New Bow Hunter needs advice on ground blind vs tree stand
 

Hello,
I'm a new bow hunter, been hunting deer and just about everything else my whole life so i'm not a total rookie to the pastime just to the archery part. I have always hunted deer on the ground during shotgun season, for two reason, i hate heights, and its just not necessary around here in the northeast during gun season, it works for me at least. For bow season i had contemplated a ground blilnd, however the places i have to hunt are not that private so it won't be able to leave a blind set up and brushed in for anything more than overnight. I don't see how its practical to setup a ground blind each morning and brush it in in the dark without raising so much hell in the woods that...well you know what i mean.

i then pondered one of those big ass summit climbers, might make me more comfy being up a tree, but has its own set of limitations. can you guys give me some thoughts on the situation? how important is brushing in the blind assuming proper placement of the blind, how hard is it to do quickly before the hunt if necessary?

I don't know that you need to brush in a blind, but I am no expert. I got my first blind last season. I set it up in a field next to a bush that is about twice the size of the blind. So the blind was pretty much in the open and I did not brush it in. My first time in the blind I shot a buck that didn't even know I was there. In rifle season, I shot a doe that was only 20 yards away and didn't know I was there. Plus I had other deer around me that I didn't shoot. I think if you keep movement and noise down, they won't know the difference.

which blind
 

which blind did you buy?

Well a climber and a blind are gonna make the same amount of noise in the morning truthfully. I have one of those big summits, and even though it is comfy and i usually go pretty high with it (dont have the fear of heights) its still not that quiet. I mean its quieter then alot of other climbers but it still makes noise and i have defiantly scarred some deer off using that thing.

A top of the line pop up blind that just pops open might be the best for you if you considering between the two. However, i have a friend thats scared of heights and bowhunts with me, i actually found that Ladder stands tend to make him feel more comfortable then fixed positions or climbers. Having climbed hundreds of trees in my day i will say climbers can be a little nerve racking at times, especially coming down. If you have a solid fear of heights id go ground blind or Ladder stand, that or get a big boy fixed position stand and use climbing sticks. But i think noise is gonna be about the same all the way around if your setting up in the dark the morning of.

if its a camo blind, no need fer brushin it in...i saw a guy using a blue camping tent, the deer walked right by it and paid it no attention. the black hole is what you should be going for, the sun to your "tents" back, makes it really dark inside. you dont want the deer seeing you inside is all...a tree climber is good, keeps your scent high in the air.

just remember, in the morning, you want to be over the trail, and at night under it. gl

can you explain the over the trail under the trail idea?

I use a climber, and feel like cheating death every time i use it. Pick your trees carefully, hook up, and don't ever use it in the rain for ice:s4:

More like over the trail, and then walk on out.
Safety is paramount when using treestands. I've slid down going up, and slid when going down. That will scare you silly quick.

in the morning, the sun comes up and warms the earth...and draws uphill if you will, and when it starts to kewl, it goes back down hill, if you will.

I used to be pretty wary of hang-ons and climbers. I've found that with practice, especially in the daylight, you can become fairly comfortable using them. My suggestion re: climbers is that you practice with it under non-hunting conditions (so that you're not worried about noise, etc) and start off low. Once you're comfortable with the technique involved with ascending and descending, you can concentrate on using it quietly, and working on getting it up a little higher.

I think if you try using it once or twice for practice, and then try ascending a tall tree in the dark, you're going to just end up needlessly scaring yourself s**tless. Just borrow someone's, and go slow and easy and you'll determine if you like using one.

I have the ameristep dog house blind, no need to brush it in, has a great Realtree Ap pattern to it, a buddy of mine has the Redhead blinds, Great Realtree apg Pattern. They both work great and once its set up, blends right in, I tend to set mine up next tp a tree, but thats your call, Im here in florida so its not like out wma are wide open any how..

Some say blinds, some say tree stand, its what you think suits your hunting style..

i'm gonna buy that vision blind, just seems to be the best option for me as far as the heights thing, the mobility, and the added bonus of keeping the rain off.

i would look at the ghost blind before you buy anything

From expierence and tv the bigger mature bucks get very skidish of blinds but if it waas up to me i would have to say put up tree stands

Natural ground blinds are easy money on whitetails, especially when you can't get up a tree. Not so sure about commercial blinds, but I've even had hunters walk right by me without noticing my natural blinds. You could set some posts or use trees to tie up camo burlap, and prop some brush on em pretty easy for a quick one, or go completely natural. I don't do it in the wide open. Slightly inside the 'woods' with a good shooting lane next to a trail. I like to make a single wall, with a limb across a couple trees to prop brush against. It's free and works well. JMO