posted
I just put out a commercial ground blind yesterday to sit on a funnel where I have been seeing lots of deer. A buddy had one and we had to set it up in a ditch so that I could stand up. Even in the ditch, I had to cant the bow quite a bit to get clearance for the top limb; this blind was obviously not designed with stickbows in mind. Anyhow, I shot a couple of arrows out of it when we set it up, and all was well. This morning, I woke up to about 6 inches of heavy, wet snow, but was not deterred. I had to set the blind back up in the dark, because the snow had collapsed it, but again, no problems. The deer were very active, and the snow continued, but when a nice buck came in and stood broadside at about 15 yards, I was tasting the backstraps already. Wrong! I picked a spot and let fly, only for the top limb to hit the top of the blind, and I watched my arrow fly over the buck. Oh well, no harm no foul, and the deer are really moving. Buck #2 comes along about 30 minutes later; I have practiced now with my cant, so the limb doesn't connect with the ceiling again. This buck gives me a broadside at around 20 yards. Guess what??!!?? Limb tip hits the ceiling again, and Mr. Buck leaves the country. The snow has continued to weigh down the roof, and again I don't give enough cant to compensate. I have been hunting a lot this season, and have been waiting for a perfect shot at a decent buck, and then I blow 2 shots in half an hour. I left disgusted with my lack of attention to a little detail, but tomorrow, I will return, and hopefully I will have enough presence of mind to compensate if and when another buck presents himself. We now have about a foot of heavy snow, and I am sure that in the morning I will be setting the blind back up from collapse, but with luck I will give my bow enough cant to do it right then. The setup is just too good to blow another golden opportunity.
These two little guys are feeding happily under 10 yards from the blind. Now, if I can only get another buck to cooperate, even I should be able to hit him.
-------------------- Heroes don't wear capes, they wear dogtags. Posts: 2516 | From: WY - East face of the Bighorns | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
I have only turkey hunted from my blind. It is not the recurve model so it is a little short. I simply shoot from my knees and it works very well.
-------------------- Time spent alone in the woods puts you closer to God.
"Can't" never accomplished anything. Posts: 932 | From: Wayne City,IL/Mancos,CO | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Bisch: Good luck. it is hard in the heat of the moment when everything is on automatic to remember little things. I hate commercial tent blinds!
posted
Inside the blind, dig a hole in front of where you sit for the bottom of your lower limb. When you raise your bow, the lower limb is in the hole and you won't have to cant your bow.
It's a small detail, but paying attention to details makes for successful shots when the moment of truth arrives.
posted
Danny, it was 4 degrees here when I went out this morning plus a 20 mph wind. Rather brisk. No shots from the blind this morning; several does were shootable, but the bucks stayed too far out. Maybe tomorrow, and it is even supposed to warm up a little.
-------------------- Heroes don't wear capes, they wear dogtags. Posts: 2516 | From: WY - East face of the Bighorns | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Been there done that with a barely too short blind that you think you can make work but drives you insane first. Got a tall one now.
You can cut a 2 by 4 or thick branch to length to shove under the center hub in the roof section to keep it from collapsing when your not hunting. I always pop a nice sturdy stick in place before i leave a blind during snow season. Those collapses can break some of the hubs and rods etc on some blinds.
Posts: 1732 | From: montana | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Been there, done that. 52" recurve solved the problem nicely.
-------------------- "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward Black Widow PSAV 42#@29 Howard Hill Redman 45#@29 Northern Mist Superior 43#@28 Blue Ridge Snowy Mt 51#@30" Posts: 676 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2004
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