Elevated "Ground" Blind

[deerminator]

I think I posted about this a couple of years ago - asking if anyone had done it. I forgot about it until last month and did some research online, mainly on a Texas bowhunting forum and decided this was the year to make it reality. And so I thought I would share a pic below of the nearly completed project.

Headed into Home Depot with gift cards from Xmas and birthday from the inlaws these past few years and left with the treated lumber and hardware to build a platform that will hopefully last for many years. Exception was the cross members which were regular 2x4s and which I can replace easily enough.

Anyway, the end result is below as noted. I am still working to brush in but I set it up in a spot that I observed is a good one to be in from over 10 years of bowhunting and having trail cams in the woods. I have the corners of the blind skirt secured with thin strips of plywood and screws into the platform. And I'll be tying down the four hub eye bolts with eye bolts to the platform for extra wind protection. Also going to pound three foot stakes next to each post and screw them into the post. Finally, I need to get some carpet up there to deaden noise and trim a bit more in shooting lanes.

This stand is mainly hot in mid-to late November (for bucks at least, plenty of does all year) so I feel the deer will have some time to get used to it. Plus, in our woods, the deer are used to trailers and stuff suddenly appearing and left there for weeks or months at a time. Looking forward to getting the Buddy Heater up there and having a little better view and sight lines with the comfort of a ground blind this Fall!

[phorn]

We have four on the property we hunt and the deer don't seem to care at all. Ours are a bit higher than yours. On the cold windy days it makes for a more comfortable hunt.

[deerminator]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I built it a bit lower because I wanted to be able to bowhunt out of it too when it comes to close shots. The six feet gives me enough height to see the entire landscape. Whereas before, a buck might come over the hills on various sides and not give me much time to react.

[harvey lee]

Looks nice. The deer will more than likely look at it pretty hard the first few times they walk in that area as it is something new in the woods they are not use to. Kinda like putting an additional recliner in your living room, you notice it right away.

After a few trips by with no issues, they will all but climb in it.

The carpet is a great idea to deaden any sound you may make. I did not have carpet in mine that I use for the rifle season but after using it for one season, carpet went in the next season and it really helps.

[PurpleFloyd]

I bought a metal ground blind platform from Runnings last year that is designed specifically for the 5x5 square blinds. It is either 5 or 6 feet high, has a metal mesh floor and a trap door to get in and out of the blind. I also have one of those 5x10 trailers that you see at the fleet farms and the frame of the stand fits perfectly in it so all I have to do is strap it to the trailer, drive it out to where I want it set and unhitch it, then pop up the blind and I am set. I like the mobility factor.

[paceman]

Looks like a good spot for a permant stand, walls, roof, windows.... The deer don't mind them at all. you could easily build it for bow and gun....

[deerminator]

Yes. Thought about that too. Building the walls, roof, etc. in the driveway and then hauling them down there and assembling. Not this year but perhaps in the future. Also saw those Maverick blinds in the Menards add this weekend and online. But I think I'd rather build something custom for bow too. With a vertical and horizontal window on each side. The platform is 6x8 so I think I'd go 6x6 to keep a porch to step on to before climbing inside. And 6x6 would be big enough. But I may just leave in current state too!

[phorn]

Sorry about the sideways picture but this is what the ones we hunt out of look like.Bow hunting wouldn't be a option but gun hunting they work great.

[jigginjim]

I bought a climber stand this year, I lease the land I deer hunt, also thinking of attaching a blind (shower curtain type) around tree before season. Then the days I hunt I can climb up inside the blind. As it would only be tied to tree it would not damage it.

[MJ1657]

I finished this one yesterday on my WI hunting spot. I will have 2 kids with so a blind was my only real good option. We overlook an area with some tall grass with a woods to our back. Blind on the ground sat to low. I brushed it in after I took the picture.