Any thoughts on Ground Blinds for Muzzle Hunting?

[IceNWhitetails]

I am getting excited to get back home this weekend over Thanksgiving and get back out after an elusive buck that just didn't show during rifle season. Have any of you had luck with Ground Blinds hunting deer late season? Seems to me this would be a good option (warmer, great concealment, etc.). Any brand suggestions would be greatly appreciate.

Thanks and take care!

[harvey lee]

I'm going to try this next week.

I have in the past used my blind for archery and rifle and they do work.

I will be setting up along a fenceline in a alfalfa field with a large woods behind me.

I do believe the key to success for me will be to brush it in very well.

[IceNWhitetails]

Thanks for the response Harvey. I'm going to have to pick one up as I plan on hunting the over an alfalfa field as well. My grandpa left a nice hay bale row out in the field and my plan is to tuck inbetween two bales. Hopefully this will do the trick. Hopefully the deer are in feeing mode come next Saturday morning. The weather is looking a little more promising for some deer movement next weeken with the colder temps.

Regards,

IceNWhitetails

[harvey lee]

If you can, tuck some hay on the sides of the blind and that will help.

The bales will help alot and then anything you can do to go a bit further from there would be good.

Maybe a few tree branches just to help break the outline of the blind. Darn deer are smarter than we give them credit for.

If you have a deer decoy, don't be afraid to also use that. I would put it about 50 yards or so from you and not in your line of sight of the blind. Deer will come out sooner before dark when they hang up in the woods edge. They will be a bit wary at first but they will key on the deer and hopefully not you or the blind.

[FISHINGURU]

they work great you can get away with alot more movement, stay warmer, holds your scent in better, just make sure you don't stick out like a sore thumb...i like to find a down tree or some bushes or anything that will break up the outline.

i got the kind you can shoot right through the windows and buy cheap replacements for them...i got the big beast called the penthouse.

[eyehead]

Are you guys setting your blinds up months in advance???? or will a couple days be enough??? I just got permission to hunt a new peice and dont want to take any of my portables of my other property.....So I think im gonna go pick up a ground blind tommorow.

[huntnfish]

If you get one with the shoot through windows I don't know if I would shoot through them with a muzzleloader or even a rifle. I have heard that the mesh can start on fire or at the very least melt a bigger hole.

[harvey lee]

I have learned over the years that if one sets it up in advance and brushes it in, the deer will become accustomed to it. Setting it out the same day and hunting from it, the deer will be a bit wary if its in the open and even brushed in.

The better you brush it in the more the deer will be OK with it. I use to spray scent killer on it before I used it if I was hunting the same day but I hunt where there are cattle so I just take a stick and put a little bit of a cowpie on each side for scent control.

No matter where you place the blind, take your time and break up the outline with some branches or brush and you will be way better off. As I stated above, the longer it could sit before you crawl in, the better of you will be. It will work either way.

[S 16 Guy]

If there is snow on the ground, buys some cheap white sheets and make a snow cover. It's unbelievable how well it works. I've used it the same day (partially brushed in at the least) and it worked great.

several years now near the ND/Canadian border w/ a Mr. Buddy heater between your legs, a set of shooting sticks, and a comfy chair is the only way to hunt when it's -20 w/o windchill...

[icehousebob]

I've had to hunt in unscouted areas before and set my blind up in the dark. I use a few stakes and drape a roll of burlap around them. The rough texture is great for blind material. It helps to lay the burlap out in the weather beforehand to get it dull and dark so it blends in with most cover. Any grass, weeds, branches, corn stalks, etc. that you can drape it with will help. Low buck and low tech but it works.

[harvey lee]

Great idea IHB. I will have to try it next fall.

Thanks for the tip.

[eyehead]

That's a great idea ice......the burlap should blend right in with the Switchgrass/CRP that ill be huntin.

[mskyfshntchr]

I've hunted ML season with a groundblind the last 3 years. Shot a deer from it each year.

A couple of things I do...

Try to get it set up in thick cover- you need to conceal it otherwise the deer will pick it right out.

Set it up well off the trail and preferably where they are not looking when they walk by. This way, if you are not very well concealed- you will be ok. I try to set it up where a trail crosses in front of me 40-50 yards. Gives me a nice broadside shot and the deer are not looking my way.

They do work great...Like stated above--great to have when it is super cold out. You can have the Mr. Buddy going to help keep the cold out!

I also have used the chair blind, but not as much as my bigger 2 person ground blind. You can't use the heater, but it is much smaller and easier to hide...

The white sheet will work if there is snow- I was busted in mine the first year when we got snow and I didn't put on a white sheet.

[bogwalker]

I'm going to try this next week.

I have in the past used my blind for archery and rifle and they do work.

I will be setting up along a fenceline in a alfalfa field with a large woods behind me.

I do believe the key to success for me will be to brush it in very well.

I agree with harvey lee. I took a long time finding the right spot for my first blind. It was well covered and actually hard for me to see when returning to hunt. I had a buck not 10 feet from me for a long time. He was fine until he got downwind then he bolted. I did not shoot, just enjoyed watching this one.