How do you go about concealing a pop-up blind from whitetails? I know from experience that turkeys pay virtually no attention to pop-up blinds, but deer seem to be much more wary of them. I have bowhunted from one a little bit, but would love to hear from some of you more experienced blind hunters how to hide one of these from whitetails within bow range. How much do you brush it in? How long do you prefer to leave it up before hunting from it? Should you leave the window netting in place or remove it? How far do you try to set it back from the deer trail?
Hearing how deer have reacted to various setups and situations would be helpful. Any pictures of successful or not-so-successful setups would be worth a thousand words, as well.
Full Version: Pop-up Blinds For Whitetails--how Do You Use Them?
It really depends on where I am putting it and how I plan on useing it. Bow hunting I tend to put more time and effort to brush them in. I usally cut some limbs and brush from the place the blind is in and pile up in it, it also works good to try and put it in a bush, cause one it gives you some background cover and two the things you trim out can be put on the blind to brush it in. When gun hunting out of one I really don't worry as much about it, but I will put it up ahead of time and let deer get used to it before hunting it.
Just some tips I've learned over the years. I have a DB Matrix and love it!
Always wear black...black shirt, black gloves (especially on your bow hand, and a black face mask). If you are curious as to why have somebody sit in your blind with anything but black on and you'll see the difference. Your bow hand (ring on finger for most of us) sticks out like a sore thumb when you raise your bow and put it right next to the window. I always wear a glove of some kind over my bow hand.
For deer hunting, put it out 2-3 weeks in advance before you ever plan on hunting from it. I always let mine sit out a week or so in the backyard to get it all aired out and hopefully rained on at least once.
Put it out wherever you want, but really pay close attention to having a good background. Christmas trees are great areas to put them if you have any. I always try to tuck mine under a branch of some kind. Then I add to the roof a lot. Really try to break up the roof outline. If you are in somewhat tall grass the bottom might not need much, but the top always worries me. You are trying to take away the square look. Not much of anything looks square in the deer woods where I live!
Leave the net down! Practice shooting your fixed heads out of it (I'd never try a mechanical out of a blind with netting) from the sitting position. I sit in my blind, but have always tried to kneel when the shot arrives. You'll be surprised how many times you'll come close to hitting the top/bottom of the blind instead of the netting if you don't practice!
Scrape the bottom of the blind out to bare dirt. You'll want complete silence once inside, and it really helps to be able to move around in silence. Use the debris inside to seal off the bottom...I'd think it'd help in scent control.
Last but not least....tie that thing down! A big wind storm might come thru and all your work gets blown over. Tied down they can withstand a pretty good storm. You might have to touch it up a bit, but not redo the entire thing!
Good luck...keep us posted...I love being eyeball to eyeball with em on the ground. I really took to blind hunting when my oldest (7) wanted to start going with me. For safety and convenience it's the best for taking youngster!
Always wear black...black shirt, black gloves (especially on your bow hand, and a black face mask). If you are curious as to why have somebody sit in your blind with anything but black on and you'll see the difference. Your bow hand (ring on finger for most of us) sticks out like a sore thumb when you raise your bow and put it right next to the window. I always wear a glove of some kind over my bow hand.
For deer hunting, put it out 2-3 weeks in advance before you ever plan on hunting from it. I always let mine sit out a week or so in the backyard to get it all aired out and hopefully rained on at least once.
Put it out wherever you want, but really pay close attention to having a good background. Christmas trees are great areas to put them if you have any. I always try to tuck mine under a branch of some kind. Then I add to the roof a lot. Really try to break up the roof outline. If you are in somewhat tall grass the bottom might not need much, but the top always worries me. You are trying to take away the square look. Not much of anything looks square in the deer woods where I live!
Leave the net down! Practice shooting your fixed heads out of it (I'd never try a mechanical out of a blind with netting) from the sitting position. I sit in my blind, but have always tried to kneel when the shot arrives. You'll be surprised how many times you'll come close to hitting the top/bottom of the blind instead of the netting if you don't practice!
Scrape the bottom of the blind out to bare dirt. You'll want complete silence once inside, and it really helps to be able to move around in silence. Use the debris inside to seal off the bottom...I'd think it'd help in scent control.
Last but not least....tie that thing down! A big wind storm might come thru and all your work gets blown over. Tied down they can withstand a pretty good storm. You might have to touch it up a bit, but not redo the entire thing!
Good luck...keep us posted...I love being eyeball to eyeball with em on the ground. I really took to blind hunting when my oldest (7) wanted to start going with me. For safety and convenience it's the best for taking youngster!
QUOTE(GreeneCoDeerKiller @ Aug 22 2009, 10:48 PM) 
It really depends on where I am putting it and how I plan on useing it. Bow hunting I tend to put more time and effort to brush them in. I usally cut some limbs and brush from the place the blind is in and pile up in it, it also works good to try and put it in a bush, cause one it gives you some background cover and two the things you trim out can be put on the blind to brush it in. When gun hunting out of one I really don't worry as much about it, but I will put it up ahead of time and let deer get used to it before hunting it.
Am I correct in stating that you suggest shooting through the netting? I am going to try to use a ground blind this year as well.
absolutely...shoot thru that netting...but practice before hand doing so...the netting really helps during deer hunting. they are spooky enough around blinds, but put the blinds up and not much luck here!
it seems that around us the deer are so used to round bales and such in the fields that they barely notice blinds, as long as you give the deer time to get used to blinds they can be deadly, i dont use the shoot through netting, i just take it off, i believe it's too much hassle and it doesnt really make a difference for me
QUOTE(WYOelkFREAK @ Aug 24 2009, 08:45 PM)
Am I correct in stating that you suggest shooting through the netting? I am going to try to use a ground blind this year as well.
Yeah the shoot through netting is great for archery hunting, but like Stoutk said practice a few time before you hunt out of it.
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