I have shot antelope out of pop-up blinds, but they are not best suited for hunting antelope for a few reasons.
#1-The wind blows really hard at times here, up to 70 mph, and you may find your pop-up style blind in pieces, and in the next county.
#2-Even when the wind is not blowing at hurricane forces, it does blow enough to flap the blind, and spook the antelope. The light gusts always seem to happen at the wrong time.
#3-Thieves love pop-up blinds. When hunting antelope, I like to set my blinds up 4 weeks prior to season so they get good and accustumed to them. Folks are always out and about in this country, and sometimes your blind leaves with them.
This is how I build my blinds pretty much wind proof, and thief proof. This would work well for whitetails also.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020870.jpg)
First, I locate my spot. This is a spring fed tank that does flow over and run about 35 yards. We set 2 blinds here so someone will get a close shot. I have a few other guys that hunt with me, so there is usually a guy in each blind.
can't wait for this build along! I just made the switch to traditional. This year i plan on knocking hogs and whitetail off my list.Next year, hopefully mulies and antelope on my property west of Cheyenne WY, so this will be very beneficial to me! thank you
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020871.jpg)
Next, I will un-roll enough "concrete" wire to make a circle the size I want. I like them just over 6' in diameter so I can lay down in the blind during slow times. This also gives a guy plenty of elbow room when drawing his bow.
Pound in 4 steel posts. Be sure not to put them where your shooting holes may be. Wire the "concrete" wire to the posts low and high.
Cut the mesh wire where your shooting hole(s) will be. Mine are set-up for kneeling, or sitting in a Double Bull type chair. I also cut my entry hole in the back of the blind, big enough to crawl in.
I've hunted at tanks in Wyoming in the drainage coming into them. Have used popups and cut sage and brushed in the drainage with good success. Can't wait for your thread to develop.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020874.jpg)
Concrete wire is quite tall, I trim it down a couple squares, about chest high.
Then wrap with tarp. This piece I have had for years. It was an old torn tent I got at a good price just for this reason. If you buy tarp, buy the heavy treated stuff. It will last you many, many seasons. We also use pond liner scraps we get from the oil fields really cheap.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020875.jpg)
Cut the tarp at your shooting hole(s). I leave the top un-cut so you can still close the window. When using that window to shoot out of, a clothes pin will hold it up for you.
Shedrock, I don't mean to go off course but... Do you use decoys to draw them closer?
QuoteOriginally posted by Kamm1004:
Shedrock, I don't mean to go off course but... Do you use decoys to draw them closer?
No, I don't. This water is all you need. Our season opens Aug 15th, way before the rut. A friend from NE tried a full body decoy, but it did spook the majority of the antelope away. I have hunted big water sources, 60 yards long, and have put that decoy at the far end. The antelope would rather drink by the blind than by the deke.
:campfire: I like the looks of this!!
Lookin good Bud :thumbsup:
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020876.jpg)
Next is the roof supports. I use like 3" irrigation pipe. It is flexable, and works great. Ranchers use this for feeding stock tanks. They run this stuff for miles, and always have a few scraps laying around.
I cut a "V" on each end of the pipe so it sits nice on top of the wire. Holes are drilled through it. Baling wire is run through the holes, then pulled down tight, and wired to the sides of the blind. (The concrete wire)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020877.jpg)
Here is a view of the crawl in spot.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020878.jpg)
Next, a tarp is put on top, or pond liner material as seen here. Wrap all around with baling wire to keep snug. We did trim the excess off, as this was a new roof piece.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020882.jpg)
Next, we put mud around the bottom. Dirt works good also, but was too hard to dig this year. We used mud from the spring.
This keeps the snakes out, the light out, and also keeps the wind from flapping the tarp.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020879.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020881.jpg)
We had antelope wanting to drink while we were setting our blinds up. You can see a little buck coming in over my friend's shoulder.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020880.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020888.jpg)
Throw some good military camo mesh over it, wrap it with baling wire, (so it doesn't flap), and your set. Just need to cut the netting where the shooting holes are.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020891.jpg)
I add carpet in the blinds, and put my shooting chair in a couple days before season.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020893.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020894.jpg)
They were coming while we were still working.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020899.jpg)
Finished! 17 yards is the longest shot from either blind. It is 34 yards between blinds, I will put a stake in at center, so the shooters know if it's "their" shot or the other guy's.
This is nice! Good ideas. I have heard similar things about theft on public holes up here.
Not to sidetrack the thread, but I would add that I have had good luck with the Montana decoy that is just a rump. The last two bucks I shot seemed transfixed by it.
They seemed more confident and curious than spooked.
On the flip side, I have used frontal and full body decoys as well and like Shedrock said, they do seem to spook bucks pre rut.
Keep it coming!
These bucks were waiting on the ridge above the spring to drink.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020903.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020905.jpg)
And, saw these guys along the road on the way out.
We have a great set-up, I hope it doesn't pour rain the day before season! It has happened before. :banghead:
Hope you all enjoyed.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020896.jpg)
These are the bucks above the spring patiently waiting for us to get out of there.
Looks good you don't have much longer to wait.
Mike
Great looking blinds. I would like to make something similar for deer. Thanks for sharing.
Great looking set up Tracy! You should have some good action there if it doesn't rain.
Your comment on the decoy got me to thinking. I haven't used one either, but wonder if it might be worth setting one up on the opposite side of the pond to try to get them to come on my side instead. The pond that I'll be setting on in a few weeks is a little too large to shoot all the way across. Might be worth a try?
Neat build along! I had the same thought that Whip does. I have never hunted antelope before but I have often wondered about ways to influence animal movement at waterholes. That might work.
thanks for sharing. i love the build along and you took good pics
Looks really good. I'm planning to build a couple of these somewhat similar, using pvc for the frame and the black pond liner material. I figured this was a cheaper route to go than replacing ground blinds every couple years.
Looks like a killer set up! :thumbsup:
boy i hope the outfitter i am using this year in WY has 1/2 as good of a set up!
Ive used decoys and it really spooked some bucks they ran away with out drinking and that was during the rut ! We use tripods or quadpods with a cover to keep the sun off you . Its amazing that you can sit right out in the open up in the air and they will come into drink and not pay any attention to you . Ive had antelope into my water hole an hour after I set my quadpod up . Its 12' with a 60" platform has a roof and 3 sides.We used similar blinds like yours and had good luck but poor luck with pop ups they really avoided em . The leafy camo must help . Tim
Man what a great thread! I have a couple of spots that I can't get a stand on for whitetails due to no trees. I am constantly worried about my pop-ups and have lost them to thieves, cows, and storms. I gotta try that here!
Great idea Tracy, thanks for posting!!! Definitely something I plan to try out.
Great thread Tracy!
Thanks for sharing with us your experience. :thumbsup:
Great idea ill make some of those for whitetail hunting grass and tree limbs could be tucked in wire for camo. be good cheap blinds to leave all year.
Great thread! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looks awesome. Plenty warm too I bet. LOL.
I have a whitetail spot that would be perfect for a blind like this. Always afraid to put up my pop up for extended times due to thieves.
Are Wy. antelope tags draw only for non residents?
I am going to put this info to good use!
razorsharptokill, No there are some left over tags available right now depending on which area your looking at
Hey Shed,
I was thinking...if you need someone to babysit those for you now and then...just give a few of us the GPS coordinates and we can take care of that for you!!! :D :D :D
Not so worried about theft here as we're on our own land.
I like the design and have most of the materials except the tarp. Easily bought though.
Thanks for the effort and the set up.
Great build a long.
Thanks for sharing and good luck this year.
Them goats are just so neat......best of luck to you this year!
Thanks Tracy! I can't wait to get out there and chase some antelopes again this year. Last year was my first year and defiantly a learning experience. Good luck in August!
Thats a very cool blind. I wish I could have been there to help
Excellent set-up Shedrock!
I hope you drop the string on a big-un!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Now were talking :bigsmyl:
This should get a few fired up before the opener :archer:
Thanks for sharing Tracy, great pics and I wish you luck. Shoot strait :archer2:
Tracy
Thanks shedrock! great tutorial. Cant wait to see/read the end of it.
Pronghorn may be on my to do list next year!
great job thanks. In the next few years I will use this training.
ChuckC
Thats a sweet set up!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Excellent build a long !!
Thanks
Very nice build along, good luck on your hunt.
-Jay
Great job!
Tracy, that is a fantastic build along, a great idea for anyone, white tails etc...
I'm wondering what its like crawling in that den, with a family of rattlers in there in the dark, I'll bet that is interesting. :scared: :scared:
QuoteOriginally posted by Gator1:
Tracy, that is a fantastic build along, a great idea for anyone, white tails etc...
I'm wondering what its like crawling in that den, with a family of rattlers in there in the dark, I'll bet that is interesting. :scared: :scared:
Mitch,
That would be a good place to send the "TURTLEMAN" that fella will go in after any critter and that's "Live Action"! Any one seen that show will know what I mean :biglaugh:
Great Thread. I have been thinking about something a little more thief resistant myself. These blinds look great. Thanks for sharing.
Nice tutorial, Shedrock. I build mine in a similar way only after setting the four white tops...maybe a little farther from side to side, I bend a gate panel and set it down between them...
So, you have a rectangle longer on the sides and shorter on the ends, with a wire mesh gate panel bent in between.
Cover that with burlap wool bags.
You dont have to cut shooting windows in the wire, at least on the sides. I cut one in each end.
The wool bags are cheap...well, they used to be. I dont know about know cause I have been using a pop up blind.
I have taken two Pope and Young antelop out of such a set up. Put it right at waters edge.
Once had 13 bucks come in together...the smart ones stayed on the far end of the line. Could have reached out and touched the youngest buck.
Good build along.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020923.jpg)
I went to the blinds this morning to check them and add some grass for more camo. The one blind in this pic was pretty dark looking. There was a doe there when I drove up. She is roughly 15 yards from the blind. There are 5 of us hunting here this fall with 5 buck tags, and 4 doe tags to fill. Come on Aug 15th!
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020929.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020930.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020931.jpg)
I added a bunch of saw grass to both blinds, and put a trail cam in the shooting window. We will see whats been showing up.
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup: Good idea!
Looks great!
Tracy
Thanks for the "how to!"
Love seeing how guys in different parts of the US do things in their area. Already given me some ideas for some whitetail blind building.
Thanks again for sharing and good luck!
Tracy I can't wait to see how this ends. I feel like I am there with you. This is exciting.
Jack
Excited for ya bud!! Good luck in a few days can't wait to see the pics :thumbsup:
"Home away from home"......the bunch grass was a nice topper. Looks like you've done this a time or two. Very nice setup. Great looking animals. Can't wait to see how this develops.
Hunt will be posted on the "Hope and Faith" thread. I will be hunting with Hope in August.
up for the guys who want to build a deer blind
I sure like that blind
Well, again, I learn something every time I come here. Concrete wire, dang!
topping this to go along with the other good DIY thread I topped earlier. time to get to buildin'!
What a great build along Tracy. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure this is going to help many people like myself.
it took me forever to find this thread again, so i'm topping it. i'm back on this as a summer project. really gonna do it this time, haha! :rolleyes:
Shedrock, do you remember what size piece of the military camo netting you needed for a blind this size? that seems to be the most expensive piece of the puzzle.
Tracy,
Great looking blind. See the wind farm nearby, Hanna, Medicine Bow area is my guess.