Whitetail Experts Please Help

[The Hawk]

I'm hunting in Western Kansas prairie grass that's about a foot tall. No trees for miles. I have a Barronett 350 blind (I can't shoot my longbow out of my Double Bull). I have a good trail along a canyon with quite a few deer in the area. I am wondering if I need to make a grass ghillie cover for the blind or do you think I can get away with just setting it up in the open? I have seen that ghilliesuites.com sells ghillie covers for Double Bull sized blinds that look great, do I need to do something like that? I think the deer would be able to see the blind for 200 to 500 yards depending on the direction of approach. Thanks for any thoughts or advice?

[jonsimoneau]

If it has been left out there for a long time the deer will get used to it. If not then you may have better luck brushing it in with natural vegetation.

[The Hawk]

Jonsimoneau, based on your picture, I am putting you in the whitetail expert category. Thanks for the reply, I don't think I can leave it up for long because of the wind and the only vegetation is grass. I am hoping to catch a big buck cruising for does and he may not have been in the area before. If he can see it from 200yds do you think he will just assume it's a non threat or do I need to start making a cover? Thanks.

[KentuckyTJ]

With blinds even in cover it takes some time for the deer to get used to them. Like Jon says I would grass it in. Especially the top outline. What they are really leery of though is the open black holes/windows. Go with shoot through mesh and leave the blind out for a few weeks before hunting it. If you can't leave it I would do something else.

Can you dig a pit to get most your body below ground?

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

I'm no expert but I'd dig a shallow pit blind and grass up the edges. That way there is nothing "different" about the set-up. Just a thought?

[The Hawk]

Thanks guys, you kinda have me thinking I should dig a pit and grass it in instead of using a pop-up blind.

[jonsimoneau]

Hawk I am nowhere NEAR being an expert. I got lucky on the buck in my avitar!  Just relating my experiences while using pop up blinds.  Good luck!

[Bill Carlsen]

It really depends on how long it's been out. I have one on my property that is partially concealed. It seems to be enough. It's been out there over a month. But I have also set them up the same way and have had deer come in that evening. Out in the wide open I think it would be a difficult thing for it to work quickly.

[Mint]

I remember reading about the guys from double bull saying that if the deer can see the blind from over a 100 yards away you did not have to brush it in but anything less and you had to brush it in good. I agree on the black holes and the see through mesh.

[Knawbone]

IF IT LOOKS UNNATURAL TO YOU< IT WILL LOOK LIKE DANGER TO A WARY BUCK>

[KSdan]

Pit blind.

[Kamm1004]

Where can a guy buy some of that shoot thru mesh? I'm looking for some for my home made blind. And how does it affect the shot if your shooting thru it?

[Cory Mattson]

The only situation I am comfortable using pop ups for whitetails is in urban units set next to buildings and structures. The idea of trying to get deer "used" to them doesn't work for me. I have shot whitetails from them in that "getting them used to it" situation but I would never trust my once a year trophy hunt on it. A natural semi blind w a ghillie YES I have much more faith in that. Great drawing on game from a pop up I wished they worked better on whitetails. For you guys who get good results well done I suppose deer in some areas tolerate them OK - the bulk of my time for deer is NC,WV,SC,GA and for the most part by the time they get used to it the season would be over.  

[KSdan]

The more I think of it though, have you considered a bale blind?  You could get some round bales out there- then bring in the bale blind when you are ready to hunt.

[Friend]

Whitetails love pop up blinds.

They love to run from them.

My opinion only: Dig pit on both sides of trail to play the wind. Consider donning a ghillie.
May even utilize, if required, a crop circle board and rope to clear path for shooting lanes and hand trim closer distance to trail.

Best of luck with whatever method you choose.

[longbowben]

I have had no luck with pop up blinds in the open, deer just avoid them.Hay bales work great if the farmer will put some where you need them.If you talk to the farmer i bet he has some old round bales that you could pay him to place them where you need them.