Poll: ground blinds

[Bean Counter]

Sitting here 25 yards away. I just heard a deer trounce off (never in view ). Thinking I might be too close.

[turkeyfeather]

That's about the same distance I would set up.

[Bean Counter]

Air is very still. Almost no wind. My blind should be holding most if my scent in and I sprayed quite a bit of urine lure on some brown napkins. Not sure if it was scent but I'm being pretty darned quiet.

[DoubleJ]

How long has the blind been set up and what kind of deer?  Deer, ESPECIALLY whitetail can tell when something has been changed.  If you just set the blind up in the past couple of days, they probably saw it and realized it was different. 

Whitetail, I swear, can tell when a leaf has fallen off of a tree and will spook because of it.

[turkeyfeather]

How long has the blind been set up and what kind of deer?  Deer, ESPECIALLY whitetail can tell when something has been changed.  If you just set the blind up in the past couple of days, they probably saw it and realized it was different. 

Whitetail, I swear, can tell when a leaf has fallen off of a tree and will spook because of it.

That's what I was gonna ask next. This is the reason why I don't use a blind anymore unless its raining. I just build a little blind out of brush.

[DoubleJ]

When I had a blind, before the kids set it up in the back yard and destroyed it, I'd put it out at least a month ahead of time.  The longer the better.  Hard to do on public land though.

[Bean Counter]

Coues whitetail.

Put it up this morning. Public land. Lots of other hunters and lots of illegal aliens. 

[turkeyfeather]

Coues whitetail.

lots of illegal aliens. 

Well there's your problem.

[Elkrunner]

Are you sure it was a deer?  Could have been drug traffickers...lol

[Bean Counter]

This IS more of a drug corridor than an alien smuggling corridor.

But

I've been here since sun up and it's getting warm. I'm pretty sure that was a thirsty deer.

[DoubleJ]

I just watched Matt Alwine's Trophy State of Mind this weekend where he was hunting Coues in a ground blind and had 4 illegals walk up to the watering hole where he was sitting.  Funny episode but I'm sure it was a bit creepy for him.

[turkeyfeather]

What's the point minimum on illegals and smugglers. 

[Bean Counter]

Well I just shifted my butt in my chair and heard a snort and more running in reply. They're close and one of those tirds are about to get an arrow! 

[270Flat]

I had a ground blind set up for early archery deer. One side of the watering hole was at 65 yards and the other at 40 yards where the animals filtered in. I was able to have it out for several days before the season. I had several does and fawns come within 30 yards, but passed. The issue was it was on public ground and someone tore it down after the first weekend. I found a new spot after that.

[Bean Counter]

What's the point minimum on illegals and smugglers. 

"Seven." Because no one needs a ten round magazine when they go deer hunting. Never mind the bandits, rip crews, and smugglers!

[Bean Counter]

Well, just does today  Maybe tomorrow.

Last week's cold snap (mid 50s daytime high) saw the end of the rut. Now that we're back to 80 degree January temperatures its either water holes or some other technique that is way beyond my skill set.

[Annette]

come on Bean..it's never over till it's over...keep  using that doe in heat!

[Quarteredaway]

Are you in Arizona? Maybe down by Nogales

[Bean Counter]

Yeah I've been huntin' the southern units. Lot less hunter turn out due to the border violence. Some big muleys  and coues surviving as a result.

[Quarteredaway]

Fun hunt! I was down there 2 years ago saw some monster mulies and a few coues never got a chance but had alot of close calls. Did have 4 drug runners come right down on our waterhole! Aint gonna lie it was a little spooky but they just moved on and we kept hunting. Good luck hope you get a good chance.

[Quarteredaway]

As far as the blinds almost every waterhole we hunted had previous ground blinds on them that didnt require much work to be concealed. Also for us the does and small bucks would come in all day but the big bucks only appeared at the waterholes the last hour of daylight so stay in your hole till after dark if possible.

[Bean Counter]

The cartels are a business enterprise. They don't have much to gain by bothering hunters but it still scares many hunters away.  I don't go anywhere, border area or otherwise, without a loaded gun or two, so not much is different for me.

I'm going out in a day or two and I'm going to try to spot and stalk, like a man! Recent winter monsoons have left puddles everywhere that renders waterhole hunting fruitless.