Ground Blind Build Along......

[slayer1]

For the last few years I have been hunting off the ground about 90% of the time. I have shot two good bucks at 8 to 10 feet - Its one heck of a rush when you can hear the deer breathing the second before you make the shot.      This past year I set out my trail camera and it captured a pretty good sequence of how I set one up. So this build along will be more pictures than words.

Here is the site I picked - there are several deer trails that intersect right in front of the blind. I always try to find a blow down or a giant cedar tree to give the blind as much natural cover as possible.
 http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0001.jpg

[Bill Tell]

This will be fun.  Keep them coming.

[Dave Bulla]

Hey, I hunted a place looks so much like that I did a double take!   There was a hole from the root wad pulling out that was a good two feet deep.  I sat down in the hole and leaned back against the roots.  Stuck little finger thick saplings in the ground all across the front then wove some more back through the first ones and had a kick but blind.  Shot a turkey out of it the first spring and another one the following year.  No deer though.  By the third year, it was falling apart and I moved elsewhere.

[slayer1]

I always hunt a spot or a lane not a entire area. I try to line up the window I want to shoot out of with that spot....That way only one shooting hole is open. I close all the windows except the one I am shooting out of, I can see out but the deer cannot see in. This is very important when the deer is only 8 or 10 feet away.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0003.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0004.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0005.jpg

[slayer1]

Originally posted by Dave Bulla:
Hey, I hunted a place looks so much like that I did a double take!   There was a hole from the root wad pulling out that was a good two feet deep.  I sat down in the hole and leaned back against the roots.  Stuck little finger thick saplings in the ground all across the front then wove some more back through the first ones and had a kick but blind.  Shot a turkey out of it the first spring and another one the following year.  No deer though.  By the third year, it was falling apart and I moved elsewhere.

Thats a good point Dave... I am to cheap to buy a big blind (The taller variety) so this low spot was picked intentially...the acutal floor of the blind is lower than the outside of the blind, that way you can shoot a 64" long bow out of it if you like. I dug down about 8 to 10" after the blind was set up to give me a lower floor that way the long bow limbs didnt hit the roof when I shot.  

[slayer1]

Next I stake it and tie it down. I usually leave my blinds out all year long, so I make sure it is very secure before I brush it in.
 http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0006.jpg

[slayer1]

Now for the fun part. I always brush the blinds so well that the only thing you see is the window you shoot out of.... The next series of pictures are in order. It took me several hours to get it like I wanted....
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0011.jpg   http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0012.jpg

Please limit picture width to 640 pixels per site rules

[slayer1]

I have a ton more pictures but they will have to wait until tomorrow...

[Charlie Lamb]

Love the subject and pics, but the pics do need to be resized.

[Shakes.602]

Excellent Post Slayer1!!

[slayer1]

Guys I will work on resizing everything. Sorry about that mods!

[T Folts]

I like it!

[Shaun]

Scott, you can set photo bucket to automatically resize as you import pics - makes it a lot easier. Good thread, looking forward to more pics.

[slayer1]

Thats a good idea Shaun. I have a lot of them resized already. More coming shortly.

[joevan125]

Good thread

[slayer1]

I think these are small enough.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0009.jpg
 http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0011.jpg

[slayer1]

[slayer1]

[slayer1]

At this stage its starting to come together. I like to have it brushed in so well that I have a hard time finding it when I go back. One other thing I forgot to mention earlier... I always clean out all of the leaves and sticks from the inside floor. This cuts down on the noise when you are moving around on the inside.

[slayer1]

I wasnt real happy with the way it turned out on the first day, so I went back for a few touch ups.....Now you see me.......Now you dont. LOL....Did I mention I love hunting off the ground?  :D