Antelope blind build-along--New pics page 4

[Shedrock]

I have shot antelope out of pop-up blinds, but they are not best suited for hunting antelope for a few reasons.

#1-The wind blows really hard at times here, up to 70 mph, and you may find your pop-up style blind in pieces, and in the next county.

#2-Even when the wind is not blowing at hurricane forces, it does blow enough to flap the blind, and spook the antelope. The light gusts always seem to happen at the wrong time.

#3-Thieves love pop-up blinds. When hunting antelope, I like to set my blinds up 4 weeks prior to season so they get good and accustumed to them. Folks are always out and about in this country, and sometimes your blind leaves with them.

This is how I build my blinds pretty much wind proof, and thief proof. This would work well for whitetails also.

[Shedrock]

First, I locate my spot. This is a spring fed tank that does flow over and run about 35 yards. We set 2 blinds here so someone will get a close shot. I have a few other guys that hunt with me, so there is usually a guy in each blind.

[Kamm1004]

can't wait for this build along! I just made the switch to traditional. This year i plan on knocking hogs and whitetail off my list.Next year, hopefully mulies and antelope on my property west of Cheyenne WY, so this will be very beneficial to me! thank you

[Shedrock]

Next, I will un-roll enough "concrete" wire to make a circle the size I want. I like them just over 6' in diameter so I can lay down in the blind during slow times. This also gives a guy plenty of elbow room when drawing his bow.

Pound in 4 steel posts. Be sure not to put them where your shooting holes may be. Wire the "concrete" wire to the posts low and high.

Cut the mesh wire where your shooting hole(s) will be. Mine are set-up for kneeling, or sitting in a Double Bull type chair. I also cut my entry hole in the back of the blind, big enough to crawl in.

[ksbowman]

I've hunted at tanks in Wyoming in the drainage coming into them. Have used popups and cut sage and brushed in the drainage with good success. Can't wait for your thread to develop.

[Shedrock]

Concrete wire is quite tall, I trim it down a couple squares, about chest high.

Then wrap with tarp. This piece I have had for years. It was an old torn tent I got at a good price just for this reason. If you buy tarp, buy the heavy treated stuff. It will last you many, many seasons. We also use pond liner scraps we get from the oil fields really cheap.
 

Cut the tarp at your shooting hole(s). I leave the top un-cut so you can still close the window. When using that window to shoot out of, a clothes pin will hold it up for you.

[Kamm1004]

Shedrock, I don't mean to go off course but... Do you use decoys to draw them closer?

[Shedrock]

Originally posted by Kamm1004:
Shedrock, I don't mean to go off course but... Do you use decoys to draw them closer?

No, I don't. This water is all you need. Our season opens Aug 15th, way before the rut. A friend from NE tried a full body decoy, but it did spook the majority of the antelope away. I have hunted big water sources, 60 yards long, and have put that decoy at the far end. The antelope would rather drink by the blind than by the deke.

[stykbow67]

 I like the looks of this!!

[steadman]

Lookin good Bud  

[Shedrock]

Next is the roof supports. I use like 3" irrigation pipe. It is flexable, and works great. Ranchers use this for feeding stock tanks. They run this stuff for miles, and always have a few scraps laying around.

I cut a "V" on each end of the pipe so it sits nice on top of the wire. Holes are drilled through it. Baling wire is run through the holes, then pulled down tight, and wired to the sides of the blind. (The concrete wire)
 
Here is a view of the crawl in spot.

[Shedrock]

Next, a tarp is put on top, or pond liner material as seen here. Wrap all around with baling wire to keep snug. We did trim the excess off, as this was a new roof piece.
 
Next, we put mud around the bottom. Dirt works good also, but was too hard to dig this year. We used mud from the spring.

This keeps the snakes out, the light out, and also keeps the wind from flapping the tarp.

[Shedrock]

 
We had antelope wanting to drink while we were setting our blinds up. You can see a little buck coming in over my friend's shoulder.
 

[Shedrock]

Throw some good military camo mesh over it, wrap it with baling wire, (so it doesn't flap), and your set. Just need to cut the netting where the shooting holes are.
 
I add carpet in the blinds, and put my shooting chair in a couple days before season.

[Shedrock]

 
They were coming while we were still working.

[Shedrock]

Finished! 17 yards is the longest shot from either blind. It is 34 yards between blinds, I will put a stake in at center, so the shooters know if it's "their" shot or the other guy's.

[Montanawidower]

This is nice!  Good ideas.   I have heard similar things about theft on public holes up here.  

Not to sidetrack the thread, but I would add that I have had good luck with the Montana decoy that is just a rump.    The last two bucks I shot seemed transfixed by it.      

They seemed more confident and curious than spooked.  
On the flip side,   I have used frontal and full body decoys as well and like Shedrock said, they do seem to spook bucks pre rut.  

Keep it coming!

[Shedrock]

These bucks were waiting on the ridge above the spring to drink.
 
 
And, saw these guys along the road on the way out.

We have a great set-up, I hope it doesn't pour rain the day before season! It has happened before.    

Hope you all enjoyed.

[Shedrock]

These are the bucks above the spring patiently waiting for us to get out of there.

[Mike Yancey]

Looks good you don't have much longer to wait.
Mike