Blind Hunting vs Tree Stands

Gun Dude

Gun Dude

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Just curious how many of you use blinds to hunt out of vs tree stands?

I was drawn for the Illinois 1st season lottery, and have a relative in the area, but contemplating using a blind to set up since I won't have the luxury of tree stand, and/or knowledge of the area. My in law will be doing some scouting for me on location, trail cams.... I've lengthened my Fall family/hunting trip to accommodate hunting for the 1st time in Illinois, as well as a week in Indiana.

I've never hunted deer from a blind, so thought I'd see what luck if any, you guys have had?

Thanks, any insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
Put it out as far ahead of the hunt as possible and leave it as it would look while you hunt. Killed many deer from a blind and its much more comfortable than a tree stand for me.
 
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I have. Had good luck from blinds. I recommend that you get them set up as much in advance as possible. Areas where shots close it took longer for them to settle down to something different in the area. But areas were I had 100 plus yard shots wasn't a big deal. They just stayed in opposite sides of the field from the blind. I'm not a expert and I maybe doing something wrong is why they shy away for a little while. Interested to hear others experiences.


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DrDover said:
Put it out as far ahead of the hunt as possible and leave it as it would look while you hunt. Killed many deer from a blind and its much more comfortable than a tree stand for me.
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Thanks and good to know! I'll be in the area latter part of next month, and can have relative set it up then, but have to rely on his local knowledge (difficult for me) as to where to put it!
 
Average Joe said:
I have. Had good luck from blinds. I recommend that you get them set up as much in advance as possible. Areas where shots close it took longer for them to settle down to something different in the area. But areas were I had 100 plus yard shots wasn't a big deal. They just stayed in opposite sides of the field from the blind. I'm not a expert and I maybe doing something wrong is why they shy away for a little while. Interested to hear others experiences.


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Thanks! FYI, Illinois is also a slug gun only state. I just hate that I'm going to have to buy a new bolt action, rifled slug gun too :p
 
Or if you don't have time to put it out way ahead of time, use a pop up tent type blind. Try to find an area you can recess it into some brush and still see the opening you are hunting. Cover it in natural scent cover for the area, and toss limbs and such around it for a natural look. Get there early before hunting time and get settled in. The pop up blind will easily allow you to change spots if you are hunting several days and have patterned the deer, and know they are coming out regularly somewhere else.
 
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Silver_Bullet said:
Or if you don't have time to put it out way ahead of time, use a pop up tent type blind. Try to find an area you can recess it into some brush and still see the opening you are hunting. Cover it in natural scent cover for the area, and toss limbs and such around it for a natural look. Get there early before hunting time and get settled in. The pop up blind will easily allow you to change spots if you are hunting several days and have patterned the deer, and know they are coming out regularly somewhere else.
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I am actually planning to use a pop up type blind.
 
I'm also still considering a climber type stand too.....may take one of each! I've considered getting a climber before now for some of the remote areas of current hunting grounds. Be hell to drag one out of there though!
 
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Gun Dude said:
Yes, you can use muzzle loader, but I've been eyeing a Savage 212 Bolt Action already ;)
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Compared to slugs you would actually get the best range out of a smokeless powder muzzle loader, and that's legal. Those guys also use a lot of the encore pistol set ups, basically a rifle without a stock.
 
Gun Dude said:
I'm also still considering a climber type stand too.....may take one of each!
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Yeah I'd take both, especially in a place you're not familiar with, that way if you find a good area to climb but not for a ground blind you're still good. Options are awesome. Could be one lone tree on a ditch in a field, great for climbing, not so great to set up a new blind on the ground.
 
Silver_Bullet said:
Yeah I'd take both, especially in a place you're not familiar with, that way if you find a good area to climb but not for a ground blind you're still good. Options are awesome. Could be one lone tree on a ditch in a field, great for climbing, not so great to set up a new blind on the ground.
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Thanks Silver Bullet, I like the way you think ;)
 
When I take a client out to specifically deer hunt I find a few trees in a triangle and wrap the trees with burlap (the reason I use burlap is that you can see through the weave of the material) and put a bucket seat in the middle. I'll then go make a drive toward them to move some deer. Of course I'm wrapped in orange from head to toe and the client knows which direction I'm coming from. We will have already established their shooting angles, none of which include the angle I'm coming from.
Most of the areas I take them to are only accessible by boat so other traffic is virtually non existent. I have a high 80% success rate and have killed some really nice bucks doing this method.
To the OP, just make sure you at least know which direction your deer should be traveling and make sure the blind isn't silhouetted and even though you're within the blind watch your head movements. Probably as many, if not more deer are killed from the ground as there are from a tree.
 
Bailey Boat said:
When I take a client out to specifically deer hunt I find a few trees in a triangle and wrap the trees with burlap (the reason I use burlap is that you can see through the weave of the material) and put a bucket seat in the middle. I'll then go make a drive toward them to move some deer. Of course I'm wrapped in orange from head to toe and the client knows which direction I'm coming from. We will have already established their shooting angles, none of which include the angle I'm coming from.
Most of the areas I take them to are only accessible by boat so other traffic is virtually non existent. I have a high 80% success rate and have killed some really nice bucks doing this method.
To the OP, just make sure you at least know which direction your deer should be traveling and make sure the blind isn't silhouetted and even though you're within the blind watch your head movements. Probably as many, if not more deer are killed from the ground as there are from a tree.
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I do the same type man drive with pigs. Naturally made blinds or the burlap method. It's the best way to get a feral pig without a dog. I always have them use shotguns of course, as the pigs are going to be moving.
 
Bailey Boat said:
When I take a client out to specifically deer hunt I find a few trees in a triangle and wrap the trees with burlap (the reason I use burlap is that you can see through the weave of the material) and put a bucket seat in the middle. I'll then go make a drive toward them to move some deer. Of course I'm wrapped in orange from head to toe and the client knows which direction I'm coming from. We will have already established their shooting angles, none of which include the angle I'm coming from.
Most of the areas I take them to are only accessible by boat so other traffic is virtually non existent. I have a high 80% success rate and have killed some really nice bucks doing this method.
To the OP, just make sure you at least know which direction your deer should be traveling and make sure the blind isn't silhouetted and even though you're within the blind watch your head movements. Probably as many, if not more deer are killed from the ground as there are from a tree.
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Thanks for the info! Appreciated!
 
I have always used tree stands. Even in areas I have never hunted before. A climber is a must.
I also like ladder stands, they can be set up in a hurry and left for awhile.
If you are going for a week, a climber is invaluable, if on and off the whole season, a ladder is a good way to kill a bunch from a hot spot.

I like being up high if the area is open. That way I can see where the deer enter and leave, it allows me to move on short notice.
When its thick, high may only be 15 foot but I like hanging from a tree. :p
 
I have had good luck just sitting on the ground or in a chair in front of a tree, getting the wind right, and holding still. They will not come close if they can smell you or see motion but will walk very close to you otherwise. I do enjoy being elevated because of the better visibility and have built several elevated shooting houses on my property. I am too old and too fat to be comfortable using climbing stands these days.

I no longer smoke my pipes, but deer never seemed to be affected by the smoke any more than by general human aromas. If you get the wind right, what you smell like will not matter. Smoke also was a good wind direction indicator. I have had several deer walk to within 10 feet of me while I was sitting on the ground in full blaze orange smoking a cigar. They sure were startled when I moved and started talking to them.
 
I'm also getting older and after having slip and fell down iced over trees with climbers (younger days in Kentucky when caught up in trees hunting and storm approaches) Now days I stick to pop up ground blinds. Whatever you choose make sure you practice setting them up before hand. Another thing I make for ground blinds is a set of shooting sticks for stability. Brush in the blind if possible.

CD
 
Tailhunter said:
I have always used tree stands. Even in areas I have never hunted before. A climber is a must.
I also like ladder stands, they can be set up in a hurry and left for awhile.
If you are going for a week, a climber is invaluable, if on and off the whole season, a ladder is a good way to kill a bunch from a hot spot.

I like being up high if the area is open. That way I can see where the deer enter and leave, it allows me to move on short notice.
When its thick, high may only be 15 foot but I like hanging from a tree. :p
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Definitely planning to add a climber to the arsenal for sure.
 
Combat Diver said:
I'm also getting older and after having slip and fell down iced over trees with climbers (younger days in Kentucky when caught up in trees hunting and storm approaches) Now days I stick to pop up ground blinds. Whatever you choose make sure you practice setting them up before hand. Another thing I make for ground blinds is a set of shooting sticks for stability. Brush in the blind if possible.

CD
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Agreed on the shooting sticks. I tried to see if the blind windows would support gun weight = Negative o_O
 
So I ended up ordering the Savage 212 bolt action 12 gauge, taking ground blind, and also ordered a new Summit Goliath climber stand. That way I have options, and found out there are a couple ladder stands I can use if I want to as well.
 
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