Ground blinds. Whats the secret to success?

[BamBooBender]

I have tried hunting from commercially made ground blinds, and so far the deer seem to avoid them like the plague. I have tried brushing them in, placing one in between 3 close together spruce trees that were in a tight triangle formation, and setting them up months ahead of the season so the deer could get used to them, all to no avail.The funny part is that I left one out there for a almost a year and something kept thrashing it. I would go back only to find it knocked down. One time it was torn open on one side and my seat cushion was chewed up. I guess  something at that spot don't like me. lol

 I know they must work from the success stories I have read/heard, but they don't seem to work for me. Anybody wanna divulge the secret to success for using one before I give up on them all together?

[NDTerminator]

In two words, scent control.  My scent control system is draconian...

I go through scent eliminating soap, deodorant, and powder at a rate you would have to see to believe.I  I used as neutral smelling toothpaste as I can find and don't eat spicy food during the season.

I use a Scent Lok liner under my camo, all of which is washed weekly in scent eliminating detergent and carefully bagged & stored in airtight containers.

 We use black sweats or extremely dark camo in ground blinds.  This is important.  

I use Scent Lok lined boots and hat or stocking cap which get sprayed down with Scent Killer externally before I go out.  These are bagged and carried into the field and put on when I get to my destination.

Needless to say I buy Scent Killer Spray in the largest containers I can and dose everything that I carry.  I wipe down my arrows and bows with it as well using a moistened cloth.

The result of all this is that we (my wife and I) regularly have deer at under 10 yards downwind from our ground blinds...

[wingnut]

The ground blind allows you to have a hole in the woods that you can hide.  But you have to make them disappear.  Brush them in until you can't see it and use the net over the windows if you are deer hunting.  The dang deer see that black hole from a long way off and it really spooks them.  I've had mixed success with deer and blinds but have had great success with hogs and turkeys.

Mike

[vermonster13]

Bears really seem to think pop up blinds are great fun to play with. Must be they think they are tents and the Yogi gene makes them search them for picnic baskets.

[joe skipp]

Start using the natural woods around you to build your ambush locations as I like to call them. Plenty of natural limbs, bushes, trees etc...to setup in an area that your hunting. Unless you "hide" those commercial blinds, deer will see them and react to them.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I agree with Skipp, use natural blinds. if you even make them big enuff to fit your pop-up, later down the road/year you can stick it in there and brush it up...Also longer you leave it in the woods the better it will be...

[Jerry Jeffer]

I would throw that thing away. It doesn't sound like a very good blind. Just sit in the bush and forget the tent. Seriously though, you gotta play the wind. Also watch your movement. Once you decide you are going to take a shot, just draw and go for it. I got two shots in a row from this set up.  

[katie]

I build natural blinds next to trees.  I do no sent eliminating.  I have deer within 10 yards regularly.  I just use the wind.  I did try a camo burlap tarp inside my blind.  Was busted straight off.  They stopped dead in their tracks.  It gave me a great shot had I not been asleep with my bow not in my hands.

[southernarcher]

Natural blind ,scent control,use the wind to your favor,and be still!I'm new to ground hunting myself,with just 3 hunts last season,now with 5 hunts this season.Last year had a buck push a doe by me at about 10-12 yrds and never knew I was there.This year,I have shot 2 hogs both inside 12 yrds,and had 2 bucks,one a nice 6pt and a doe under 15 yrds,and they never knew I was there.From one setup,the nice 6 stared me down at 10yrds,and decided I was nothing and went to feeding on acorns.The doe came within 5yrds.

[Jim Rocole]

I have had decent luck using a commercial blind on food plots. I set up according to the predominant wind and brush it in. I make sure that its outline is broken up specifically the roof and sides. I only hunt it when the wind is right. If I am hunting a specific trail I do not use the blind. I use either my Ghillie suit or a natural blind keeping the wind in mind. In either scenario the key for me is the wind. Even when I hunt the Double Bull I always spray it down with scent killer before and after the hunt. To me a brush pile on the edge of a food source is pretty common in my neck of the woods but I think it sticks out on a trail that deer use on a regular basis. This is not to say that if I found a large treetop or blowdown I would be opposed to setting the blind in it. I probably would just use the Ghillie suit or the natural blind alone since I am not a big fan of disturbing a deer's travel plans.

[LV2HUNT]

Well first let’s dispense with the obvious, if you have time to build a very dense natural blind it will work better than a commercial blind. Ok, that is out of the way.  

Now, the most important thing to recognize is that a blind may not be the most effective way to hunt any given spot. Treestands work well! If you can get a treestand in that spot it will work better than a blind 9 times out 10.

Now if you cannot get a treestand in that spot then that is where a blind could come into play. Double Bull has their 50-100 Rule that makes good sense and seems to work:

"In cover where the deer can only see 50 yards or less, put brush closely around the Blind as additional camo so it disappears more visibly into the surroundings.  If the deer can see 100 yards or more stick it in the wide open."  

If you are brushing the blind pay special attention to the roof line. If possible jam it under a tree or branches. I find that placing mine into or against a deadfall works well.

It also needs to be placed into shadows or shade. You do not want the interior of the blind illuminated. You also do not want the sun shining on the shoot through mesh. I had a very frustrating experience with that and some pigs in Florida. I could not see anything!  

You need good steady wind for a ground blind. One of my favorite times to use the ground blind is when it is really windy. I like to take it and stick it in heavy cover where the deer will hole up in the heavy wind. In my area they will move about in heavy cover when they would not move in the woods.

You really need to have a good idea of where the animal will be when using a commercial ground blind. Because you need to have a lot of it closed up to reduce sky lighting your potential field of fire is greatly reduced. I basically have two portals to shoot from.

Some animals will just not like it. I have had the spectrum of reactions to it. Some you will never kill from it and others could care less about it.

The best advice I can give you is not to try to jam a square peg in a round hole. If the blind fits the scenario then use it but if it is not a good fit then do not waste your time. Scent control and proper wind direction apply to all hunting. If the wind is no good do not waste your time.

IMHO

[Big Dave]

My ground blinds are all homemade and are all left out year round (It's my property)and I only hunt in one when the wind is right. Of coarse we feed here and it helps to get the deer used to them. I don't bother with scent control very much and I usually get my deer.

[Big Dave]

Oh yeah, as wingnut said they do really look at the black hole.

[RC]

My first mistakes early on was getting to close to where I expected to see deer.As far as the pop up blinds go at my house they are death for Turkeys but deer will not come close. i prefer natural blinds for deer.RC

[bentpole]

Jerry great lookin set up right there Bud! The biggest thing about ground hunting in my opinion is covering your face.Something about a big white face sticking out makes a deer real spooky quick.Make up or a face mask.Practice drawing and shooting sitting and kneeling.

[woodchucker]

Nope.....Never had much use for a "huntin' tent".....  

[mcgroundstalker]

What makes a ground blind work? I can't answer that one. I'm the guy with "Too Much STUFF". But all that stuff stays back at the house. If it won't fit in my pockets or small fanny pack it ain't gonna be in the woods with me hunting.

... mike ...  :rolleyes:  ...

[BamBooBender]

Thanks for the replies. I have a lot of blowdowns this year that I could probably make into good blinds.