Ground blinds and nervous deer?

[traditional beagle]

First year using a ground blind. I like the concept that my scent is probably somewhat concealed within the blind. But the deer are extremely cautious to come within my shot range of 15 yds or less. Is it important to brush the blind in and use the window screens. I am using the screens but have trouble judging distance through them. Once the deer get within 30 yds. they start staring and get nervous and usually just ease out of the area. Ideas please. Thanks

[highpoint forge]

Screw the window screens, camo head to toe, don't get winded and just cut a small hole to shoot through, or two. also hold still so get a comfy chair. Chances are they smell you. Also you need to really squirm into a bush to get super hidden.....

[OS]

I have taken many deer and turkey from pop up blinds Yes brush them in if setting up in cover in wide open fields don't.  With deer I use the screens and wear all black inside. Only open a few windows that you will be shooting from this way you are always sitting in shadows.  If you lean forward to shadow a open window they will bust you in a heart beat.  Turkey and hogs I leave screens down but again always in all black, when possible set up so that the sun is behind where your shooting windows are and you will be sure to stay in shadow.  Good Luck

[metsastaja]

I wear black when hunting out of blind. even bought black gloves.

[highpoint forge]

I thought you meant brush blind, not pop up ground blind. My last setup was inside a white Myrtle bush with lots of surrounding bushes in south Texas last Xmas. I was no further than 10-12' from a clearing with a feeder. I had a 12-15" opening directly ahead. When the deer came in, they walked from behind me to the feeder, literally within a few feet of me. My heart was pounding the whole time. Only one day did they not show up. I had my shot on my very first deer. The grizzly old 9 point buck ducked the shot, and I shot high too. He looked around after hearing the arrow hit the brush behind him, then walked off. Exhilarated yes, disappointed a little, hooked for sure! Getting one on the ground is the ultimate. I'm hunting right now, and brought my Ghillie. Hunted last week Wed-Sat, and deer were not coming in to the feeders.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I always wonder why so many people go through all the trouble with a pop up blind. All the brushing in etc. I just make a little ground blind with some cover, mostly I just use my torges style seat on a tree that has some good cover around. I guess the pop up might be a little more comfortable, but it just seams like a lot of work.

[Steelhead]

In my experience where I hunt deer have been very leery of the pop up ground blinds.

I would definatly brush them in very well and break up the outline on the edges.Deer see that in a hearbeat.The roof line needs to be broken up as well and backgound cover helps.kinda a hassle

I dont use em anymore.Never did much.A natural ground blind is better.Or build one you build from natural materials to match your surroundings.

An Apache model pyrimid style blind (made in MI.) is more natural and less obtrusive and I liked those more for deer hunting.Had better luck with them.Plus you dont feel as clostraphobic in them since your not enclosed completly.You hear better,see better and enjoy the hunt more.

Turkeys dont seem to pick up on the pop up blinds.But the deer are more leery of them in my experience for sure.

[Stone Knife]

I brush mine in especially the roof, I also like to set it up under a hemlock tree or some kind of shade. Keep the sun to the back of the blind and know your distance before hand don't guess. I have a bout a 50/50 rate of nervous and not nervous deer. Jerry the reason we go through the trouble is because when it all comes together and you get that 10 yard shot, it's pretty neat.

[Tom Leemans]

Gotta brush it in. Imagine if you came home to find that someone put up a pup tent in your front yard. You think you would notice?

[Zradix]

Originally posted by Tom Leemans:
Gotta brush it in. Imagine if you came home to find that someone put up a pup tent in your front yard. You think you would notice?

That is a good way to put it.
If you want to be hidden you gotta hide.
The deer notice things that are different.
They are wary of ANYTHING different...not just you.
If you don't camo the blind they'll be extra nervous around it.

If you can leave the blind up a week or so they'll get accustomed to it.

Might be worth just scrapin the pop up if you gotta carry it, make noise puttin it up and down, and brush it in every time.

I used to hunt all the time out of a pop up.
I got tired of it and made a couple nice deadfall blinds. Works better for me. Just not portable.

I'll still pull out the penthouse on rainy days though.

I went so far 2 yrs ago I planted a bunch of Thuja to grow a blind. They're doin ok.
In a couple more years I'll be able to hunt from in them. Just trim a few shootin holes.


Good luck!!
     

[bolong]

I have just as good sucess using a natural ground blind. Doesn't have to be much.

[joekeith]

Pop ups are great if ya can leave 'em up without gettin' stolen.
They're ideal for takin' along a kid, or the wife who is finally startin' to hunt.
They're real nice if your tryin' to film your hunt.
I've found that with my Arthritis it's good to be able to stand up and stretch every once in awhile.
Oh yeah...you can get pretty comfy in there too.  

[traditional beagle]

I have always used natural blinds but thought that this might work for my close hunts. The blind was set for a week before I ever hunted it but I should have put some brush on it I guess. Thanks for the info.

[wapiti792]

I have an old pop up that got trampled by cows durin turkey season. On my farm I leave it up all year in the same travel route but when bucks start cruising the area I slip in put up one of my good ones. It works as the resident does are used to it and the bucks looking for does could care less  

[Bill Carlsen]

I shot this buck from the blind in the background the afternoon this pic was taken. He refused to come into range in front of the blind. He showed up about 15 minutes after I got in the blind and my hands and face were bare. He could see me from the front even with the mesh down. He walked back and forth in front of the blind 6 times in an hour. I am sure he could not smell me by his actions. He could make me out in the blind without the mask and gloves but he wasn't sure what I was. He decided to leave on the trail he came in on which was nine paces off to my side. I was able to get an arrow thru the viewing area with the mesh down. He was nine paces from the blind when I shot him.  The first thing I do now when I get in the blind is put on my black glove liners and my black face mask.

When we went to retrieve him the next AM I had my wife sit in the blind. With her face mask off I could see her face thru the mesh.

The blind was brushed in on all sides except for the front which was only partially brushed in.

 

[maxplan]

I have a DB Recurve model and haven't used it much at all.  I did shoot a big Mulie out of a brushed in blind that had been up for several days. Blind hunting also requires us to be xtra quiet and have the ground clear of any debris.
I also use a Ghillie and they are amazing.  I killed two deer both at about 14 yards and neither of them knew what  was even though they looked right through me. I'm going tpo try it on Hogs in Texas.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

"I always wonder why so many people go through all the trouble with a pop up blind. All the brushing in etc. I just make a little ground blind with some cover, mostly I just use my torges style seat on a tree that has some good cover around. I guess the pop up might be a little more comfortable, but it just seams like a lot of work."  Jerry Jeffer

Because Jerry sometimes you have a perfect spot but the wind swirls terrible all the time no matter what the wind direction. And don't try to tell me you can be scent free all the time every time. Been there,, done that, tried that, dosen't always work. I love natural blinds too but Pop ups have there purpose.

This is the third blind in this spot since 2007, Fantastic place but the wind will hit you from ever direction everytime you hunt it.

 

Turkeys, Deer, Bobcats, Coyotes you name it and it has been shot out of this spot. Tried stands and natural blinds and always get winded, Not in the popup though.

Tracy

[BobCo 1965]

We usually get a spot we like set up and brushed in in the spring before the leaves are on teh trees. We also get lanes cut out if needed. Then we remove the blind for the summer and get it set back up about 2 weeks before hunting. We've had deer within 5 yards each year in this setup.

 

[greyghost]

Never used the pop-ups myself just natual cover.

But I guess for some it would serve its purpose.

I hunt 90% public land so for me that pop-up would be gone in a day.


Earl

[LBR]

I agree with Joe Keith--there are some great advantages to pop-up blinds.  My friends and I have spent hours and hours building "natural" blinds, and had very little luck.  They don't help with your scent, movement will still get you busted, they can't be taken down and moved, they take much longer to build than a pop-up takes to set up.....they have practically none of the advantages of a pop-up.

Blinds aren't magic--they are a tool, just like your bow, arrows, etc.  Learning to use them properly gets you the best results.  We've had great results with them, and as best I can tell the deer here are as wary as any.  We have one of the biggest populations of hunters per capita, and one of the longest seasons--they have a reason to be nervous.

'Course everyone has their preferances.  For the last few years mine has been a pop-up blind.  They do have their limitations--they need to be set out at least a week or two before season starts, and left out if possible.  They cost more than a natural blind (well, sometimes).  They need to be set up properly, and in some cases need to be "brushed in".  Compared to the rest of the "work" I do for hunting, this is a piece of cake.

Chad