Ground Blinds Work?

rackuack

rackuack

New member
I was wondering how many of you use ground blinds? I was thinking of taking mine along with me to entertain my 6 year old boy. He would stay warmer and could get away with some movement...but I'm new at this and it seems to me that a yote would see that ground blind a mile away and know that it "nvr used to be there". Thanks for your thoughts!
 
That is a great thought taking your 6 yr old, if something came in to the call, he would be so excited.
I have hunted out of a ground blind and saw deer and turkey but I think for coyote I would cut a few big pine boughs or limbs with leaves on them and lean them all over the blind that you can. I think that would break up that square look even tho its camoed, I think you would need that for coyotes. However you would have to be quiet setting it up and cutting or breaking those limbs to use. Just my thoughts. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Or if you are in grass you could take some and tape it on the top of the blind so you could still look out without a blocked view from the branches. I think that would help with the square thing.
 
I should have explained better....I didn't mean cover up your peep holes, just put the branches along the edges and where you can to reach that flat top edge just to break up straight lines.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
I think they would work better for coyotes than for deer. Let me explain WHY I think so.

I have had coyotes come very close to me and not recognize that I am there. Deer which came even fairly close immediately seem to recognize that I am something out-of-place, and do not belong there. They are most often confused and curious, but definitely notice me, no matter how good the camo.

I do not know why the difference, but I suspect that deer normally know their area much more intimately than coyotes, which tend to range over a much larger area.

The main deterrent to ground blinds for coyote hunting is that you are less mobile, and coyote calling is a run-and-gun sport. But if you can live with the limited mobility, they should be quite successful.

You did not say what kind of call you are using, but I would think that you will be more successful with a remote electronic (either wired or wireless) where you can lure the predator into your limited field of view.

Let us know how you do.
 
I would love to use a ground set-up for coyotes. I have never seen it work as good compared to a tree stand. I have had my hips replaced, so it is difficult to climb a tree stand. It was impossible before. I have noticed that neither deer or coyotes look up. I have observed mature deer stand off, while the fawns settled down at the foot of my ladder. The shelter of the setup is a very big plus in the winter. What I need is a permant formal tree stand, about 15-20 ft up, etc. etc.
Jim
 
A ground blind has worked for me at least once. I called in a pair back in December while sitting in a blind. The only thing is this blind had been in place for a couple of months. Thats plenty of time for them to get used to it. I'd say go ahead and try it, at least the youngun will have fun. [image]
stuff42.jpg
[/image]
 
I recently started using ground blinds quite a bit, mainly with cats in mind. I design and devise them on the spot so it is not what you are looking for for your son probably. I have two pieces of lightweight synthetic cloth 12 feet long, one in camo and one in white, and a matching piece of netting to go with each. I drape, pin or tie them to brush, trees etc. to improve my "hide" and conceal hand movement. Just my eyes show over the top edge, and I like to look through a screen of limbs, etc. I tend to call thicker cover, or at least sit in it.

Do they work? I've been surprised at how well. In my first use, a coyote trotted up and stood looking at the call and decoy. I was less than 45 degrees off his line of sight, within 25 yards, and he never even glanced my way when I raised the rifle over the top edge of the snow camo and shot him. That was the white cloth draped around alder brush. A bobcat facing me caught the rifle movement but froze to stare for the fatal second or so, at less than 25 yards. That one I used dry ground camo around blackberries and a dark stump in patchy snow.

Seems like the key would be for the ground blind to blend in to whatever is there, like any camo, ghillie etc. A brown ghillie on a snowfield stands out like a neon sign rather than hide you. Same with a ground blind on a plowed field, stubble field, etc.

Does anyone make a small half dome ready made ground blind? I've been thinking of making one that would fold small and light and set up quick. I've only seen a couple of ground blinds and they were full tents.
 
Last edited:
I too have wondered about the same thing, whether a blind would be of good use or not for predator hunting. I guess there are pros and cons to it. I do see the need to "call and run" and be mobile. On the other hand, if you are not worried so much about making a lot of sets, then perhaps a blind could be of good use. It definitely would hold down movement, and maybe keep scent controlled somewhat better.

The problems I see with it is more "stuff" to pack in, and noise to set it up and get in position. But, if it has been set up in advance, seems that it could be a good thing. Would be nice to have enough of them already set here and there to travel from one spot to another for calling.

Here is a picture of a friend and my blind I set up last fall for turkey hunting. I used local vegetation, such a laurel to cover it. I left enough space open to shoot through and to video. I undid the shoot-through windows since I didn't want a big shotgun blast through it. We didn't see a turkey this day, but the blind works good for hunting them. I did take a turkey earlier in the fall with a crossbow from a blind, and it worked great for that hunt.

I think it would work for a coyote. But, that's me just talking and thinking, and not from experience of predator hunting from a blind.

KeithBlind.jpg
 
Last edited:
Quote:
Does anyone make a small half dome ready made ground blind? I've been thinking of making one that would fold small and light and set up quick.



I've seen some that are like big giant umbrellas. You just ay it on its side.
I forget who made them.
I'll try to find out and post it here tomorrow.
PC
Here's one.
 
Last edited:
Pinecone,
Thanks. That umbrella is an interesting idea and should work well in different situations and ground slope. The one in the pic looks huge when folded up however. We hike a lot so I have to get all my gear in one pack. I might get a compact umbrella and camo color it myself, and add the windows. Those windows are a hoot, but a good idea. I'm usually pretty confident about where the critter will appear in my tight set-ups so was only looking for a half wrap blind or less, plus a half blind should be more compact to carry in a pack. Good idea.
 
Yes they work, if you have trees, us the lower limbs to build them(doug/red fir works best) and then they are there whenever you return to that spot. They will get used to seeing the blind and it's just part of the country after a while. ( I shot my first cat from a blind before my 12th birthday with a reed call, no it wasn't my idea but we needed the money), and have been using them whenever possible since then.
If you can't use tree limbs, they make camo burlap (54"x12ft for about $13.00 (in the nortwest it's at bi-mart),you should be able to find some if you look. blue
 
I like bluealtered's idea with the camo burlap. Drape it over the brush in front of you & if necessary just clip it up with the old wooden spring type clothes pins.

Nothing beats using the available vegetation tho.HTH
 
I too have thought a lot about this. Here is what I have came up with. Last week, my seven year old son and I were at Cabelas's. We found an Ameristep chair blind that is a folding chair that has a blind over the top of it. It appeared to be constructed very well so we decided to try it out while we were in the store. I sat in the chair and my son sat on a stool in front of me. There was plenty of room for both of us inside the blind. We could both see well all directions and would have easily been able to shoot. It was extremely confortable. My son thought it was a lot of fun being inside it. He said it was like a little fort. Not to mention the price is right. I will purchase one and give it a shot. If someone else try's one first, let us all know how it works. Thanks, LawDog.

Here is the link.
Ameristep Chair Blind

Happy Hunting! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
LawDog-- My Dad loves the one we got for him last fall. He thinks it is very comfortable. He is 78yrs old & had no problems carrying it in/out or setup/takedown. HTH
 
Back
Top