For the last few years I have been hunting off the ground about 90% of the time. I have shot two good bucks at 8 to 10 feet - Its one heck of a rush when you can hear the deer breathing the second before you make the shot. ;) This past year I set out my trail camera and it captured a pretty good sequence of how I set one up. So this build along will be more pictures than words.
Here is the site I picked - there are several deer trails that intersect right in front of the blind. I always try to find a blow down or a giant cedar tree to give the blind as much natural cover as possible.
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This will be fun. Keep them coming.
Hey, I hunted a place looks so much like that I did a double take! There was a hole from the root wad pulling out that was a good two feet deep. I sat down in the hole and leaned back against the roots. Stuck little finger thick saplings in the ground all across the front then wove some more back through the first ones and had a kick but blind. Shot a turkey out of it the first spring and another one the following year. No deer though. By the third year, it was falling apart and I moved elsewhere.
I always hunt a spot or a lane not a entire area. I try to line up the window I want to shoot out of with that spot....That way only one shooting hole is open. I close all the windows except the one I am shooting out of, I can see out but the deer cannot see in. This is very important when the deer is only 8 or 10 feet away.
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QuoteOriginally posted by Dave Bulla:
Hey, I hunted a place looks so much like that I did a double take! There was a hole from the root wad pulling out that was a good two feet deep. I sat down in the hole and leaned back against the roots. Stuck little finger thick saplings in the ground all across the front then wove some more back through the first ones and had a kick but blind. Shot a turkey out of it the first spring and another one the following year. No deer though. By the third year, it was falling apart and I moved elsewhere.
Thats a good point Dave... I am to cheap to buy a big blind (The taller variety) so this low spot was picked intentially...the acutal floor of the blind is lower than the outside of the blind, that way you can shoot a 64" long bow out of it if you like. I dug down about 8 to 10" after the blind was set up to give me a lower floor that way the long bow limbs didnt hit the roof when I shot. :thumbsup:
Next I stake it and tie it down. I usually leave my blinds out all year long, so I make sure it is very secure before I brush it in.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x29/chopncut/DSC_0006.jpg
Now for the fun part. I always brush the blinds so well that the only thing you see is the window you shoot out of.... The next series of pictures are in order. It took me several hours to get it like I wanted....
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Please limit picture width to 640 pixels per site rules
I have a ton more pictures but they will have to wait until tomorrow...
Love the subject and pics, but the pics do need to be resized.
Excellent Post Slayer1!!
Guys I will work on resizing everything. Sorry about that mods!
I like it!
Scott, you can set photo bucket to automatically resize as you import pics - makes it a lot easier. Good thread, looking forward to more pics.
Thats a good idea Shaun. I have a lot of them resized already. More coming shortly.
Good thread
I think these are small enough.
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At this stage its starting to come together. I like to have it brushed in so well that I have a hard time finding it when I go back. One other thing I forgot to mention earlier... I always clean out all of the leaves and sticks from the inside floor. This cuts down on the noise when you are moving around on the inside.
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I wasnt real happy with the way it turned out on the first day, so I went back for a few touch ups.....Now you see me.......Now you dont. LOL....Did I mention I love hunting off the ground? :D
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I've been grounded for 3 years now and I love it. They're a little closer by the time you see them, but it's fun! I'm a firm believer that you should have a little something above your head, as well as what you're using to hide your body. Those wary does will see you turn your head even the slightest amount, but if they can't make out the shape of your head, they'll stay aroound longer. I usually just weave something together from all of the downed branches, but it will be more elaborate next year.
i like it! but i have a question. do you think with all the branches you cut and "the new big brush pile" in the woods. the deer will be more cautious? i tend to think the deer would avoid the area for a little while.
i plan on getting a blind this winter, but my idea of brushing in a blind wasnt nearly as involved as yours is. maybe i should rethink.
i wont be able to leave mine in the woods. and expect them to be there when i return
gaff
Gaff most the branches came from other areas - I drug most of the stuff in there. It takes a little while for the deer to get used to it. I will start hunting this spot this week. It has been out for about 3 weeks. I would be willing to bet I can take a fat doe here before the season is over. I have several trail camera pics of deer passing through here already.
What Gaff said...most places around here, you leave out on even private land, interlopers will find it and it will be GONE. Public? Not even a question!
When I first got my double bull blind recurve model, I read where someone left theirs out and a snow hit and crushed the fiberglass wands when the weight collapsed the unit.
I then read where someone took a music stand out, set it up, extended the post to center on the roof "hub" and locked it down...kept it from caving in, in wind, heavy rain or snow.
Sure looks like you would disappear for sure.
After cutting the "green" brush, does it last long enough to not be a give away when it turns brown? I'd think down your way, "green" would last longer than up here.
i do think your set-up is sweet scott. i have another blind question for ya! do you find that on say a cold day, will the inside of the blind "warm up" from body heat and breathing and such?
im looking forward to adding a blind to my "arsenal"...
gaff
Nice job Scott.....hoping to see a success photo taken in front of the blind very shortly! :thumbsup:
Gaff its for sure warmer, especially if there is wind....As far as the green brush goes.. If you use hollies and ceaders it takes awhile for the color to turn brown, I usually go back in late summer and just add more green to whats left. I have one blind that has been out for 4 years I just keep repeating the bursh up procedure every year - I killed my 2 best bucks out of that blind.
That really made that blind disappear for sure!
Ya know, with that style of brushing in, you really don't even need the actual blind. If you are going to take that kind of time and want something that can be left out permanent, you could do the same thing by using saplings or suckers stuck in the ground and pull the tops together in a dome for a frame. It's a basic survival shelter premise. Throw a section of lightweight canvas drop cloth over it and brush it in just like you did and I think it would work.
It would take a little bit more work but not much and you could feel better about leaving it out in places where someone might steal an expensive pop up.
I've found that when I use my DB Matrix, I have not had to brush it in much at all if I choose my location carefully. My favorite place to set up is under a tree with long sweeping branches that sag down a little lower than the roof. I set the blind up under the tree so the outer tips of the branches are hanging down out in front a bit and the back of the blind is towards the trunk. Just by eliminating the roof line it really disappears.
just the fact that you say i would be warmer in one is enought to get me to buy one!
4 years scott!!! :eek: im pretty darn sure if i left a blind out for 4 DAYS i wouldnt own it any more!!!
gaff
Great blind and you look good in those jeans boy. :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Now put a propane heater in there and a lounge chair with a down sleeping bag and you've got something!!!! :biglaugh:
Snag, if I thought I could get away with it I would. LOL I am hunting this blind in the morning. Its supposed to be 24 degrees. I hope to smoke a fat doe!