Stand or ground blind

[greenhead_killer]

I’m a tree stand kind of guy too. Much better vantage. Keeps scent up high. Lots of shooting lanes. Light stays light longer to shoot than in a blind. The last time I hunted late season wts, 2017, I had 34 buck encounters in 6 days in my stand. Some of them the same buck, but still that many chances and they came from every which direction. Too confining in a gb imo

[idaho guy]

Yeah last December 15th I shot at "last light" and waited 10 minutes after hearing crash to look for the arrow.  Even after those 10 minutes, it was light enought to shoot once I was OUTSIDE the blind 

As for shooting out the mesh, as long as it is tight there haven't been issues with impact.  I've taken five deer by shooting through the mesh and it never made a noticeable difference out to 35-40 yards. My wife had troubles with her setup but that was later attributed to her depth perception and not physical effect.

That's interesting with the mesh-We had mixed results maybe the shooters were the problem If I could shoot through the mesh with total confidence I would never use a tree stand if the terrain was right. I have been covered up in deer and elk while in my ground blind and they seemed pretty oblivious to my presence. Also I don't like heights so I am biased against tree stands but have used them when I had too. I have buddies that are hardcore whitetail bow hunters and they would also say tree stand is only way to go. I think it comes down to personal preference  and the area you are hunting. I know of a guy that insisted on using a tree stand in hells canyon for mulies!!! he is obviously from the south and is actually pretty well known. Good example of getting set in our ways when someone has done something for years successfully kinda hard to change. Eighty percent of my hunting is spot and stalk,calling in or chasing dogs so I am not an expert on either one but still vote ground blind I have just had more personal success that way and enjoy it a lot more. I only hunt that way during early archery like first 7-10 days     

[Jpmiller]

Unless you are going to put out the ground blind well in advance so the animals can get used to it I would avoid using one.  Whether camo or not they stick out like a sore thumb to a deer even if brushed in.  For me, treestands are the way to go.  I use this analogy.  Imagine if someone stuck a new couch in your living room.  Even if it looks like it should belong there, you know it doesn't.  Same goes for a new giant brush pile (groundblind) when it comes to deer.

I'd be willing to let you buy me a new couch to test this theory. The wife really wants brown leather 

[smithkl42]

One thing to beware of with a ground blind is to make sure you get one big enough. I bought an inexpensive one that seemed like it would be large enough, and indeed was, so long as I was just sitting in it. But as soon as I tried to pull back my bow for a test shot, I realized I couldn't come to full draw without moving around a whole bunch and getting myself closer to the window. So expect, maybe, to get a bigger one than you would initially hope.

[Jonathan_S]

Unless you are going to put out the ground blind well in advance so the animals can get used to it I would avoid using one.  Whether camo or not they stick out like a sore thumb to a deer even if brushed in.  For me, treestands are the way to go.  I use this analogy.  Imagine if someone stuck a new couch in your living room.  Even if it looks like it should belong there, you know it doesn't.  Same goes for a new giant brush pile (groundblind) when it comes to deer.

For what it's worth I've had shot opportunities on 3 whitetail bucks that were 4.5 yrs+ old from a groundblind that hadn't been there longer than a day and I've killed a few deer like that.  I agree it's best practice to have things set up and brushed in properly but I generally disagree that it's pointless to hunt that way.  Things change in the woods all the time.

Bucks are so cautious that they notice things from farther away I think.  Then as long as they can approach at their snail pace, they are fine.  This is mostly rut and post rut hunting so ymmv.

[Billy74]

I think a ground blind is the way ill go for now.  Mostly do to my 9yo boy who will be coming along.  So my question now is how early should i put it up on public land.  Big concern is of course someone trashing it it, stealing it or a storm moving it altogether.  I think ill also make some natural blinds in secondary spots as well.  Kids will love helping with that project.  Does anyone know if using cammo netting would be looked at as trash or littering if left out a few weeks.   


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hal]

depends on weather. ground blinds allow you to duck under the wind and rain. much more comfortable. We have 6 ground blinds and two tree stands on our property. The tree stands are used as a change of pace option.

[buckfvr]

I have both......sometimes the hunt comes down to the weather and if the ground blind lets you sit the whole day in rotten weather and you know you wouldnt be able to sit in the tree ??  I know where Ill be.