Homemade Ground Blind
 

I'm wanting to make a homemade ground blind, I'm thinking about using pvc piping and a tarp/ burlap / fabric.
If I just spray everything down with scent free spray will it be ok? Will the tarp be nosey?
Any helpful info on what to use when making a blind will help.

I have a ground blind using 3/4 inch PCV. It is covered with camo cloth ( Wal mart sells it). I never spray it just set it out a few days ahead to get the deer use to it.






:D Al

would you suggest a tarp over the top so it rain resistant?

A plastic tarp will rattle and make noise in the wind and be loud if a decent rain hits it. I would suggest you use a water resistant material other than plastic. You can buy lightweight canvas by the yard and you can hit it heavy with camp dry and it should work. Just put some grommets in it, at least in the corners to hold it down.

The best ground blind is not artificial. Find a place where (1) you sit in the shadows, (2) brush clutter breaks up the view of your lower body, (3) brush or trees break up your outline behind you, and (4) avoid being silouetted. Then,when you sit there waiting for a deer to show up, move little and when you do move, move slowly. Wear something that covers your shiny skin -- a face net, gloves. On any given day's hunt choose to sit downwind from where you expect to see the deer. There is freedom in this approach to hunting, and that is good. It makes hunting funner. It makes you engage your brain, and the most powerful hunting weapon is your brain -- figuring out what the prey animal is going to do and place yourself where you are in a position to shoot that prey animal.

I'm with Alsatian.

One of the most important things IMO is to have a solid shooting platform/rest at the right height for you. So you don't have to scrunch up and can shot comfortably from a rest. Shooting from a rest really improves anybodies shooting, if you are using a rifle.

The remainder of the blind really doesn't have to be a solid wall, the main function is to break up your outline and it really doesn't take all that much. If you need a wind break, it only needs to be on one side.

If your head is showing (for most animals) it really doesn't mean much, if you don't move. The vast majority of animals (with a few exceptions) see motion, they don't really see form nearly as well. Your light colored face jerking around really stands out.

I make my ground blinds without a roof and wear my weather protection. Light weight, quick setup and transportation is more important to me than building a hut.

A rotating stool, that is quiet, is a big plus.

I think ghillie suit when making a ground blind, but don't over do it.

If you don't move, most animals are going to get way close, if they don't smell you or hear you. If you don't move, you aren't making much sound. Not much you can do about your scent, except to try and minimize it. Scent is a strange thing in animals, they are likely going to smell you, but their brain might not scream alarm, some flee at the slightest scent of human, some don't. IMO strange noises or motion can spook them quicker in many instances. I've had them bolt at many yards away from the click from a safety or a little thump from laying my rifle on a wooden rest. Birds can be the exception, they tend to see any motion, color and form a lot better than most ground animals.

I've had Deer, Hogs and Fox get really close to a ground blind that didn't cover much more than a very scanty bush would.

I was told a great portion of a Deers brain is dedicated to their sense of smell. Deer are generally stupid, but can smell like a blood hound. Any scent that is unusual or different may spook them, cover scents and other stuff are just another scent. Whether that other scent is going to mask your scent or just spook them is a crap shoot IMO.

To expand on scents a little, I've used two cover scents with some success. Fermented fish oil really stinks and I've used it in areas that are fished a lot and the Deer are used to the smell of rotting fish guts. In fact I've had trophy Bucks walk right up to the fermented fish oil and sniff, almost like they enjoyed it.

The Lovage plant is another I've used as a cover scent. Kind of smells like Celery except way stronger. Hogs love the stuff, Deer accept it as a normal smell. Not a dry country plant, but fairly common in many other places. Check a small patch on your under arm before you use it on your clothes, I'm allergic to it. I use it at a distance.

The camo cloth on my blind is about 10 mil if I remember. I spray it down heavy with 3 M scotch guard before I take it out to set up. I suppose if you wanted you could put a tarp or plastic on the frame first then use the cloth to holt it from rattling. I see no need my self. Slope of the roof and the scotch guard keeps the inside dry but we do not experience days and days of rain here during deer season mostly we get snow.
No grommets in it either their are tie strings/cord to hold the rolled up windows open and tied down tite shut to. There is cord sewn in at the base to hold it in place, I used 10 inch pole barn spikes for that.
Brush it in a little if you have some in the area but if set up ahead of time the deer get used to it.
I've had tracks where it almost appeared they were looking in the windows before.

You will be surprised how much nicer it is setting out of the wind also how much warmer it will get inside when the sun shines on the dark cloth.

:D Al

Cool blind. I use a pop up style or a brush blind. I have found Camp Dry or similar products is pretty good water shed stuff in light rain , but in a driving rain, you are a wet hen !

You might try tar paper for the water resistant part. Although it wont last forever.
It would get old and brittle but it might be worth a try.