metal parts wont clack or spook the deer with he glare. on the other sides of the wire i put them through the hole in a peg and locked them in place as well. if my blind magically disappears this year ill know for a fact its the neighbor, ive also bought a trail camera for this year but i think im going to be putting that in a spot i plan to hunt a couple mornings during the controlled hunt. none the less thanks for the idea haha it turned out really well.Quote:
Originally Posted by GW11
I just bought my first ground blind. CT on sale $89. It can be put up in less than 5 min and looks good. I plan to use it where a fence line meets a small bush that deer pass through often. Looks like a decent tent for $89
Get it out of the box and set it up outside if possible they have that new material smellQuote:
Originally Posted by ysyg
Good advice, thanks and I’m on it. Will set up outside for a week before it goes in the field. I plan to cut some spruce and cedar to lay against the sides tooQuote:
Originally Posted by js4fn
May buy one of those blinds myself for this season.
A word of caution with ground blinds, As good as they can be comfort and movement wise they are still no substitute for hunting the wind, even those carbon impregnated material ones. I've been busted on a cold December late afternoon when it seemed like there wasn't a breeze. Like three times in the next forty minutes I heard snorting. I don't smoke, I'm always finicky about scent control including fresh shower with no scent soaps and all the spray precautions before I leave the vehicle. I don't use heaters, there is always an odor from combustion. I have a extra large set of mitts with 6hr hand warmers in my coat pockets and good thinsulate shooting gloves on for when it comes time for action. Along with with good boots and foot warmers over the toes between a pair of wool socks and you can last a long time, in a blind or not. Depending on the property it makes you much more mobile to hunt elsewhere as conditions change too. I've parked my butt on or with a small folding camping seat and the ground in a little hollow on a hump or up beside a tree or boulder countless times exploring new expanding territory on crown land over the many years we hunted there. I always carry a small camping folding seat and arse heater bag in a haversack. You remember those ones with the chains? You can still get them in the US, come with a carry bag too. I guess what I'm also saying is don't get locked in on a spot just because you have a ground blind or tree stand there. You can have a stand in the hardwoods that might only be good when acorns are falling for a week. It really pays to be versatile.
Cheers
I agree with you Smittty...been using pop-ups for yrs and got busted more than once for no apparent reason other than he picked up my scent while was sitting in the blind. I hunt in a pine forest so I picked up some oil based pine cover scent and I spray all the screen windows with it as soon as I sit. The oil sticks to the screen and any breeze coming in or out will travel across the oil and mask it. It works, rarely have I been snorted at once I'm inside the pop-up.Quote:
Originally Posted by smitty55
I made my own ground blind with three round bales and two pallets... left there all year long..deer walk by it all year long...third year now..and its now my favorite spot to sit..
Hanging off your harness? Don't tell me you climb while having your firearm and pack on you? 30ft bow rope man! Hoist everything up only once you're safely and securely locked in. My bow hoist rope stays on my treestand. I'll use those rubberized gear ties to hold components(in my case, 3 climbing sticks) to the stand, and then wrap the bow rope with the excess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Species8472
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I am an old newbie to this climber thing. Rookie mistake - my hoist rope was too short for the height i was going. So for the last 12 feet i was pulling my rifle, my pack and the climber. Corrected this on my hunt on Sunday and now have 2x 30 foot hoist ropes.Quote:
Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher
Hay bales work great have that sweet smell tooQuote:
Originally Posted by chomper
not sure if i agree to much with the whole scent control thing, my whole group smokes, in the video i posted earlier (i think on page 2) i was smoking and had a brand new burlap ontop of me, now granted it does look like that deer did catch wind of me there, but at the same time doesn't look like they were in that much of a hurry to get outa there too.
i know theres a whole debate on the smoking thing and we could go on for days back and fourth on that topic. :P
we usually crack open our blinds in the backyard and air them out for a couple days and spray down the blinds, thats usually the most well end up doing.
Hey we got two 9 points out of it last year, would have had a doe too but i aimed just a hair to high on her and missed.
whatever works right?!
Funny you put it that way... for all the hours I've spent on tree stands and ground blind placement and clearing shooting lanes, most of the deer I've shot have been while sitting beside a tree or on a knoll in an armless camp chair. Sometimes on a new deer trail I found the day before or a spot that seems to have more activity than where we might have a stand.Quote:
Originally Posted by smitty55
I'd guess half or more have been while hunting from a chair on the ground, 1/4 from built wooden stands, the last quarter from ladder stands and ground blinds.
Totally agree with you and the others here when it comes to versatility. Nothing like finding a good looking spot one day and shooting a deer there that evening or the next morning.
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Young fawns and does can be oblivious to alot of things that mature bucks and does catch onto quickly. Scent control is important for after the hunt moreso then during the hunt. During the hunt you can play the wind, after the hunt is another story. A deer that walks in your scent cone will pick up on the foreign smells and it can affect deer movement in the area for quite some time. Reducing your scent (eliminating it is impossible) is a good practice. The less scent you leave in an area the better chances the deer wont catch onto a hunter being around. A deer that smells a strong human presence is less likely to return anytime soon to the area but if there is just a bit of scent, they wont necessarily be as alarmed. Check out Ken Nordberg on YouTube, hes a wildlife researcher and deer hunter of 60 years experience, this guy knows his stuff and has greatly studied the affect that humans have on deer and deer movement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowjob
I fell asleep in my tree stand..hell, i fell asleep in my ground blind too. But i didnt have as far to fall at least. I guess my snoring must sound like a grunt and the chair made a rattling sound cuz I got a nice buck that morning.