Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: chukar58 on July 16, 2023, 08:18:54 AM

Title: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: chukar58 on July 16, 2023, 08:18:54 AM: This year I was lucky to draw a September Archery Cow Elk tag and I have been considering using a ground blind. I have a couple of trail cams out and have been running them in the same locations for the last three years. It seems that the elk do move around quite a bit but they do eventually show up and sometimes at random times. The activity could be daily or nothing for days. Who likes to use a ground blind for archery elk and what kind of success have you had?

Also what is your ground blind preference and chair set up, I know there are a lot of choices out there.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 16, 2023, 09:29:14 AM: I know a group of guys that use one and have fair success.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: Jeeper on July 16, 2023, 02:32:47 PM: I have been successful many times with a ground blind. The key is spending enough time in the woods until you start to recognize areas with frequent traffic. Pick multiple places to set up in to account for wind direction. Be in your blind well before light

4 years ago I shot a nice at first light. The following year I shot a bigger bull from the same blind. My nephew called me on the radio and said " Well it's been 365 day's and ten minutes, congrats! He shot a nice 5 point an hour later! Very busy day!

Top secret i learned in my home state of Wisconsin. Weather tree stand or ground blind, when you hear some thing don't look!!!!
Move your head slowly, or you will get busted!!

Best of all, is the adrenaline rush you get when you one comes in. BUCK FEAVER to the max.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: BUTTER on July 16, 2023, 02:37:11 PM: Put salt out, sit in blind, shoot cow. It'll work, but get salt out now!
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: Alchase on July 16, 2023, 07:27:35 PM: The blinds with shoot through one way mesh screens are very popular for all types of hunting here.
I have this cheap one from Bass Pro
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/pursuit-spring-steel-ground-blind-in-zonz-woodland-camo?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CPMax%7CProprietary%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiq2sjNiUgAMVfi7UAR05EwVbEAQYAiABEgKpIPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I only used it one year so far, It does well, I have only shot a legal white tail at about 45 yards. But could have taken dozens of pigs.
I weighs about 11 pounds so not to bad to pack. There are many way more expensive that weigh half that.

The hardest is trying to find a decent chair or stool that does to make noise. And pay attention to window height. This one the bottom of the windows are 30” high, so what chair and how you shoot, should be thought out before you buy a blind.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: chukar58 on July 16, 2023, 08:31:31 PM: Quote from: BUTTER on July 16, 2023, 02:37:11 PM
Put salt out, sit in blind, shoot cow. It'll work, but get salt out now!
Yeah the salt is a huge attractant for the elk and I have been setting it out for the past three years and have some of the same bull elk returning as regulars each year showing up on game cams.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: hughjorgan on July 16, 2023, 09:23:29 PM: Millennium tree stands makes a great chair for a blind that is comfy and quiet.

https://millennium-outdoors.com/product/g100-shooting-chair-2/?v=7516fd43adaa
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 19, 2023, 10:50:26 PM: I tried a ground blind a few times, but didn't have the patience to sit in long enough to have success. If you can use trail camera activity times and careful not to bump animals you come in, you probably will have better luck.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: fishngamereaper on July 20, 2023, 05:43:54 AM: Imo
Seem like they'd be more of a hassle. Maybe good for a private property type set up but on public land...meh.
It's just another thing you gotta pack around with ya. And if you leave it set up..then we are into the whole abandoned property debate.
I think in Sept the key is to be able to be mobile. Even for cows. Follow the bugles to find the herds... sitting one spot while you hear ten bulls screaming is a recipe for insanity :chuckle:
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: zwickeyman on July 20, 2023, 06:03:52 AM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on July 20, 2023, 05:43:54 AM
Imo
Seem like they'd be more of a hassle. Maybe good for a private property type set up but on public land...meh.
It's just another thing you gotta pack around with ya. And if you leave it set up..then we are into the whole abandoned property debate.
I think in Sept the key is to be able to be mobile. Even for cows. Follow the bugles to find the herds... sitting one spot while you hear ten bulls screaming is a recipe for insanity :chuckle:

It would be for me for sure
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: GWP on July 20, 2023, 08:00:05 AM: I was hunting over by CleElum and found the perfect spot to set my small one man up. Promptly fell asleep. Woke up to see an Elk butt disappearing into a cluster of trees off to my left. Could not even see if it was a bull or cow, so there is that aspect of a blind to consider.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: Alchase on July 20, 2023, 08:12:06 PM: One problem I have using a ground blind is no matter where I put the windows, after about an hour, I always want to look out where the windows aren’t.
:rolleyes:
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: ghosthunter on July 20, 2023, 08:50:19 PM: We run several.

Pick a shaded area. A small group of trees works well. It will get hot in sun.
Put up day or two before , cover with boughs. Pile brush in front.
Get in the blind and have a buddy take a photo. Then look to see what you need to change.
Cover window behind you so you are not back lighted. Elk will see you move.
Stock with water , and gallon zip lock to pee in.
Leave the door open when you leave for day.
Tie and stake it down.
Stir back in the dark corner.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: ghosthunter on July 20, 2023, 09:02:05 PM: Photo
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: ghosthunter on July 20, 2023, 09:03:15 PM: Photo
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: ghosthunter on July 20, 2023, 09:13:07 PM: Don’t buy a Double Bull. Window are hooky. And they are heavy with a crappy carry bag.
I own one I bought from a member here and I don’t hunt out of it. We use it for an outhouse.

Get something like these.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/ameristep-silent-brickhouse-ground-blind?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CHunting%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&msclkid=ef47d17d4f861d2f6900b5c74a8f25f9&gclid=ef47d17d4f861d2f6900b5c74a8f25f9&gclsrc=3p.ds

Make sure what ever you get has a double strap carry bad so you can wear it in and out.
Electrical tape works well if you break a rod.
And screw drivers wrk better for stales.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: MIKEXRAY on July 21, 2023, 05:50:26 AM: I've used them successfully, one thing I'll add is I don't use a chair as they were always in the way and not a great shooting position for me in that confined space. I use a 3 x 4 ft X 2 inch foam pad to be comfortable folding it for sitting, & leaning plus great for laying down and when an animal comes along I simply shoot while kneeling. Kneeling is the perfect height for the windows, and u don't have to pack a chair. Elk are hit and miss showing up like u said , I found the foam to be way more comfortable all around for long sits. Good luck.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: trophyhunt on July 21, 2023, 06:33:03 AM: They are good and bad at times, I loved using one when I took my dad hunting, he cannot sit still to save his life. It was the best way to try and get him an elk in range. But for me, I have to be mobile, unless I'm in a real good spot for the blacktail ghosts. Big Blacktail are just too damn smart and being in a blind or tree stand gives me a .0001% better chance :chuckle: Instead of a zip lock to piss in, a bigger Gatorade bottle works better in my opinion, seals up tight. And bring a chair that doesn't squeak or make noise, like others have said, get in way before light. I used to slip in my tree stands an hour before light, in late muzzy it was a damn cold wait.
Title: Re: Who Hunts Elk from a from a Ground Blind.
Post by: ghosthunter on July 21, 2023, 08:11:12 AM: We have three or four blinds. We scout spots for them before season. Pack them in couple days before ,set up brush in , chair, tp and leave them up for season.

We rotate around them and some days may not use them. But if ya wake up to a cold wet morning they are sure nice to go too.

I like to hunt them am and late afternoon, and hunt around mid day. Sometimes we will move them mid hunt. Other times we use them for breaks and midday naps, rather than go back to camp.