They seem to be getting more popular with archery turkey hunters. I think its clear they help many people take a turkey.
I wondered how hunting from one impacts your over hunting experience.
Im not talking about some sort of strained and picky ethic discussion, just if you enjoy spending a day sitting inside one.
Personally i really enjoy it. To me its like watching a big screen movie. Sorta like a 3D visual. Plus being on the ground just makes the encounters more exciting.
Although i feel a bit "guilty" about all the movement you can get away with inside one.
With that said hunting from a blind has made my time afield more fun.
Not really. I can sit for two to three hours max in a commercial blind before my claustraphobia takes over. That being said they are just deadly on turkeys! I think that my lack of enjoyment of blinds is the number one reason I have not shot an antelope with my bow. I just like to decoy and spot and stalk them so much better that I have never used a blind. I have shot quite a few deer from natural ground blinds but I don't mind those so much as they are not as confining.
With my kids, yes. By myself, no. I'd much rather be on a stand or on the ground. Growing quite fond of my ghillie.
Just talkin' for me now... Store bought blinds are on the up-swing cause tree stands are on a down-swing. Hey, if ya get busted by a deer or turkey cause you move so what! It's only hunting. Right?
Anyway... The great thing about hunting is we all do what "we" need to get the job done. Blinds are cool. Tree stands too. I gotta be on the ground and use natural cover to be happy. That's just me. I know... I'm the fella that fell out of his highchair when he was a kid. Never been the same since..... ;)
... mike ...
No, not really. Do I sit in a blind for turkeys? Yes, more than I like, but as has been said it is far and away the most effective way to take a turkey with a bow.
Last year I spent most of my turkey hunting time with a ghillie suit and had a number of close encounters, all of which ended up in frustration. It is just dang tough! But taking one without a blind remains a goal that I hope to someday fulfill.
I have tags for two different weeks of turkey hunting next month, and I'm sure I'll do some of both. But I pretty much know that the more enjoyable time will be spent outside the blind while my best chance of success is while I am parked inside.
My six year old wants to go turkey hunting with me this year. First time I'm going to be serious about a pop-up blind. Can't wait.
I'm similar to what others have mentioned. If I'm by myself, I'd much rather hunt from a natural blind, I can't think of anytime that I have hunted by myself from a pop-up. But with my son, I'd rather be in a pop-up.
blinds are very affective but i cant stand sitting in them it drives me nuts, especially when the turkeys arent talking i have to get up and rmove around and tryt o find them also i feel so "safe" in them for me it takes the excitment away from the hunt. This is the main reason i havent bow hunted for turkeys cant stand sitting in blind addicted to run and gun and just sitting out in the open makes it more exciting. might try bowhunting without blind next year
I've only really hunted javelina in them for an afternoon and while it was nice to have a break from spot and stalk and get out of the sun too; I had infinitely more fun (and frustration!) on a spot and stalk. Definitely more of a thrill to hit one that way!
I have never hunted out of a pop-up blind..... but I did sleep in a dome tent a few times..... ;) :bigsmyl:
I do it for turkeys sometime but I don`t for anything else. Kinda like hunting in your closet.I use stands for deer hunting most of the time but my most enjoyable time in the woods is spent on foot.RC
Blinds are just one of my many tools I use to hunt. I also use ghillie, tree stands and natural blinds as well as spot and stalk. This weekend we will use a blind first thing in the morning and then run and "gun" with my ghillie, and then back to the blind. It's all part of a variety. The right tool for the right situation. I try not to make a square peg fit in a round hole.
I enjoy it, you get to see things that aren't aware you are there. Frank
I've learned to love them and its in large to part to being able to view all the wildlife without any chance of being seen. Sure, tree stands offer it too, but not like a blind IMO. I mean done right, you CANNOT see inside the blinds, viewing wildlife, taking photo's etc is a huge part of the hunt too IMO
I enjoy mine. I am with YBuck, it is truly amazing how much you can move in them and not get busted. They are great for taking the kids along, my daughter will even lay down and take naps in ours if she gets tired. :)
I will use one for turkeys, but do not enjoy being in one at all. I much prefer being in a natural (no roof) blind.
Like what others have said, I don't like it, but I do want to have regular shot opportunities on turkeys - so I use them all the time for turkeys.
My problem is I don't like being indoors-period. And being in a blind feels a lot like I am indoors.
One thing I should have added though is kids and blinds are great. The sit, when hunting, can be long as you know and I bring snacks, books, and a pillow and my kids have used them all in a blind.
I love my Double Bull. The only time I don't enjoy it is when temps get up into the 90s. But then, when that happens I don't enjoy most kinds of hunting in or out of a blind-- except maybe dove hunting.
I still enjoy lock-ons, climbers, ladder stands, and natural blinds, but for all-around comfort, I'd pick the Double Bull.
I sit in a fabric covered box all day at work so its the last thing I want to do for recreation. I like to feel the breeze in my face, or on my back.
I don't mind being in them when chasing turkeys, but I don't care for them too much when deer hunting. I can't see enough!
I love it.
There are a number of pro's to blind hunting. As stated already you get away with a lot of movement. I have a bad back, take a comfortable folding out chair in mine, wife often hunts deer with me and in cold weather this helps her to stay out longer, knocks the wind off. I also have several open top, natural blinds that work and occasionally use a treestand. I have had just as much succes on the ground as from a treestand, and find myself there more and more. If you have kids they can get away withmovement, and even lay down and take a nap if they need to.This is what works for me, I have taken 53 deer with a bow over the last 20 years, at least half have been on the ground.
I have 3 or 4 brands. I like them all. I don't only hunt out of them but don't mind it.
I even have a 6X5 platform on 16 foot legs, that I can set up my Double Bull on top of. It sets back in a cove on a soybean field. I have been busted on the ground there, busted in a treestand there, busted on the ground in a blind there over the last 5 years. I put the platform in and my blind on top, and got 2 deer out of it last year.
Blinds are a good tool. They are hard for me to use back in the woods because i don't feel like i can see far enough, but on field edges, or out in tallish grass they are great.
OkKeith
I dont like it much.I have used em.I just dont like the feeling of being cooped up in one.Feels unatural to me.Cant hear as well,cant feel the breeze,or see as well.Kinda closterphobic like.
It is a tool though that help you be successful and they work especially well for turkeys with a bow.Great for hunting with young kids no doubt who cant sit still.
i use my Apache groundblind sometimes because its not 360 degrees of coverage with a roof.
not at all, cant stand sitting in one of those
:campfire:
I like to walk and stalk and sit where ever but I also like the blind on rainy, or days when it's sleeting or stronger then normal winds. :archer:
I set up several blinds preseason and leave them out all season long. I enjoy them on bad weather days for sure nothing better than staying dry and warm in cold wet weather. On a pretty day I would rather be in a tree or out stalking for sure. Blinds have alot of things going for them thought they hide your movement(draw),control your scent some,allow you to hide two or more people if you brig a friend or family member with you. To me its just another good tool to have access to when you need it.
I am not knocking them, as I will be sitting
in one tomorrow morning with my best freind,
but my feeling is that it
"Takes You Out Of The Element" so to speak.
The benefits, and advantages are pretty obvious,
but I would rather be "IN" the environment
if you know what I mean.
Not for me. Had a good sleep in my brothers' during a downpour once though:)