Ground blinds for 2012 deer season, is now too soon?

[BowHunterGA]

I have made a goal for the 2012 season to be taking a deer from the ground. I also hunt mostly on public land.

I have spent several weekends scoutng for this fall aready and always looking for good spots for a natural ground blind. I have found a few locations where some cover is present and only needs to be enhanced, also found a spot or two where I think a pit blind would be a plus.

Is it too soon to build these now so they only need to be refreshed before the season opens? Or should I just log the location in my field notes and add the blind mid to late summer?

I worry work now could be damaged or erased by weather or even critters, or recognized by other hunters that might return to take advantage of my hard work and preparation. On the other hand, it would be a lot more pleasant to do the heavy lifting now while it is cool and give the deer plenty of time to get used to the changes.

Lastly, for those that have used Pit Blinds, how do keep them from filling in or being taken over by critters?

[lpcjon2]

More time spent now will give you more time for other thing later. Get out and get them ready so next season all you have to do is freshen them up. And the deer will be used to them.

[michigan bill]

i definitely use a flashlight [red lens] to peek into a ground pit blind to make sure mr. rattlesnake isn't in there.  so far so good.
the longer the blind is up, the better.  
bill

[Night Wing]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
More time spent now will give you more time for other thing later. Get out and get them ready so next season all you have to do is freshen them up. And the deer will be used to them.

My sentiments exactly.    

[Orion]

It's not too early to construct your blinds, but doing it on public land can be a problem.  In some cases, the critters won't be moving in the same places they will be six months from now.  It's also quite likely that others will find the stands and take advantage of them when season starts.  Pit blinds on public land can be a hazard to others and may be illegal.  Might consider scouting now and making notes as to what will need to be done at each location that looks good to you.  Then, when it comes time to hunt, you'll be able to do the job more quickly.

[tradlongbow]

Start now, and make one for me too.    
Darren

[cbCrow]

I hunt private land and usually work  on mine starting right after season or when I take a deer. I have 3 on the property and am  starting a 4 which will hopefully be a great afternoon blind.

[Uncle Buck]

if its on public land building now gives others who have no shame more time to find it and get there before you on openeing day. This happened to a friend of mine he asked him to leave but the slob refused and became beligerent, Rather than fight with him and scaring off every deer within  miles he just moved on but he did walk straight up the deer trail stinking it up. Just remember public land is just that- open to sportsman and slobs alike

[lpcjon2]

Terry did a ground blind out of two pine trees(small that look like 10footers) and bent them over and used a tent stake and some cord to keep them bent over. Best bet is to get two pines close and do this(you sit in the middle)It looks kinda like this (). If you can find some funnels and do the bent tree ground blind,by the time the season opens they will have grown in that shape and it would be less obvious to others.

I will try and find the thread with the pic in it. its pretty cool.

[BobCo 1965]

If you know where you want to be I'd start now. Personally, I know of a spot that I would like to hunt and right after gun season, I was able to get in and prune some trees while they were still dormant. I used the trimmings to get a nice blind together and will only freshen it up as you mentioned a few weeks before the season. Personally, I really do not like to do this stuff in the heat of summer.

[Ray Lyon]

Now is a good time.  John Eberhart from MI who's well published on taking pressured area big bucks always advocates getting stands in place after the previous gun season is over. He set's up in areas with rutting sign in staging areas (brushy areas between feeding and bedding with lot's of rubs and scrapes) and this sign lasts after the fall gun season and that's a good time for scouting.  Even if the buck that made the sign was killed, what attracted that buck to that area will likely do the same for next year.

 The other thing about doing ground blinds and stands now is that you can see what they look like without foilage around cutting down on sunlight.  You may build a blind in the summer that looks good and shaded, but after leaf drop you may be highlighted by the sun.  Making it now gives you a chance to see what it's like without foiliage.  

As far as public land, well it's just that and no squatters rights.  Thinking that just because you built a blind means it's your spot is incorrect in my opinion.  Heck, you could build blinds all over an area and with that line of thinking it's "your spot" for perpetuity.  Make your blinds as natural as possible and you'll avoid scrutiny of others.

[Knawbone]

It's not to early for this type of prep. if you are certain dear use that area year after year.All situations are subject to change however. Personally, I like to set up on the freshest sine and use a natural blind [ you can doctor them up a little] if at all possible. The main key to successfull ground blind hunting is staying perfectly still as you probubly know.Cover behind you is more important than in front of you.Being able to get quickly to a shooting position is also paramount.

As far as the pit blinds go....the only critter i have had problems with are rats. I never see them but they make little holes around the edges anf drag sticks and stuff inside to make a nest under my chair. We live pretty well together till the rats start thinking they can make the nest bigger than my chair. Then I have to clear all the junk out and they have to start all over again.

My advice would be to take a sack of concrete and pour the dry concret around the outside of the blind. It will get enough moisture to harden from rain and dew. I have also used rat poison in the blind and it works for a while but does not last long.

Bisch

[Jerry Jeffer]

I hunt public land. It's never too early to find spots and do a little work on them. For me, I mostly just trim a little if needed, but I don't require much work to sit like this...

 

Two years ago i started a blind during spring turkey season and used it to hunt turkeys with the addition of  a three ring pop out camo thing. I finished and put my own Torges design seat on the tree. Half way through the deer season three boys from Texas moved in on me,expecting to see world record bucks hiding behind every tree. One of them tore down my blind, tossed my Torges seat into an abandoned railroad ditch and put a tree stand on my tree. I moved to a different location and built another blind. Four days later I returned to find my blind torn down and my Torges seat missing.

[RC]

I guess I`m blessed here. I hunt deep in the swamp and have left a tree climber on a tree most of the season untouched.We have the best public land here.RC

Tree climbers in Iowa, where everyone except me goes to church, are the most portable elevated blinds there are. You put them up turn your back on them and they are gone. since no one would ever ever be so low as to steal a tree stand, I must conclude that they grow legs and leave on their own.

[BowHunterGA]

I have been pretty lucky I guess. Never had a stand stolen but I do hunt pretty deep most of the time. Only exception is every once and a while I find a spot that people avoid that is staring them right in the face. One good one that I kill deer at repeatedly is within 100 yards of the DNR check station. No one will hunt there.

So try this one on for size. About 5 years ago I had a co-worker that wanted to try bow hunting. Helped him pick out a bow, shot with him, took him out scouting with me several times and when we had picked out a spot he wanted to hunt I even let him use one of my hang on stands and a set of climbing sticks. I helped him put the stand up (deep on public land) and he saw lots of deer that season but his girlfriend turned up pregnant and the quick wedding and such caused him to change his priorities near the end of the season.

Flash forward 5 years, I am out scouting and looking for fresh sign for a 3 day managed hunt on this WMA and figure I will head to this spot and see what it looks like as I had not hunted it in years. Lo and behold as I am walking around I see my stand and climbing sticks. I had forgotten about them years ago. I guess since I did not hunt the stand the stuff just slipped my mind. The stand was still there, as were the climbing sticks. Took me about 45 minutes to get the stand loose from the tree and I will have to replace the ratchet strap but I couldn't believe it. Don't think I will make a habit of doing that and I am surprised the DNR didn't locate and remove it. Supposed to take them down within 48 hours of the end of the hunt. Ooops!    

[Knawbone]

That would have me hunting the hunters Pavin, If they would do that, they need a good verbal chewing out at the very lest.Of course you have to catch them in the act. It's always uhfortunate when we have to deal with degenerates. What they don't realize: What comes around go's around.

[Rustic]

I think you're on the right track but if it's state land, I would'nt put alot of effort into perfecting the bling because come "Opening Day" you never know if someone might get there before you. IMO