Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
- Big Buck 1982
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: Southeast Michigan
- Status: Offline
Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
Beasts:
So, I'm full of questions and I'm hoping you guys don't start getting annoyed by me
[glow=red]**disclaimer: I'm a somewhat novice hunter and am looking for any and all tips to improve my hunting skill set**[/glow]
With that said, I'm considering incorporating the use of a one person popup blind on my public land hunts. I also use tree stands, but I like the idea of being even more mobile with the use of a popup blind. Obviously, I'll have to make sure I'm brushed in and such, but I'm just curious as to what you guys think.
Any success stories? Thoughts? Tips?
I've read a lot of deer being spooked by the sight of a blind and that they need to get used to seeing it, but I obviously won't be leaving anything out on public land. My thoughts are using the element of surprise and having the deer not pay attention to the blind until it's too late
As always, appreciate your guys' feedback!
~BB
So, I'm full of questions and I'm hoping you guys don't start getting annoyed by me
[glow=red]**disclaimer: I'm a somewhat novice hunter and am looking for any and all tips to improve my hunting skill set**[/glow]
With that said, I'm considering incorporating the use of a one person popup blind on my public land hunts. I also use tree stands, but I like the idea of being even more mobile with the use of a popup blind. Obviously, I'll have to make sure I'm brushed in and such, but I'm just curious as to what you guys think.
Any success stories? Thoughts? Tips?
I've read a lot of deer being spooked by the sight of a blind and that they need to get used to seeing it, but I obviously won't be leaving anything out on public land. My thoughts are using the element of surprise and having the deer not pay attention to the blind until it's too late
As always, appreciate your guys' feedback!
~BB
- justdirtyfun
- 500 Club
- Posts: 2980
- Joined: Sun Sep 22, 2013 4:10 pm
- Location: Misery, previously Hellinois
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
I have not used one on public. During rut when bucks from other areas are coming through would be my high odds set. Local deer should notice almost always. It their living room or kitchen or den...they KNOW their ground like we know our home.
[ Post made via Android ]
[ Post made via Android ]
You don't have to be the best, just do your best.
- whitetailassasin
- Posts: 3404
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:34 pm
- Location: Michigan
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
I have used groundblinds only a couple times. A few things to remember. Set them up way early brush them in and leave them alone. I haven't used in bed hunting, simply because I don't want to leave a human scent wick close to a bed no matter what the cost. But I have used them in the rut between doe bedding. I've taken 2 deer out of them. 1 8pt and 1 doe. I would like to say the buck was only a 2.5 yr old. And this was pre beast member days. I've found that using the natural cover around me, like cattails or grass, has worked a lot better for me and allowed me to sneak in on mature bucks. Since then I've taken 2 mature deer from the ground.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
[ Post made via iPhone ]
- Florida
- 500 Club
- Posts: 996
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:20 am
- Facebook: facebook.com/huntinggeardeals
- Location: I'll give you 1 guess.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
With the time and effort it would take to brush your blind in, you could just make a brush blind that you can leave in place. You could pack some zip ties or a piece of netting to help with the job if you'd like. You also pack a small chair or stool. Very mobile.
I have a lot to learn myself and I haven't killed one on the ground yet, but that is how I'll get it done
[ Post made via Android ]
I have a lot to learn myself and I haven't killed one on the ground yet, but that is how I'll get it done
[ Post made via Android ]
http://www.huntinggeardeals.com
Co-Host Down South Hunting Podcast
Co-Host Down South Hunting Podcast
-
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:07 pm
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
One man popups limit your options. It is difficult to turn and draw. Make sure you practice from it prior to hunt. I would only use it in very specific situations with a bow. Such as an area with no trees. That said I think you need to scout and know your hunt ground if you are to be successful. I think it requires a lot more thought,scouting, and strategy to be successful from the ground with a bow. I like being up off the ground. If your simply hunting for convenience from a blind I would scrap the idea if your interested in a decent buck.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
[ Post made via iPhone ]
- MOBIGBUCKS
- Posts: 3026
- Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:21 pm
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
My experience on same day setups are not favorable. You would be way better off to get a ghillie and build yourself some ground hides.
- Wlog
- 500 Club
- Posts: 3651
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:28 am
- Location: Eastern Shore MD
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
I have a pop up blind but I don't like it for mobile bowhunting. I've been much more successful just finding something natural to blend in with. If I'm hunting on the ground I just take a chair and a small set of ratchet pruners in case I need to cut something to make a shooting hole or if I cut a couple branches to help brush in my hide.
I can be real quiet and stealthy this way. With the pop up you have to worry about carrying it through thick brush quietly. Also, a lot of the time you have to clear out a spot to put it. It's hard to do all that and keep from making a racket IMO. Gun hunting on private land, where you can set up 75-100 yards from where you expect your shot, like on an escape route, would be ok. But if you're that far away and all you have to worry about is getting the gun up to your shoulder without getting picked off, why bother with the blind.
IMHO take the money you would spend on the blind and buy a nice chair that swivels and sets up quietly.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
I can be real quiet and stealthy this way. With the pop up you have to worry about carrying it through thick brush quietly. Also, a lot of the time you have to clear out a spot to put it. It's hard to do all that and keep from making a racket IMO. Gun hunting on private land, where you can set up 75-100 yards from where you expect your shot, like on an escape route, would be ok. But if you're that far away and all you have to worry about is getting the gun up to your shoulder without getting picked off, why bother with the blind.
IMHO take the money you would spend on the blind and buy a nice chair that swivels and sets up quietly.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 4576
- Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:26 am
- Location: IA
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
You are on the right track about wanting to hunt from the ground to expand your options but I would highly recommend just picking a blowdown or clump of trees or brush at the right spot to sit in over a popup blind.
If you think you need extra cover, use a ghillie suit. Popups are helpful when you have kids that can't sit still or if you can't handle the weather but they greatly limit visibility, are pretty bulky to lug around, and often stick out pretty bad w/o spending a lot of time and noise brushing them in. I think hunting from the ground is the ultimate mobile strategy...you can literally sit on the ground anywhere, not limited to climbable trees.
Two of my biggest bow bucks were shot from the ground. For one I was sitting on a log with just a few branches leaned up next to me to break up my outline. The other I was sitting in a small thick clump of sumac that was just in the right spot.
If you think you need extra cover, use a ghillie suit. Popups are helpful when you have kids that can't sit still or if you can't handle the weather but they greatly limit visibility, are pretty bulky to lug around, and often stick out pretty bad w/o spending a lot of time and noise brushing them in. I think hunting from the ground is the ultimate mobile strategy...you can literally sit on the ground anywhere, not limited to climbable trees.
Two of my biggest bow bucks were shot from the ground. For one I was sitting on a log with just a few branches leaned up next to me to break up my outline. The other I was sitting in a small thick clump of sumac that was just in the right spot.
- Lockdown
- Moderator
- Posts: 9957
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:16 pm
- Location: MN
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
x2 for using natural blinds vs pop ups.
I have actually used a pop up on public land quite a bit, and there are a few times when I prefer a pop up over a natural blind. A pop up can be great if you are worried about dealing with lots of deer i.e. late season. I have had a lot of luck keeping my scent inside the blind by avoiding a cross wind. I always keep the back side sealed up completely. Last year I had a doe and a fawn come strait down wind at 15 yards and they never busted. For whatever reason they aren't all the alarmed at the smell of the blind, as long as they can't smell you.
I have helped people score on same day sets with pop up blinds twice. Last fall my wife got her first bow deer (yearling buck) and a couple years ago I helped my buddy get a 2.5 year old 11 point out of a same day pop up set and that was on heavily pressured public land.
Before you get too excited, both of these deer came in and were looking at the blind. They will almost always look at the blind and realize it is out of place. My wife's buck spooked but stopped again and she shot him. Tyler's came in head bobbing and finally decided it was ok. I don't think a mature buck is going to be receptive of a blind set up like this. All I can say is, if you do try it, bring zip ties and brush it in like crazy. The more the better. The other thing, you need to shoot through the screens... the "black hole" effect spooks deer more often than not.
Pop ups definitely have their place, but same day sets are tough! The more brush in front of and behind you, the better.
I've done a lot of hunting from natural blinds... they're the way to go IMO, PLUS... you don't have to carry a blind in and out!! huge bonus. If you want some tips for natural blinds just ask...
I have actually used a pop up on public land quite a bit, and there are a few times when I prefer a pop up over a natural blind. A pop up can be great if you are worried about dealing with lots of deer i.e. late season. I have had a lot of luck keeping my scent inside the blind by avoiding a cross wind. I always keep the back side sealed up completely. Last year I had a doe and a fawn come strait down wind at 15 yards and they never busted. For whatever reason they aren't all the alarmed at the smell of the blind, as long as they can't smell you.
I have helped people score on same day sets with pop up blinds twice. Last fall my wife got her first bow deer (yearling buck) and a couple years ago I helped my buddy get a 2.5 year old 11 point out of a same day pop up set and that was on heavily pressured public land.
Before you get too excited, both of these deer came in and were looking at the blind. They will almost always look at the blind and realize it is out of place. My wife's buck spooked but stopped again and she shot him. Tyler's came in head bobbing and finally decided it was ok. I don't think a mature buck is going to be receptive of a blind set up like this. All I can say is, if you do try it, bring zip ties and brush it in like crazy. The more the better. The other thing, you need to shoot through the screens... the "black hole" effect spooks deer more often than not.
Pop ups definitely have their place, but same day sets are tough! The more brush in front of and behind you, the better.
I've done a lot of hunting from natural blinds... they're the way to go IMO, PLUS... you don't have to carry a blind in and out!! huge bonus. If you want some tips for natural blinds just ask...
- Twenty Up
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1885
- Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:06 pm
- Location: Dirty South
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
Crazy story I want to add, this all occurred in a natural "blind".
I setup in tall grass with a river to my back less than 20 yards upwind of a frequently used watering hole & burr oak that was still dropping acorns. There was a small patch, maybe 10x20 foot of tall native grass on the edge of the river so I setup in this grass behind an oak. Even though that grass was maybe 3ft tall I was sitting on the ground so I was almost invisible.
Well two does come in, like clockwork to the watering hole and one begins to feed 20 yards away on the acorns but the second doe took the "path less traveled". Unfortunately this path was walking right to me! So I am practically laying on the ground when she walks up to me and just as she reaches in to lick my glove, a young fork horn comes tearing through and chases her off me! Well I dodged a bullet getting busted from the doe, but now this young buck is standing less than 5 feet away and he's curious to see what I was. He begins snorting, stomping and head bobbing at me, he was completely rutted out, well just as things were getting interested the does tried making a break for it. He heard, swung around and chased them off.. I never got busted, just laying in some 3ft tall grass with the wind taking my scent into the river.
Even the simplest cover can be effective.
I setup in tall grass with a river to my back less than 20 yards upwind of a frequently used watering hole & burr oak that was still dropping acorns. There was a small patch, maybe 10x20 foot of tall native grass on the edge of the river so I setup in this grass behind an oak. Even though that grass was maybe 3ft tall I was sitting on the ground so I was almost invisible.
Well two does come in, like clockwork to the watering hole and one begins to feed 20 yards away on the acorns but the second doe took the "path less traveled". Unfortunately this path was walking right to me! So I am practically laying on the ground when she walks up to me and just as she reaches in to lick my glove, a young fork horn comes tearing through and chases her off me! Well I dodged a bullet getting busted from the doe, but now this young buck is standing less than 5 feet away and he's curious to see what I was. He begins snorting, stomping and head bobbing at me, he was completely rutted out, well just as things were getting interested the does tried making a break for it. He heard, swung around and chased them off.. I never got busted, just laying in some 3ft tall grass with the wind taking my scent into the river.
Even the simplest cover can be effective.
Trust the Process~~ Lost Boys Outdoors ~~
YoutTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC7TXknGut5WfZQ6CbddgqYg
YoutTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC7TXknGut5WfZQ6CbddgqYg
- Big Buck 1982
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: Southeast Michigan
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
Really appreciate all of the feedback, gents. After further review, perhaps mixing in some natural blinds might be the way to go. I just love the idea of being as mobile as possible, while still remaining stealth-like entering and exiting any given hunting location.
Have a good one!
~BB
Have a good one!
~BB
- Big Buck 1982
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: Southeast Michigan
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
Twenty Up wrote:Crazy story I want to add, this all occurred in a natural "blind".
I setup in tall grass with a river to my back less than 20 yards upwind of a frequently used watering hole & burr oak that was still dropping acorns. There was a small patch, maybe 10x20 foot of tall native grass on the edge of the river so I setup in this grass behind an oak. Even though that grass was maybe 3ft tall I was sitting on the ground so I was almost invisible.
Well two does come in, like clockwork to the watering hole and one begins to feed 20 yards away on the acorns but the second doe took the "path less traveled". Unfortunately this path was walking right to me! So I am practically laying on the ground when she walks up to me and just as she reaches in to lick my glove, a young fork horn comes tearing through and chases her off me! Well I dodged a bullet getting busted from the doe, but now this young buck is standing less than 5 feet away and he's curious to see what I was. He begins snorting, stomping and head bobbing at me, he was completely rutted out, well just as things were getting interested the does tried making a break for it. He heard, swung around and chased them off.. I never got busted, just laying in some 3ft tall grass with the wind taking my scent into the river.
Even the simplest cover can be effective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow! That's insane. Can't believe you didn't get busted! Thanks for sharing, Twenty Up.
- GRUD
- 500 Club
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:26 pm
- Location: Hunting Beast: Become a Legend...
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
I have used a T2 double bull successfully on a mature PL buck. Killed him on Oct 2nd a few years back. Element of surprise is key. Killed him at 13 yds. The area I hunted was open and had no huntable trees but a gradual hill was behind me so the blind was not skylined. Only thing I dont like about blinds is you cant see very well. Now with crossbow being legal, if I need to hunt on the ground I just slip in and sit down. Dont need the blind to keep from getting busted drawing.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
[ Post made via iPhone ]
- johndeere506
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1394
- Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:59 am
- Location: MI
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
I never felt like a pop up was stealthy at all. Maybe good for taking doe, but not for good bucks, only my opinion. I bought a kill suit last fall, that thing is awesome, just get into some mild cover, with the suit on. I had 30+ turkeys within 10ft of me. Even took video because there was an albino female in the group. They never noticed me. Open woods, sitting next to a single fallen tree...
-
- Posts: 495
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:28 pm
- Location: Arkansas
- Status: Offline
Re: Archery Success out of a Popup Blind?
I shot a doe out of a ground blind 2 years ago and a buck from a natural blind, both shots were less than 20 yards. I've had other times that we've had small bucks and does within range of the blind but didn't shoot. I like using a blind but I don't think I would use one to set up on a smart old buck unless I could leave it out year round brushed in really well.
[ Post made via Android ]
[ Post made via Android ]
-
- Advertisement
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 41 guests