Natural Ground blind?

[VA Elite]

I have lots of places that can't be hunted from a tree stand, however, off the ground they will be hot. I don't know if a standard pop up is possible with a 60" recurve. Who here has success with natural ground blinds? Pics are always welcome.

[ISP 5353]

I have used some natural blow downs and brush piles as blinds.  Now, I prefer using my ghillie suit as a mobile blind.  Hunting on the ground is a lot of fun!

[overbo]

I hunted a ground blind for the 1st time this season and wished I did it sooner. Like any other type of hunting, there will be adjustments from time to time but once you have it tuned in, it can be just as and more effective than any other type of hunting.

[VA Elite]

yep, going to get a ghillie suit for sure

[kennym]

Our deer are pretty skittish about popups, you have to brush em in.

So I just brush up a good spot to sit a little and use it.

[ChuckC]

I have been hunting from the ground for a while.  I tend ti like to use natural situations for a full coverage blind or combine some cover with use of a ghillie suit.  I use a Rancho Safari ultralight longsuit and have had a large number of close encounters.  Of course, close means issues with drawing that you need to overcome.  You can do that too, with thought and planning.

Seeing lots of birds and skwerls and such close up is an added benefit.
ChuckC

[monterey]

Our mule deer may be less habitual and less skitish about changes in their living room.  Just about anything will work if you remain motionless.  Course, as noted above, they can be so close drawing is near impossible.  

My closest encounter came while sitting with no cover in a shiny aluminum lawn chair with green and white webbing.  A mulie buck stood feeding three feet in front of me and never caught on.  I was covering a water bole for elk, so drawing was not an issue.

[katman]

I have no problem with a 62" bow from a popup as long as you can shoot with a cant to bow.

[Slickhead]

good thread
Im building on behind my house in the next month
Theres plently of deadfall, branches and saplings to make a good one.
I even thought about making a dome one (igloo shaped)  from bendable branches,
Then taking a small tarp and putting on the top to keep rain off my noggin.
I could cover the trap with pine branches.

Zip ties are your best freind when going these.


Make an opening on the side and cover it with netting for easy access.

[Jake Scott]

One thing to consider when hunting on the ground, is making yourself as comfortable as possible.  Anything you can do to fight off the fidgets, dead-legs, or wet hind end will help you sit as still as possible.  It's a well known fact that it is much harder to sit still when one is uncomfortable.  Take this into consideration when making a ground setup.  

For that matter, its something to consider from the trees as well.  It takes a little extra time but it could be the difference in success or failure when the moment of truth comes.

Good luck, Landon.

Jake

[Longbow58]

I use some blown down trees and read on a post about using old artificial Christmas trees. Looking for some of those for on our club property.

[VA Elite]

there is ton of cutover and thick pines with open ground floor. trails intersecting everywhere..these deer have never been hunted from the ground and they walk around in these cutovers and 5-10 yr old pines all day, according to my trail cams...

[maineac]

The general philosophy as I understand it is cover behind to break up your form is more important than cover in front.  I make lots of ground blinds as I scout. I like to pile brush or conifer tops against or behind the tree I plan to sit against.  Then pile some around in front to cover my feet and knees.  Can't say I have had any success out of them, but that is more an issue of low deer numbers, rather than the blinds not being good.  Though not seeing any deer reactions to them I can't say they are any good.

[Birdbow]

Like Maineac, I often build blinds while out scouting to come back to during the season if the sign nearby warrants. Some blinds I never get back to hunt so I build them with bio-degradable cord.

[Bill Turner]

Hunting on public land makes pop up blinds impracticable. Natural ground blinds and a Rancho Safari Guille for me. Still use a short tripod(7 ft.) or a ladder stand when available but prefer the ground.    

[Wudstix]

A good stool or seat is prime for any sit.  Padded to allow an all day sit is major consideration.

[ChuckC]

It was stated regarding building ground blinds while out and about, scouting etc.  I do that all the time.  I am constantly looking for new situations and I always throw together blind starts all summer.  

I also have some locations that I have nurtured for years.  I have a couple where blown down smaller trees leave branches that tend to support the grass or vines up maybe 3 feet high.  You can arrange for a blow down or small pile of branches to be where you want it ( not talking about felling trees, just moving what you find).  

A handful of good fertilizer in the grass / vines in the summer results in a more lush growth right in the tangle.  Sitting behind that in the early fall makes a good blind even if nothing else is done.
ChuckC

[michaelschwister]

Ron Laclair has an ad on his site with a pretty good looking ground blind for trad bow use.

[Jerry Jeffer]

All you need is in the woods for you to use. You don't need a lot. You mostly need stuff behind you. I'm sure I have had shots, and/or taken deer from these spots.

 

 

 

 

[VA Elite]

nice pics. Yeh I think cover behind you and being still, of course with the right wind, I can get it  done in these spots.