Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

I know this has probably been asked 500,000 times. I can't find a thread readily available on it, so I figured I'd ask one more time.

<u>Personal info:</u>
* Complete total newbie to bowhunting.
* Have been practicing like crazy in backyard and pretty much &quot;got it down&quot; and can group Easton XX75 #2315's 125gr. in and around bullseye at 10 yards. Currently trying 15 and 20 yards.
* PSE Centerflite (lefty) bow is 40&quot; axle to axle (65lb., 30&quot; draw).
* First time <u>ever</u> going out bowhunting.
* Don't have a tree stand.
* Don't have a clue about tree stands.
* Don't have fear of heights, but have paranoia thinking about the laws of physics and whether or not a tree stand will support a 6ft 210lb man without crashing down.
* Considering a ground blind and also enhancing it with brush, twigs, leaves, etc...

It simple terms, 25 words or less, could someone explain the pros and cons of a tree stand versus a ground blind?

Thanks!!!!

Butch

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

IMO a treestand will get you above a deers line of sight(although they do look up), it will get your scent up higher, and you will be able to see better. A good stand will support 210 lbs.....I'm 235lbs and use Summits and LocOn's. All have 300 lb capacity. Sorry I went over 25 words.

PS....With our bow season opening this Saturday you may be better off hunting from the ground.

Edited by - VAhuntr on 10/03/2002 10:06:31

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

I do both and prefer the ground. You need to consider scent and movement more but it's a lot more comfy and you can move. If you are referring to a pop up blind they do work well on water holes and wallows. I had turkeys within ten feet and bull elk at 20 yards in a freinds blind. You can also climb in a bunch of trees and cut shooting lanes. I do that and have killed my share of animals. Good hunting.

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Thanks VAHuntr and GleninAZ.

I know about scent and &quot;playing the wind&quot; - it is crucial. I don't have a popup blind. Those IMHO are too distracting, too big, and don't conceal very well. I like the little portable 3' high, 12' wide cloth blinds, complete with tent stakes.

Butch

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

If you like that &quot;build your own&quot; type, go for it. Make sure to back it up against something to break up your outline.
I have found that I have more freedom to move in a tree stand than in a brush ground blind. I think tree stands are more mobile if you find the location needs to be tweaked a bit.
BTW, I am over 6 ft and go 220.



Edited by - ostdc on 10/03/2002 10:52:40

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Butch sounds like you have a good plan, the most important thing to remember on the ground except the wind is to never draw unless the deers head is down or blocked from view, deer have unbeleivable periphial vision. Good luck my friend, if you get one give me a buzz at home. You do still have my home phone right?

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Hey Butch you may want to stick to ground hunting this year, but buy a treestand and get practice with it for next year. Ground hunt this year and be ready for treestand hunting next season. (MY THOUGHTS)

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Butch sounds like you have a good plan, the most important thing to remember on the ground except the wind is to never draw unless the deers head is down or blocked from view, deer have unbeleivable periphial vision. Good luck my friend, if you get one give me a buzz at home. You do still have my home phone right?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Hey Taz... Thanks. Yeah I got your phone numbers. Margaret wrote them down in the rolodex by the phone.

The rules for turkey apply to deer then. I remember this past spring, I saw a nice gobbler 50-60 yards coming around a juniper tree. I must have moved my pinky or blinked or broke wind. Who knows... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> He spotted me clear as day and was GONE!!!

Good luck on Saturday morning!!!

Butch

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Butch a turkey can see a nostril hair move at 50 yards, their vision is far better than a deers.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

I have always hunted the ground and prefer it, I take that back, I hunted in a tree stand once. I climbed the tree and once I reached the top I proceeded to pull my bow up. Upon retrieval I decided to cut the string off with my knife, well the knife was so sharp it sliced right through the string and my finger. I think i lost a gallon of blood. I could actually see the bone, nasty stuff. That pretty much wrecked my day so I climbed down and headed home on the verge of passing out the whole way. It took 4 stiches to close it up, from now on ground blinds it is. I also don't like shooting at the different angles out of a tree.

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Tree Stand Pros;
Better sight lines
Better Scent control
Easier to pull bow back without being &quot;busted&quot;
Fun with birds and squirrels
I too am 6' 1&quot; at 210lbs. and haven't had a problem yet.

Cons;
If you did not pick a good location it's a hassle to move (to a degree)
Cost (this too is subject to one's pocket book)
Not as safe as being on ground (archery only, for the most part)
No fun with birds and squirrels

Ground hunting is a bit more tougher IMO.

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Daaaaay-um!! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> That must have been a massive cut, 3toedsloth! My biggest fear is not rigging a tree stand correctly and it and me go &quot;Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!&quot; crashing to the ground <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> . I need to study them and see how they work and how secure they are. A lot of people have mentioned Summit. I ought to check into them.

Butch

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

I have hunted tree stands but fear of heights put me on the ground. This year will be my first straight ground hunting and if your hunting on the ground check out http://www.hotspothunting.com/common...e.asp?id=23469

You don't need to apply yourself to this style of hunting, just a few pointers within the text that will be helpful if you are in need.

The Ultimate Crawl

The only close crawl in archery

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

My buddy has a climber and raves how much he loves it. He said after hunting in it last year he would never hunt on the ground again. He raves about how his visibility is so much better, which I believe, I just don't like shooting out of stands. Basically, I don't think one is really better than the other it's just a personal preference. Try both and see what is more successful.

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

Don't worry about going &quot;AAAAAHHHHHH&quot; to the ground. Make sure (if using a strap on stand) that the platform is up, attach belt or chain sinch tight, then drop the platform-cantalever effect. I am 6' 1&quot; and 235 and I jump up and down never went boom. However if your scared of going boom, it won't be relaxing or enjoyable to sit in a tree for any period of time. I would suggest trying the ground, in many areas where I hunt this is the only way available. Let's put it this way if you can successfully hunt the ground, tree standing will be a cake walk. Ground hunting keys are breakup or backing, sit in shadows (so no sunset area's that will cast forms out into any opening), wind, concealment, drawing ability with minimal movement (don't sit on the ground if you can't shoot that way...take a stool, log something) and shooting lanes. I have had deer within feet from me on the ground and killed more this way than from a tree.

Wordy me way over your limit, have fun!

RE: Ground blind or treestand?!?
 

double bull has a great line of blinds..by far the best on the market...check out the T2..u sit in a nice chair and it works. go to the web site and get a video...like 30+ hunts the vid is free..i have an extra