What do you think about ground blinds?
 

Long story short, I was out doing a little scouting this last weekend and ended up following a good sized set of tracks around the edge of a cornfield and back into a stand of woods. Once in the woods there's a trail and every tree on either sized of it has had the bark rubbed off. A couple of those are decent sized trees. I have permission to hunt this field so I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach hunting it.
I can put a tree stand up but there's not a good tree to put one in without a lot of trimming, and they're our my trees to trim. This woods and trail is on a small hill, and just up from the trail is the peak of the hill. I was thinking about getting a ground blind to put against the trees at the back of the hill. I've never hunted from one, but could see it working well. If nothing else I could get a 2 person one and take one of the kids out with me.
Who here hunts from a ground blind, and do you prefer it to a tree stand? Any recommendations on a blind?

Do it man. You just gotta adapt to the hand you are dealt. If you set it up, try and brush it in a little if you can, so it doesn't stand out quite as much. We have a few at our lease...they certainly work - just like any other type of hunting method. I wouldn't say I prefer it to a treestand, but I certainly spend time on the ground each year when the situation is right. Bring a comfortable seat and something like a shooting stick to rest your gun on. You can make one if you don't have one. I have some permanent ground blinds built in a few spots on our property where treestands just aren't the best option. (built from logs/brush)

I hunt from a DogHouse Pop Up Blind. You take it out of the case, and it sets itself up. Just put the right window in the direction you want to hunt, and the door in the back, stake down the bottom and your set to go. Mine is a one man blind.

Advantages, they are safer then tree stands. If you've ever fell out of one, you can not argue that point. But if your hunting dangerous game like bear, you don't want to be close to where you expect the animal to be. Nothing is more adrenaline pumping then sitting in a cloth blind and having a sow bear ten feet away. So move away from where the game will be. The shot might be longer, but sometimes that too is an advantage because of noise cancellation.

They are easy to move, once you learn how to fold them. I have a friend that claims he can fold his blind in under five minutes, and he brings his out, every night. When you set up, try to have something like a dead fall or brush to break up the silhouette of the blind when looking at it.

They are comfortable. I have a ice fishing bucket with a padded seat that I sit on inside the blind. The inside of my blind is black in color. And if you wear darker clothing, you can almost disappear in them. I've had friends specifically look for me sitting in the blind, with a face camo mask on, and dark camo clothing. All they could see was the orange safety vest. Well a deer will not see that.

They keep the rain and snow off you. Now to me that is a real advantage. Although, the inside of my blind, due to your breathing and body warmth, can get damp in there. I've even formed frost on the inside walls. Some people out space heaters in them. I have never done that.

I also feel they make a statement to other hunters. If they see a blind they think.. wonder if we should go over there, someone is sitting there watching us. I was a tree monkey for many years, fell out of a few, and hung a safety rope twice. But the more I use a ground blind the more I stay out of the trees.

I would echo what cayugad said. I also think the ground blinds keep your scent inside them, at least to a degree. I have had deer walk right up to them with me inside.
I put a patch of orange cloth on mine for safety, doesn't seem to bother the deer.

I have used them with success in the past. They do keep you warm on those cold morning hunts as well and hide movement. When you get everything setup, practice raising your weapon and go through the shooting motion. Make sure your elbow does not brush the back of the blind, your gun does not hit the front, your feet do not bump the seat you are sitting on to make noise, etc... Also, do not open all the windows. Just the ones you thonk you will shoot through. The deer can silohette you if the back windows are open and any movement will be seen. I only open enough to shoot through and zipped them closed when I am not there.

Also, if your using a powder that smokes a great deal, make sure your barrel is outside the window when you shoot. If not, it will fill with smoke and look like a Jamican hooka lounge when you finally open the door.

I hunt from blinds a-lot but my blinds are made of the surroundings. I get logs, brush and cut pine tree limbs from the surrounding area to make them and I blend right in.
I also do this way before hunting season starts as making one even putting up a store bought blind you'll leave a-lot of scent and the deer will know you were there, especially a big ol smart buck. This gives them time to get used to it and they'll consider it safe.
As for pop up blinds and the others, to me I did have one a long time ago, sure there nice to keep the elements off you and they do keep your scent down a little, but they stick out like a sore thumb. If you brush one in with limbs and stuff to conceal it that would be your best bet. Try to make it match your surroundings and do as little pruning in the area as possible. Be as scent free as you can and hunt the blind when you have the best chance of scoring on that buck.
Now you may think I'm nuts but the deer will check out your blind in the night when your gone, they'll know you were there because of the scent you left behind. I once was in my tree stand not far from my blind when the big buck I was hunting came strolling in. He walked right over to my blind and smelled around and walked around it, if I was in it I'm sure I'd of scored on him. Then he turned and walked away to never be seen again. I blame it on the scent I left behind. So be sure to use your blind when the time is right and good luck.
(BP)

You can never have too many places/stands/blinds to hunt. In the off season I'll put up a stand and maybe move one or two. In this process I may see a spot or two or three I might want to hunt. That's where the pop up blind become handy. I most always have mine (I backpack it and a seat often) and I'll pop it open somewhere on the way out in the evening and slip out to it the next am. Sometimes I am successful and always asked where I was hunting! Sometimes I'll tell em. ;)

What do you think about ground blinds?



About the same as tree stands. :p

I love my ground blind.

I'll use it if I know exactly were ill be hunting. It's great for kids or two hunters as it lets you move around freely.

The negative is that you need to haul it around and it may keep you from moving. While I don't use it exclusively, I'll always have it available.

I use a Brickhouse Blind but I don't think they are made anymore. If you're shopping get one that uses magnets vs Velcro. Velcro is very noisy in the quiet woods pre dawn.

Also look for quality zippers. That's what will fail first.

cayugad pretty much summed it up. I echo the sentiment about brushing it in. It does make a difference.

I will play devil's advocate just for the sake of it. I do about 90% of my hunting from the ground. Just a small portion of that is from a blind. I have been backing myself up against a tree since I was 8 and have had very good success at it. I feel limited in a blind simply because of the impediments of the windows. When I sit on the ground, that goes away and I can see much better. I also feel like I can hear better outside of a blind-and I use my ears more than my eyes when I hunt. Then again, I hunt the woods and not fields so that may not be applicable for you.

Although I prefer hunting from above I do hunt from ground blinds every now & then, I do prefer making them out of natural materal. but here is a manmade one I was given as a gift, it can be nice in bad weather.


This one is just a couple of feet off the ground (swamp) a couple of poles & some duckblind material

I've killed 2 bucks out of an Ameristep Chair Blind(they make a double and single version) at my Texas lease. I use a Bog Pod tripod for a rifle rest. The single is cramped, but I use it because its hard to find a spot big enough to use a full size pop up where I hunt and it's light and easy to carry. I wear a face mask and gloves as well and use as much natural cover as I can. I also watch the wind direction. I hope to use a regular pop up this year, if I can find room for it. At my age, a tree blind is too dangerous to use. I leave it up most of the time and it seem to bother the deer.

I'll echo pretty much what everyone else has said. I use a ground blind sometimes. I like how it keeps the rain off of you, and you stay warmer. I like how it helps contain your scent - I've had deer walk up very close and not seem to smell me. I like how it is safer - I'm not a huge fan of heights, but I do hunt often from tree stands.

The main negatives for me are:
-limited vision - I feel that I can't see nearly as well from a ground blind- even compared to just sitting on the ground
-can be a pain to haul around and set up
-need to find an appropriate spot and make sure it is brushed in well. Deer will notice it right away if it is not brushed in well. It's a different story for turkey - you can plop it right down in the middle of the field and they will walk right up to it

I don't have any pop-ups. Hunted a time or two from one my buddy has. It was OK, but inferior to an elevated box stand. Cold, nasty, wet, windy weather will find me in one of my three box stands. In nice weather, it's either a "high chair" or an open top ground blind made with old fence boards.

This one overlooks a small food plot.







This one overlooks a spot where two deer trails intersect about 60 yards from the high chair.

I enjoy hunting from ground blinds. In thick areas I like making my own from the surroundings (that's half the fun), but pop-up blinds are nice to have as they're readily mobile and work well in open areas in my experience. They can also be put in your natural blind and brushed-in during poor weather. I've only used Double Bulls for store-bought. Really nice blinds. I'd be interested in seeing how some of the cheaper hub-lock blinds do in the wind and weather.

It's really a matter of location as to whether or not I prefer a treestand. It sounds like you feel a good opportunity to hunt from the ground. I say, give it a go.

They work just fine but the deer can see moving EZ in them so put a lot of brush around them.

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I may just try one out. I would prefer to build a stand, but this field neighbors our field and I have permission to hunt it, but not put anything semi permanent up. I could probably put a treestand up, but it would have to be done before shotgun season starts and I can pretty much guarantee it would be used by other hunters then. If I use a pop up blind I could wait until the week before muzzleloader season starts. Then I could put it up, it would have a week for the deer to adapt to it then I could always put it somewhere else next year.
I had to stop at Walmart on my way home from work last night, so I walked back to see what they had. There was 2 two person blinds, one was an Ameristep Bone Collector that was the spring steel style for $75. They also had the Ameristep Brickhouse for $100. It's a hub style and a little bigger.
For people that have used them, is the hub style worth the extra money?

I can only speak to to the hub style. Once you learn the system, which can be tricky, they are very nice.

I like to have room for two. I've had some great hunts with friends and family in a ground blind. We set up comfy lawn chairs, pour some coffee and wait for the deer or turkeys in comfort.

They are great for turkeys where they are so sensitive to movement and I can work the slate call in secret.


For an extra $25, I'd get one which will last.

I have used many types of blind over the years from the spring steel dog house type to the hub style.

The spring steel do go up fast but I did not care for the fabric. And twsiting that spring around was a bit of trouble at times - I used it a few years but the camo on the fabric seemed to fade.

So in 2004 I took the bullet and bought a Double Bull 360. Almost 10 years later I am still using this blind and it is a hub style. I use it allof turkey season and all of deer season.
Fabric is great - goes up quick and comes down just as quick and packs in easily.
I am 63. On my long hauls I actually use a deer cart which carries my chair, my lunch bag and my blind and during turkey season my decoys if I use them.

For all the blinds I have used this DB has outlasted any others I bought or have used.

*****BUYER BEWARE You pay for what you get.

If not careful with other hub style - nylon fabric blinds the nylon will rip and pull away from the hub which makes it difficult to set up. I have helped repair everyone of my buddies..as all 3 went the cheap route....Each time I telll them they should have gone the way I did and now they just shake their head......I now quote Si Robertson~! Piece of junk!

JW

Looking on the internet and I'm leaning towards a hub style. All the ones I'm looking at say they're a weatherproof polyester. That should hold up ok, right?

They will hold up, but make sure to get them down after the season is over. I was late last year in getting mine down. A heavy January snow / ice storm in Southern Michigan collapsed the roofs on both of mine and tore all the fabric. I could not get them out of the ground as te ice had slodified the fabric to the ground and just tore more when I tried to remove it. There are junk now! Use the stakes if you are going to put them out early as the wind can cause damage as well.

SuperKirby,

I bought my wife a Primos "Double Bull" pop up blind for Xmas in 2011 and last year she shot a nice doe while hunting from it during our early ML season. It's sets up pretty easy after you get used to it and it's quite roomy. She plans to use it more this season.



BPS

It should. I have only used a hub-style (Double Bull). We've had it for 8 years or so and it has held up very well. I have seen some cheap-o blinds that tend to fall apart quickly though. If I was getting another one, I would spend the $$$ for a well known brand that has a good reputation. In my experience, blinds tend to get abused a bit, so you want a good quality one that will hold up.

Tree stands have their place and blinds have their advantages as well, it just takes more effert to control scent. I personally prefer to use a blind on the ground than to climb a tree and subject myself to more of the breeze, especially in rainy weather, which a blind can help shelter you from. Since this isn't your proporty it would probably be better to buy one than then construct one from natural materials.

love my ground blinds, i dont even own a tree stand anymore, like some of the other guys have said, you should brush it in some so it dont stick out so bad, i always wait a few day to hunt after i set it up to let the deer get used to seeing it but thats just my opinion. best of luck, let us know how it works out.