Tree stands or ground blinds?
 

I am going to be taking up bow hunting this year, and just wanted to know if you guys prefer a stand or a blind to hunt from. I already have a ground blind from gun season, but was wondering if it would be worth investing in a tree stand.

If you really plan to get into bow hunting whitetails to any extent, IMHO treestands are the only way to go! You'll quickly find you will want/need more than one though.

The only reason you would use a ground blind during bow season was that you had no trees where you needed to put a stand. Backing Topgun on this one. Tree stands are the way to go.

Tree stands are more effective, but for portability into state lands where you can not put up a stand in advance, a ground blind has its advantages in that you can quietly set it up in a short time. There is also the safety issue, so if you go with a tree stand, get all proper safety equipment. Good to have both.

to add to this...there are climbing tree stands as well they open more opportunities...weight of the climbing tree stand is a big factor. The walk in with a 25+ stand is ok...walking out it feels like 100lbs lol. Always let someone know where you will be hunting in case something happens. A blind is ok if you can take it in take it out...but most public places and even private your stuff has the possibility of getting stolen..

Tree stand all the way, I hunted from ground blinds rifle hunted growing up. Now I only hunt ground tree stands. You will be surprised how many more deer you see and hear from a tree stand, plus I find sitting in tree stands a lot more enjoyable since you feel more one with nature.

Once you go ground blind you'll never go back. Treestands are nice once in a while, but then you always have to worry about the angle of shot, and branches are less visible. Also a lot more dangerous!

Interesting that you say this. I use both, and am also concerned about the safety. I will say this: Having a deer walk right by you while in a ground blind is pretty neat! On the other hand, not getting busted with a deer walking right by you (or staring you down) while in a ground blind can be pretty challenging too!

Ive only been bow hunting 1 year and I use both. I had shots at deer in both but the buck I shot was out of the tree stand.

I'd definitely sugest investing in a treestand and then practice getting up in it and shooting from it. It's very different than hunting from the ground.

Good luck.

Rudy

I much prefer sitting up in a tree -- have a blind, but I don't use it all that much.

Still hunt

for rifle hunting, yes. still bow hunting is a huge challenge and there has to be many factors in your favor. my vote goes for the treestand.

So... it's not a viable option then?

Under the right conditions, it can be effective. However if those conditions are not present, it would have a much smaller chance of success than stand hunting.

Definitely treestand.

It's a lot better in a ground blind because of the fact that you get closer to the animal, and it's more challenging, sitting in a tree stand is effective for killing the deer yes, but it's not always about the kill. Ground blinds will show how good of a hunter you really are...

In my younger days all I hunted with was a climbing stand.Now a ladder stand works and so does my ground blind.

Or as is sometimes the case with me, how NOT so good a hunter :)

But I would say to set up your tree stand on public land without alerting the deer and hunt the same day would be pretty challenging too.

I used to have a cheap climber and to say the least it was a pain to set up in the dark having to move pins to the right holes and getting it attached to the tree. I hunted with a Lone Wolf last year and it was like night and day. Instead of pins it just a clip you adjust. Plus, when I scouted I found the tree that I wanted and went up the tree to my designated height. Then when I was done, I marked on my stand where the cables should be so when I went to set up in the dark, I knew exactly where my cables should be to get up the tree. It took all the guess work out.

I've learned that I should have gone with one of the top of the line model of stands and spent the extra $$$ from the beginning. With the lighter weight and being much easier to use, it would have been well worth it!

I've found that ground blinds work very well near food plots where You know the Deer will be going to or if You don't have a lot of good tree's to use where Your wanting to set up and Hunt just be sure to Camo it in well with the surroundings Your hunting around other wise a ladder stand is even better to get You up off the ground.....use both to help You while Bow Hunting.

Its nice to have a ground blind when its raining or snowing or when its very cold out and You need some cover to block all that cold wind and the ladder stands kep You and Your scent up higher and less detected in other conditions.I have many ladder stands,a climbing stand and a ground blind along with a few elevated box blinds...keep Your options open and Your mind so Your not limited to 1 style of Hunting options!

As Psylocide mentioned...Still Hunting is another options that works when done correctly!