posted
My observations and experiences have been that
1) Pop up fully enclosed blinds have not worked when setting up the same day of the hunt. Rarely see deer let alone get into shooting range.
2)Using 3d cover cloth and burlap stapled to wooden posts set up same day of the hunt see deer but they skirt away and avoid shooting ranges.
3) Just using natural ground blinds and good camo. With this I saw the most deer other than treestand and harvested deer and had many shooting opportunities
From looking at my hunting journal option 3 was the most productive but least used because from years of marketing I think I need that other stuff. I think natural blinds and a Shaggie will be my goto this year!
Anyone have any different experiences?
-------------------- More bows than I should have! Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Posts: 740 | From: SE Michigan | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
My conclusions as well. I have found that it does not take a lot of cover to be effective and that cover behind you is as effective as cover in front. I have a spot where I have had deer within 12-15 yards every year for the last three years and I have NO concealment in front of me at all, but a bunch of stuff behind that breaks up my outline. I have never understood the concept of buying commercial blinds then brushing them in so the deer can't make them out--just use the brush for a natural blind that you don't have to bother taking in and out--or somebody stealing.
Posts: 2831 | From: Charleston, WV | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
i agree with both posts 100%...... i had 2 different bucks within 5 yards last year.... no cover in front of me , but a huge rootball at my back. Of more importance is wind in the face...if the wind is wrong, they will probably wind you before getting close enough to shoot....another issue is drawing when they are at 5 yds with out getting busted............Im still learning, but patience is key....Remember! if they are that close ..they have no idea youre there ! Take your time and dont rush your shot...There is no better rush than ground pounding.
-------------------- TGMM Family of the Bow
"There's a race of men that dont fit in, A race that can't stay still; So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will" Robert Service Posts: 3506 | From: dansville ,michigan | Registered: Jan 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
A Shaggie Long Coat, face and hand camo, some natural cover (make sure you have brush behind you as well as in front). Play the wind, don't move, and there you go!!
-------------------- "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit" Harry S Truman
TGMM Family of the Bow Posts: 4010 | From: Lenexa, Ks | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I keep a ball of hemp gardening twine in my pack so I can quickly lash extra branches were I neeed them in making a ground blind.....and if I dont make it back to that particular spot the twine rots away.....
-------------------- Bowhunting is "KILL and EAT" not "Catch and Release".....Semper Fi! Posts: 1188 | From: Zville OH | Registered: Feb 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have shot a bunch of deer with just a strap on tree seat and no camo, my wife just sits on a stool against a cluster of two or more trees. Her trick is to stare at her shoes until it is time to shoot and not look at the deer. A couple of deer back, she shot one that walked five feet behind her while she was sitting exposed on a dead fall trunk. Nothing beats a stool sitting between a triangle of small cedars, that is what we try to use most of the time.
Posts: 2553 | From: Iowa | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Terry put up a drawing of 2 trees pulled over with a rope and tent spike to make an awesome ground blind.I am going to try that this year.If you search ground blinds you may find the thread.
-------------------- Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don’t have that problem. —President Ronald Reagan Posts: 7953 | From: NJ to GA back to NJ =Lost ;) | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am going to do more hunting off the ground with natural blinds this season too. It's getting harder to lug in a stand not to mention the sweating . Its hot down south. Im just going to carry my DB chair and my shears and some twine if needed and a fanny pack with water and such. One advantage is that I can get futher away from some of the other hunters by going light on the equipment.
-------------------- 66"Howard Hill Big 5 50#@27" 68"Northern Mist Classic 50#@27" 67" Howard Hill Half Breed 53@27" Posts: 1000 | From: Alabama | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
How much movement do you feel you can get away with in a Shaggie with some natural cover around. I am not looking to impress wild life with my dance moves but looking through the binoculars level of movement? If you cant do that maybe the binos stay in the SUV.
I had used basicaly ground forts my 8 year old son likes to build with me almost split rail style from deadfalls. Looking to go more minimalist this year with the shaggie.
-------------------- More bows than I should have! Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Posts: 740 | From: SE Michigan | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
I hunt from the ground and some times I'm pretty wide open. Shot a deer from this set up right after taking the pic. The deer came in from the left side of the picture.
-------------------- I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! Posts: 3020 | From: Stroud Township ,PA | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just put some ground blinds in with some friends last weekend. It's 5 or six weeks till the season opens so they should be all ready to go. One has 4 shooting lanes out to 22 yards. The other you can shoot just about 360 degrees out to 25 yards in a couple of spots. Runways near on both blinds just hope the wind is good. In the big woods it changes constantly. May have a crack at turkey and bear also!
-------------------- In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's there are few...So the most difficult thing is always to keep your beginner's mind...This is also the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner. Shunryu Suzuki Posts: 9298 | From: tribes hill , new york | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Natural cover is my favorite but its not always easy to find. I'm thinking about bringing a tent stake and some rope, maybe even some burlap with me this year.
With public land, you can't always hunt in the same spot.
-------------------- Nick Viau Michigan Longbow Association Council Member Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Michigan Bowhunters Stick and String Field Editor/Advisor Posts: 575 | From: Grand Rapids, Michigan | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
