collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind  (Read 3368 times)

Offline TomT

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 203
  • Location: Ocean Shores
Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« on: December 15, 2015, 09:16:23 PM »
In the interest of saving my fellow archers from this mistake in the future, I tell the following tale...

Sunday night I finally had a small herd of elk 35 yards from where I sat in my ground blind.  Had plenty of time to range them and carefully aim.  Watched my arrow fly right under the largest cow.  Although startled, they did not run.  Rechecked my yardage and let loose with another arrow.  Watched the arrow fly right under the cow again.   This time they ran away. 

Sat there stunned until I saw the spot on the edge of the window where both arrows had struck the blind as I released.

I don't mind eating tag soup, but hate that it's due to my error.

Practice shooting from the blind!

Offline lokidog

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 15186
  • Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2015, 11:35:09 PM »
My wife did that with a doe the second time she tried shooting one from the blind.  I found that arrow two years later.

But twice?  Ouch....  ;)

Offline bracer40

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 1434
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2015, 11:48:53 PM »
TomT,

You're a brave and better man than I. Good on you for sharing a personally hard learned lesson. My own lessons from a fantastic & hard hunted 18 days are still festering wounds that I'm determined to drive me to get better in every way possible for the new season.

“Just give me a comfortable couch, a dog, a good book, and a woman. Then if you can get the dog to go somewhere and read the book, I might have a little fun.”
― Groucho Marx

Offline RadSav

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 11342
  • Location: Vancouver
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2015, 01:31:36 AM »
Happens even to veteran blind hunters.  Last year I hit the edge of the window shooting at a turkey's head at 7 yards.  Lucky for me he was a slow bird and I killed him running away at 40.

Most blinds are not made with archers in mind.  I like the Primos XXL blinds, but I have to use a taller chair if any shots are down hill.  Bearpaw set up a special blind for me a few years ago.  At first light I realized he set it up for sky busting geese instead of shooting turkey at 10 yards :chuckle:  Every time I tried to peel Velcro off the windows a tom, still on roost, above me would gobble.  I finally had to just rip the whole thing in one fast motion.  Of course when the hens came down they flew half a mile before setting down.

It's a poor day you don't learn something.  And for some of us the learning curve is just a tad bit larger than it should be.  :o
He asked, Do you ever give a short simple answer?  I replied, "Nope."

Offline TomT

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 203
  • Location: Ocean Shores
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2015, 09:26:55 AM »
I'm thinking about just cutting the window to a larger size, of course that lets in more light so it's a catch 22.  When I raise the seat, my bow touches the top of the blind.  Maybe I should stick with tree stands, but I like the comfort, protection from weather and scent containment (at least some I think).

So, I think it just comes down to practice, practice, practice.

Offline blindluck

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1026
  • Location: Over yonder
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2015, 08:28:20 PM »
My dad had a buck in front of him this year, put an arrow right thru his blind peeled the fletch right off the arrow. Lesson learned!!!

Offline gilroym

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 310
  • Location: Omak, WA
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2016, 05:18:50 PM »
last year I had two different bait piles one on each side of my ground blind. The first pile they ignored for two days so I figured they were not into the pears so I set the second pile of alfalfa out on the third day and they ignored the alfalfa and moved right onto the pears but my windows were not open so I had to quietly open the window spooked two deer off before I could get the window down but I was able to get the last deer before they took off.

Offline Todd_ID

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2008
  • Posts: 2926
  • Location: Clarkston
  • Hunt Hard!
Re: Rookie mistake while hunting from a ground blind
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2016, 08:22:24 PM »
A hunting buddy of mine ruined a good drumstick on a turkey at 20 yards by hitting the bottom of the window: I got it on video, too.  We did recover it though!  They bleed out just like a deer with an arrow in their hindquarter.
Bring a GPS!  It's awkward to have to eat your buddies!

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Share your out of state experience by pianoman9701
[Today at 12:08:57 PM]


2025 deer, let's see em! by JakeLand
[Today at 12:07:09 PM]


Chasing wild chickens. by salish
[Today at 12:02:34 PM]


Auto repair shop Spokane by Buckmark
[Today at 11:48:59 AM]


2025 Deer season/hunter399 by brokentrail
[Today at 11:44:37 AM]


2025 elk success thread!! by str8meat
[Today at 11:03:31 AM]


Looking for Taxidermist Recommendations by Turner89
[Today at 10:58:08 AM]


Weatherby Mark V Feeding Issue - Amateur Gunsmith Advice Needed by luvmystang67
[Today at 10:53:31 AM]


Lost Rangefinder- Umtanum Ridge by GWP
[Today at 10:13:12 AM]


Rotator Cuff repair X 2 advice needed by GWP
[Today at 10:11:27 AM]


Entiat Modern hunting by gutsnthegrass
[Today at 09:41:35 AM]


Sturgeon Set-ups by ASHQUACK
[Today at 09:30:14 AM]


Lost Rangefinder- Umtanum Ridge by delmar90
[Today at 08:57:54 AM]


Pack wheel by CP
[Today at 08:56:51 AM]


Calling Cougars? by 7t9cobra
[Today at 08:52:38 AM]


Winthrop - Winter Range Road Closures by Schmalzfam
[Today at 08:42:49 AM]


Where do the bulls go? by blackpowderhunter
[Today at 08:28:21 AM]


Restraining Order to Prevent Sherman Wolf Removal by HUNTIN4SIX
[Today at 07:06:32 AM]


Any of our photographers on here have pics of the comet? by trophyhunt
[Today at 06:58:49 AM]


E WA waterfowl guide by Tbar
[Today at 06:07:04 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal