Pit blinds .

[Pine]

I'm thinking​ of making a pit blind for deer hunting this next fall .
Anybody use them ?
Any suggestions on how to set them up ?

[ahab78]

No, but I am interested in this topic. Thanks for posting on it. I'm curious to see what others think about it. I know Asbell covers using them in Stalking and Still Hunting.

[crazynate]

I use them Graps. I have had deer walk so close to me I swear they could hear me breath. I had a lot of trial and error. One thing I learned is the deeper you go the bigger it needs to be width wise so you have room to shoot your bow. What do most of the time is dig them to about the depth of my knees. That way when I'm on my chair I can turn my body and my limb will be out of the way. ( I use my kMag  ) when doing this. To hard with a 60" bow. I set my swivel chair in it. My bow I set in a holder upright to prevent less movement when the deer approaches. Digging a 4-5ft pit doesn't work for us. If you used  gun or xbow you could dig  a small  one width wise but deep and it would work fine. Having enough room to extend your arm and draw your bow requires more room than I realized. I'd rather use my chicken wire and build an above grade one when it comes down to it.  I think they can be just as effective.
.

[Michael Pfander]

Out here its always good to check for critters before you get in.  I only use them for speed goats.  As it happens I got drawn this year.  I use them in the units where there is little or no cover.
MAP

[dhaverstick]

I have several that I hunt out of on my farm. I had my dad dig me two new ones last year along a path we call the Deer Shortcut. I brushed them in with some cedars and they work great. The first night I sat in one I had eight deer come by. I had a doe and fawn I thought were going to get in my hole with me!

Two things you have to look out for: 1) make sure you have clearance for your bottom bow limb. 2) make sure you have clear shooting lanes. My pits generally have me at eye level with the ground. Things look a lot different at that perspective. Pick out an item in your view that you know is about vital-high and make sure you can shoot it.

Another thing: For some reason, skeeters love to congregate in those things. Bring your Thermacell!

Darren

[Anointed Archer]

I personally never used one as being 6'3” and weighing 290 I would need a backhoe to make my blind    . However my hunting partner used them alot. He would always look for hilly terrain and build his blind's into the side of the hill. Then he would brush in the front on the blind and back the brush up with a sheet of black plastic sheeting. I have to admit they worked great for him.

[twitchstick]

I have had good luck with them hunting mulies around hay fields. They dont need to be too deep to hide your profile.

[ksbowman]

I've used them for hunting lopes and they work good. I always look for a cut at the upper end of water as the cut works real well and easy as the dirt work is already done and only takes brushing in to make it usable. I like to dig a shelf to set on.

[BAK]

Used them years ago, but a variant.  Just a pit for my legs so I could sit on the ground.  Also used them with success hunting antelope.

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by BAK:
Used them years ago, but a variant.  Just a pit for my legs so I could sit on the ground.  Also used them with success hunting antelope.

This is basically how I've done it, dig a hole about knee deep for my feet and sit on the edge.  I made a board seat with a back rest and could sit comfortable and still for quite a while.  It is much easier to brush in for the lower profile and deer don't seem to recognize you.  Make sure you practice your sitting shots.

[PeteA]

One quick word of advise. If it starts raining while you are on stand in one Get Out! LOL. I learned the hard way. I was sitting in a hole with 3 inches of water before I knew it!

Pit blinds are awesome! If I had access to a backhoe, I would hunt almost exclusively from pit blinds. The last one I built was real big so i could get me and my son in it. The hole was 8'x8'x 2'deep, all dug with a shovel. I won't ever attempt that again!!!!!

I hunted out of that blind for over 10yrs and never had any appreciable amount of water get in it. But it was in S Tx where annual rainfal is not all that much.

Bisch