GROUNDBLIND users?????

[Bullfrog 1]

I am really considering trying a ground blind. What are the disadvantages vs a treestand if any? Any other thoughts? Thanks.  BILL

[Charlie Lamb]

It's a bit unhandy to leave your stand out for weeks at a time letting critters (deer) get use to it and exposing it to thieves.

They need to be very well camoed when set up for deer and hunted the same day.

Some times you don't have the early warning advantage of elevation.

They can be very deadly if used correctly.
Are very comfortable to hunt from. Wind, rain, cold can all be overcome.

[Arwin]

I don't like the limited viewing of a ground blind but they are really sweet on cold days or bad weather.
 Keep the inside as dark as possible and keep the windows behind you closed. Only open a minimal amount of windows and brush that sucker in heavy!! Some may have had different experiences but the deer where I hunt turn inside out if you don't brush it in heavy.
 I also like to break up the outline of the windows by purposely putting a bunch of brush in front of them and cutting out shooting lanes. Spray it down with scent eliminator and try not to store your blind somewhere smelly.
 Curious to see the responses on here as I wanna use mine more but seem to have minimal luck. I did get a very nice 9 point close last year till he noticed the window. since then I brush those in like mentioned above.

[Brian Krebs]

I have had some really neat experiences with ground blinds; like a bear that used the nape of my neck pressed against the blind to put its foot on while sniffing the blind.
 
 I had a doe walk up behind me this fall and stick its head through the window- and yes...we were both very surprised.

 But- brushing them in; and letting them sit has its disadvantages.
 I had a blind on the river below my place on a friends property.
 Another neighbor saw me; and told me how much he appreciated my ability not to shoot big bucks while waiting for a really huge buck.
 After a few seconds of basking in my fame; I asked what he meant.
 " Well " he says "every morning there are big 8 and ten pointers walking by your blind; and you never even shoot at them!".

 I only hunted that stand in the evenings.

So - other than theft and public humiliation... ground blinds can be fun.     :rolleyes:

[fido dog]

I just spent several days is a few. This was my first hunting experience. I had a Bull Elk 2 feet from me and a Buffalo about 7 feet at the closest. It was a rush enjoying them. Fun to say the least. =0)

You can build them CHEAP! Steel fencing pieces cut to however wide for the sides you want and cut out shooting windows. Weave the rest of the holes with branches of whatever tree type it's near. Blends right in and you can really take in the scenery. They can stay outside for years and all you do is replace the foliage on them. I'm going to put one on a buddy's land for hogs. Then we can move it in the bed of a truck later.

[Pinecone]

I love ground blinds!  As others have said, they need to be brushed-in (except for turkey hunting) and ideally, put up in advance of the hunt, but the advantages are usually worth the inconveniences.  They keep you dry, break the wind, conceal movement, help control scent, and give you a great view of the critters.  One thing to note, however, is the need to make sure you have a bow that you can draw without hitting the top or sides of the blind.  

Claudia

[Altiman94]

As already sais, u can have good success from a ground blind.  I have one out behind my house that I leave out all year and have seen deer very close out of it.  You just don't gain the added advantage of seeing the deer a long way off usually, but they are very comfortable.  Also extremely deadly while turkey hunting.

[koger]

I have taken the majority of my deer over the years form ground blinds, 15 years ago before they were popular. I have made them in dozer piles, I have planted Pine Blinds, in a 8 foot square and weave the limbs together, camo cloth inside. I have several pop  up, recently bought a Yukon Tracks Enforcer, love it. My last 12 deer have all been trad deer, 11 from a  ground blind, and took 1 turkey last year, 4 this fall, all from a ground blind.Patience, keep it dark, bushed in for deer.Pinecone//Claudia got it right above. I hunt more comfortable, hunt longer, and that adds up to more success often for me. Sam.

[longarrow]

[GingivitisKahn]

Originally posted by Brian Krebs:
...like a bear that used the nape of my neck pressed against the blind to put its foot on while sniffing the blind...

Cooooool!

[GingivitisKahn]

Nothing wrong with building hasty ground blinds.  The cost is zilch and they are self-brushing.  If you make them right, they just look like forest debris.  The concealment isn't as good, I suppose, as a store bought one, but the view and the checkbook impact are both better.

[Sam McMichael]

I make my gound blinds using camo burlap. There are many blowdowns on my property, so I just pile brush up all around the blind, and it naturally fits into the landscape. The burlap adds a lot to concealment as it mask movement in the blind. True, it doesn't last more than a season but is cheap and easy to replace. I just can't maneuver around in the tent blinds with my 68" longbow.