Anyone use a groundblind to hunt out of???

[firehawk87]

I just picked up a ground blind this year and was wondering if anyone had any advice like how long should I set it out for deer/elk to get used to it??? Thanks.

[RadSav]

That's a tough one to answer.  The safest route is to put it up as early as possible, but then your chances of having it stolen or torn apart my bears increases greatly.  I personally have set them up in WY and SC and shot animals from them that evening.  But then I have put them up on an active bait site two weeks before bear season and never had another bear hit that bait.

My thinking has been if you are putting it on a regular travel route you can get away with setting it up late.  But if you are setting it up close to their bedroom they'll take more notice and avoid it for a good while.  There is always a risk involved.  Sometimes you just have to take a risk and see what happens.

Make sure you practice shooting and judging yardage out of the blind before setting it up in your hunting spot.  Our blinds in WY are full of holes from guys who forget the arrow is lower than the sight.  Last year I made a bad hit on a really nice antelope because I shot him for 30 yards when he was only 20.  I haven't made that mistake in 25 years outside of the blind.  But he came in on the side I had not pre-ranged, animals in front of him, animals behind him and looking through that window just screwed my ability to see the difference.  I felt pretty stupid being the veteran in the group and having to explain I couldn't tell the difference between 20 and 30.

If your blind has a shoot through screen make sure you remove it.  We have had nothing but trouble trying to get consistency shooting through those.  Move slow with windows behind you closed and the animals should never see you.

[firehawk87]

okay. Thank you for info. I haven't even thought about the arrow being lower than the sight issue. If I can I will take a picture of my location with the ground blind and see what your guy's 2 cents are on it.

[buckfvr]

I still laugh at a friends arrow hole in his Double Bull.............broke the arrow too.

[oneezreiter]

I used one last year and set it only when I was hunting.  Put it up, get in.  no problems, the deer acted like nothing was there.

[firehawk87]

did you bag a deer out of your blind last year?

[Camp David]

Never use mine for deer hunting....yet. Only turkeys. make sure you practice. I'd put up the blind or a fake blind 30 days ahead of time. You can replace the fake blind with the real blind a few days ahead of time. If you do it right...Hopefully the deer will not notice the change.

[oneezreiter]

I did not, but it was my fault not the blinds.  I missed a 25 yard shot, my son bumbed me as I was releasing. 

[firehawk87]

Hey anyone out there have any good ideas how to get that new smell out of my groundblind???

[firehawk87]

heres a picture of the groundblind

[bobcat]

I just bought an Ameristep "Doghouse" blind. I've never used a ground blind but it seems like it should be an effective way to hunt blacktail deer. I may not use it a lot but it was only $50 so I won't feel too bad if I don't get a lot of use out of it. I may even try it for calling in bears and coyotes. The main reason I decided to get it is so I could take my 5 year old daughter hunting with me. I don't think she can sit still so having the blind will allow me to take her hunting. Otherwise I don't know if I could. Plus it will somewhat keep us out of the weather. I am going to try to get a spot figured out for it and get it set up 3 or 4 weeks before the season starts (I'm hunting modern firearm). I think the best way of getting the new smell out of it is to let it sit out in your hunting area for a few weeks. Mine will be in an area that is only a 10 minute drive from my house so I will be able to easily take my daughter out for some short 1 to 2 hour hunts. I think that's about all she will be able to handle. I can bring her home and go back out hunting.

[firehawk87]

Thats awesome your sharing the hunting experience with your daughter. 10 points for dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bobcat]

Yeah I told her I was going to let her come with me when I hunt out of the blind, and she asked if she could bring her BB gun to shoot the deer with.   

[lokidog]

Hey anyone out there have any good ideas how to get that new smell out of my groundblind???

Set it up in the back yard, let it weather a little.  Soak it with the hose, let it dry.  Spray it down with scent killer.

To the original post, I think it makes a big difference for deer and elk.  Deer seem to not pay as much attention, though getting it up ahead of time is probably a good thing.  A couple of years ago, i set one up for elk hunting.  Some elk came out about 120 yards away and stared right at the blind even though it was brushed in and against a solid backdrop.  I think elk are a lot more sensiive to it.