Hunting Forum

OK where I hunt there is NO good place for a stand so I have to hunt on the ground. I have never used a blind before and have heard. both good, and bad about them. I have heard you should set up your blind months in advance so deer get used to this new BIG mass in the middle of the woods otherwise they wont even come close enough to touch with an arrow. Is this true? If so I'm not really sure what to do...always been able to hunt from a stand. Pointers for success?

I don't hunt with stick and string, but do use rifle and shotgun. I've used Ameristep ground blinds successfully over the years, and not always by having them out for months. Usually, a couple of days will do, based on location and whether or not it's been brushed in to match the surrounding habitat. I normally use them in planted pines, or along fence rows and fire lanes, so mine are always tucked into the naturally occurring surroundings........not just stuck out in an open area where it's obviously something that doesn't belong. I'm lucky enough to have my own land to hunt on, so I have permanent tower stands, ladder stands, and a shooting house that are all set up over food plots that I maintain all year long. I do have one ground blind left out, but a couple of storms sent some limbs through the top of it and I haven't bothered to use it this season.

Hope this helps, and good luck! Oh, yes, welcome to the boards!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have used them in the past.
Make sure you clean out the brush on the floor.
Only open your primary shooting window, as deer can see into these quite easly.
Cover your face.
I like them more for am hunts then pm. When the sun goes down it gets darker earlier then it really is.

Joe Termite

Brush them in good and in a couple days should be no problem. If you have black outer clothes it will make your movement in the blind twice as hard to detect.

I've never used one but a few years ago one of my part time neighbors set one up on a powerline that parallels the road we walk with our dogs. He had set it up right on the line at the edge of the woods, and did nothing to try and blend it in.

Our dogs immediately picked it out and were alarmed by it. If our dogs picked it out, it's a pretty safe bet to say that most deer will too.

So if you decide to use one I'd suggest that you do as some have said, and "brush it in" to help it to blend in with the surrounding area.

When I find a good looking spot, I just find 4-5 small trees in a circle about 5' apart and cut branches to attach them to the trees. Use screws for the horizontals at whatever height you want them(while sitting) and just fill the voids with more cuttings(intermingled). I love palmetto leaves for cover.
Sorry, forgot about the stick and string(like rt called it), but have killed a bunch of deer that way from the ground.

Nothing wrong just sitting on the ground and laying against a cedar tree.  I have shot 5 bucks sitting and one while standing laying against a tree in the last twelve years.  If the tree is wider than you are it breaks up your outline even when wearing blaze orange camouflage.  Even though i was using a fire-arm all deer were shot at less than 40 paces, most at 30 paces.

-MD

I prefer to hunt deer from the ground and use a blind if I plan to sit all day in the same spot. I have been succesful without a blind, in either case try to find a spot you can brush up or provide background cover to hide your movement. If you have favorite spot that you regularly hunt I would make a blind in the off season by stacking small logs, trees and brush or find a blow down to use as a base.

On popup blinds you need to set up a few days in advance and brush it up some. The problem with popblinds is the cramped space, both your site and movement are restricted.

Use them all the time.....I have had lots of luck out of them....make sure they are placed with a good background or in a place that seems similiar, like a round hay filed with rolls in it. As long as it blends in, it is huntable as soon as you put it up (done this several times and killed deer). You could also find a spot you want it and "brush it in" and leave it for a few days before hunting it.

I've used ground blinds for years & since I usually am hunting public lands, do not leave them out in the bush at all.  I use a quick set up blind that I can carry on my back & set it up along fence lines or tucked in along a clump of bushes.  I just make sure that the wind is right for the area I want to cover.  I have had deer do a double take when they spot the blind but if I only keep the shooting windows open just enough to see out of, say an inch or 2, they usually don't give it more than a couple of minutes attention.   Yes, I have had some run off of course. When I spot a deer that I wish to take, I carefully zip open that particular shooting window just enough to aim.  I have used the blind successfully in all the seasons. archery, black powder & high power.

I've set mine up the night before and the next morning had a herd of deer out in front...in the woods..not a plot...and one doe stuck her head inside the blind with me...That said...I'm a scent freak...so the blind was scent free.... I am as scent free as possible and I use turkey decoys out in front...bobbin head are the best to keep their attention from me...Oohh tucked into 3 trees with lots of brush...I like grape vines and branches with dried leaves

In my State a pop up blind must be taken down at the end of each day on public land. I have an Ameristep blind and while I've gotten deer from it they are certainly wary of it. Some bucks would not approach it. I had my best luck setting it up next to the root mass of a downed tree or by a brush pile put it gets noticed. I prefer a blind that is made of brush and swamp grass that is left out all year. The deer get used to it. However, if you use the same blind on every hunt they will get used to your comings and goings and avoid the area when you're there. I use several different stand sights and seldom use a stand more than two days in a row.

I like using my ground lind, shot a buck this year.