Ground Blind question

[T.Leo]

I have never hunted out of a ground blind and wanted some opinions on them. I want it for archery hunting spring turkey but will probably try it some for deer this coming fall too. Also, for deer hunting out of these, do you just spray them down with scent eliminator or set them outside for a while? Any replies as what kind to get or not to get would be appreciated.

[punisher]

i usally just take them out too spot i want them and set them up and spray them down good about 2 months before huntin season.

[OhioHunter88]

any hub-style blind is what i would reccomend, they fold up like the folding chairs, and makes it alot easier, i typically spray them down, if you are going to use it for deer, make sure you brush it in real good.


Kaleb

[tightline]

My Eastmen Outfitter blind is carbon impregnated,it works well but I still spray it down with Jackie's Fresh Earth just in case.Try to get one with Shadow Block thats a biggie.Deer can see your shadow if you hunt with the windows open.I have shoot through windows on mine.I have had deer walk up against mine occasionally so I know it is pretty much scent free,my biggest reason for hunting with these is being able to hunt on the fly, easy set up and take down...

[Nimrod]

This was my first season of seriously using a ground blind. As mentioned above try to get the blind to blend in with a surrounding bush, tree, corn, weeds. My blind was set next to a huge oak tree. the bad part was limbs fell from the tree and ripped the roof. I know of another hunter who had his blind damaged by limbs. Thank goodness they were un-occupied. I have also had problems with snow causing the roof to fold inward. I would recommend placing the blind in an area you can see game coming from a distance so your not caught off guard and trying to make movements with the animal close enough to bust you. With deer it is usually necessary to place the blind ahead of time to give the local deer time to accept the new fixture in their area. I've been told that turkeys do not care nearly as much if a blind is here today that wasn't yesterday. I would think in the spring the tom only has one thing on his mind!;) Good Luck! BTW, don't forget to wear your safety belt:D

[snelson2221]

My son and I put our ground blind out on a Sunday during archery season and 5 days later I killed an 8-pt buck out of it. No spraying down, very little brushing in, just a few sticks leaning up against it. Had a little portable heater going and a couple of chairs. Kid was very comfortable. Just remember don't shoot mechanical broadheads through "shoot through" windows. Also, as somebody else mentioned they don't like heavy snow. Good luck!

[OhioHunter88]

Also like mentioned above make sure you keep the windows behind you closed, and a black inside helps out. On several occasions in early season I have set my blinds up next to round bales in fields, and had good luck.

[TheCream]

What I have done for my Ameristep Intimidator, since I use the Scent Smoker, is use it as a "smoke house" before I use the blind on deer. I can hang a few coat hangers with my camo on them from the inside top of the blind, sit the Smoker inside, close up the windows, and presto-chango, everything is taken care of in about 10 minutes. :biggrin:

If you don't use a Smoker, my recommendation would be to set it up out in the weather and leave it up for a while. Then, if you are going to hunt deer from it, set it up in advance, brush it in, and then hunt it after a week or so. I've hunted mine, smoked, same day and had good results. For turkeys, it's great because you don't have to cover scent or brush it in! :bouncy:

[bowhunter1023]

If you're smart, you won't buy anything other than a hub-style blind like Kaleb mentioned. They are the cats meow and there are several good ones on the market. I own a Ground Max Escape Deluxe and absolutely love it. Primos owns them now and I plan on purchasing another one to place on top of a platform I am building...

My blinds never see anything but the outdoors. I usually have mine in place by mid-August and I take plenty of time to brush them in. I always try to place them in a location where I know I will only get deer approaching inside that 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock area. This enables me to stay focused on one area, leave the windows closed behind me, and brush the hell out of my blind. I think the most important aspect of blind hunting is making it a part of the landscape around you. This can be accomlished by having the blind properly situated, brushed in, and set-up well in advance to hunting season.

Good luck. I think you will find hunting out of a blind is a fantastic experience...

[TheCream]

If you're smart, you won't buy anything other than a hub-style blind like Kaleb mentioned. They are the cats meow and there are several good ones on the market. I own a Ground Max Escape Deluxe and absolutely love it. Primos owns them now and I plan on purchasing another one to place on top of a platform I am building...

My blinds never see anything but the outdoors. I usually have mine in place by mid-August and I take plenty of time to brush them in. I always try to place them in a location where I know I will only get deer approaching inside that 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock area. This enables me to stay focused on one area, leave the windows closed behind me, and brush the hell out of my blind. I think the most important aspect of blind hunting is making it a part of the landscape around you. This can be accomlished by having the blind properly situated, brushed in, and set-up well in advance to hunting season.

Good luck. I think you will find hunting out of a blind is a fantastic experience...

I completely agree with everything except the "well in advance" part. It is a good idea, but it has been my experience that, if you brush the blind in well enough in the right location, you can hunt in it same day and kill deer. I've done that twice in the last 2 years, once each year, and had deer well within range and oblivious to the blind being there on the same day as the setup.

When you brush it in, one of the most important parts is breaking up the horizontal outline of the top. What I usually do with mine is set it up under an overhanging limb or bushy tree, sort of tucking it underneath. Then brush in the walls, and it more or less disappears in under 20 minutes. You don't have to make it look like a ghillie suit, just break up the ouline of the blind and the dark outline of the windows if you leave the mesh/windows down. :D

[bowhunter1023]

I didn't say you will not kill deer out of blind if you set if up that day. It can be done. But the longer it is part of their environment, the better...

You walk through your living room every day. If you came home and a new picture was hanging on the wall, would you notice it? Most of us would. Do you still notice that picture after two months the same way you did the first day it caught you off guard? Most of us wouldn't. Same principle for a deer walking past a new addition to his living room brush or no brush. A new brush pile is likely to catch Mr. Big's attention the first time he sees it. After two months, he expects it to be there...

[Nimrod]

With deer it is usually necessary to place the blind ahead of time to give the local deer time to accept the new fixture in their area. I've been told that turkeys do not care nearly as much if a blind is here today that wasn't yesterday.

:yeahthat:

[T.Leo]

thanks for all the good advise. I hope to start looking for one real soon and will give it a try in turkey season. My son has a hearing problem and has a hard time staying still when turkey come in so I thought it would be great to try a blind and have him along on the hunt to watch. He is only 7. I also want to give the blind a try for deer this fall. I have a thick creek bottom I want to hunt but there isn't a good tree anywhere close to the crossing to get in with a tree stand and thought a blind just might be the answer. Most of the trees in that area are small scrub brush. Thanks again for all the help.

[wardm]

I have had a blind for several years,grandson killed his first deer out of it,I have killed deer out of it.You can't open very many windows in it at once. I keep a sliver open on the sides to see and as small of opening to shoot out of as possible.wear face mask,gloves,all black if possible. I just bought another blind two weeks ago,it is an Ameristep Dream Season for $249.99 List for$399.99 from Rogers Sporting Goods in Missouri.It has 21 different windows,hub style,Zip out floor,Scent Loc lined, backpack style carry and storage bag, has vertical windows that zip clear to the ground,windows have zippers ,plus magnetic latches so they are silent when hunting, Mossy Oak Tree Stand camo pattern on the outside,Material dosen't shine,67" tall. Can be put on a stand platform also,reason for the windows going to the floor. Taking it to Kansas turkey hunting in April.I really like it and the $249 price was great.Rogers was great to deal with on the phone and there was no shipping.