blacktails and ground blinds

[huntnfmly]

Just curious has anybody had any experience with setting a ground blind up and using it right away? Did you notice if it spooked the deer or not or both? Did it work for you? I know it's better to have them set up for awhile before you use them. Any thoughts or stories would be great
Thanks
Jim

[cowboycraig]

Little off topic, but can say deer and elk "notice" trail cams but are not bothered by them. From my experience that is. Was thinking of putting a blind up after season in a night traffic area with a cam on it, just to see how deer and elk react to it. Be some good science to YouTube

[ghosthunter]

I tried a ground blind for mule deer once or twice. Seemed like they saw me each time.
I have used it for elk and had good success.

But the deer seem to pick up on it. Noise movement, 

I can sit next to a tree and have deer walk up to me all day.

Something about the blind.

[Griiz]

I shot a 3 point  blacktail from a blind a few years ago.

[redi]

My kids have shot several blacktails from ground blinds looking over cuts, fields and fruit trees. Great way to stay out of weather and shield the movements of impatient youngsters.

[lokidog]

We have not noticed any problems here, but our deer may not be as skittish as some.

Toss out a few apples and they will pay no attention to the blind.   

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

My kids have shot several blacktails from ground blinds looking over cuts, fields and fruit trees. Great way to stay out of weather and shield the movements of impatient youngsters.

ground blinds at rifle ranges are no issue, bow range can be a diff story. I always set mine up at least 2 weeks before I hunt. 

[Smoke]

it's in their backyard, and they will notice any changes and be wary around them...  hunt them same day or next and ya probably won't see anything, but grass em in, and leave them for a few days before ya hunt, and the deer forget they are there...

[bowtechian]

If hunting public ground a natural blind that you can slide your ground blind into might be the best way. Have buddy who builds natural blinds for blacktail & he is quite successful most years 

[Chesapeake]

I hunt from a Primos pop up blind. I'm always amazed at how the deer seem clueless to what's going on in the blind. They look at it, but then go back to what they are doing. I set mine a day or two before I hunt, but my trail cams indicate that isn't necessary.

We hunt with bows and shotguns with buck shot.
If your concerned set up a blind and a trail camera in the off season.
Oh, they are awesome in the rain. Sitting inside all warm and dry. I sealed the stitching in mine with Aqua seal.

[cowboycraig]

Wondering if it is a scent issue. Deer don't mind trail cams unless they stick their noses in them. That is why I put them nighter than a deers nose goes. A deer does not really care if they see a cam, but if the nose reaches it they bolt sometimes. Elk could care less. Wonder if a deer gets close enough to sniff if the bloind would set them off. If left out long enough sure it would not be cared about.

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[huntingbaldguy]

We set up a ground blind in a new location after my original got stolen.  We disguised it with cedar bows and such, and only left it about 2 days before we hunted out of it.  Wife killed her doe shortly after, but we had a lot of deer come in to it.  They didn't mind as long as we were still and quiet.  I killed my 3x out of it about a month after she got her doe.

[JDHasty]

I have a chair blind. 

I think it is Ameristep, I picked it up in the Bargain Cave a few years back.   

When using it to sit over an apple tree or an orchard it seems to me that if I set it up out in the open as opposed to trying to hide it or blend it in that the blacktails are less cautious about it.  Maybe they can see all around it and feel less threatened than if it were not so easy to keep an eye on. 

I use it for hunting w/one of my Deerslayer slug guns and shooting off my knees is pretty stable.  I like it just fine, it provides some protection from rain and wind and maybe it holds scent in to a degree.