Hunting with a blind

When I started bow hunting I started like most hunters, using a tree stand.  A tree stand is a great tool for ambushing deer.  It also didn’t take me long to realize that a tree stand would not be the best option in all situations. When I started hunting with a portable blind, I saw that it had many advantages over using a tree stand.  Some of the problems with tree stands are that you have to find the perfect tree to hang your tree stand in.  This limits your options as to where to hunt.  Having a portable blind will give you more places to hunt.

I have been hunting with a blind for five years and it is a great way to hunt.  Hunting out of a blind can make you a more successful hunter by allowing you to see wildlife and how they interact with each other.   A portable blind will give you options that other hunting techniques such as tree stands and still hunting will not give you. 

There are many advantages to hunting out of a blind.  Hunting with kids out of a tree stand can be very hard.  Kids find it hard to sit still for hours without doing any thing.  The energy of a child could make it more likely that they could fall out of a tree stand.  A hunting blind allows kids to hunt with there feet firmly on the ground. Using a blind will allow kids to play video games (as long as the sound is muted) and still have a good chance of harvesting game.  When introducing hunting to a kid you want them to see as much wild life as possible.  By hiding the child’s movement with a blind, it is more likely the animal will not see their movement and will still come in.  A blind will allow a child to see much more wildlife than they would see from a tree stand or by sitting on the ground.  The kids will be much safer and will keep them out of the weather.  At the end of the day we want them to have a good time.  Hunting won’t be much fun for a child if they are cold, wet, or if they don’t see anything.

Blinds also keep you out of the weather.  The weather is the single biggest element to keep someone out of the woods.  A blind will protect you from wind, rain, snow, and bright sun.  Some weather can make hunting out of a tree stand dangerous.  Hunting out of a blind will allow you to hunt when the game is moving and still have some protection from the weather.  This will allow you to stay in the woods longer and the longer you stay in the woods the better your chances for harvesting game.

Blinds also hide you better.  You would be very surprised by how many species will not pay any attention to a blind.  I have had bears, turkeys, coyotes and deer walk up to and pass me as I sat in a blind.  Small game like squirrels, rabbits, and quail will not react to a blind at all.  Not being seen by the game will make it more likely that you will get a clean shot off without the animal knowing you are there.  As archers, you want to keep your movement hidden from the game and a blind is the best tool for doing this.

The blind will also help control scent.   As you sit in a blind your scent will be trapped inside the blind.  The wind can’t blow it down wind to the game.  Attracting and cover scents work a lot better when using a blind.  You can put an attracting scent up wind of a trail and the blind down wind.  This will limit the amount of human scent there is in the area.

Being comfortable is also a key to staying longer in the woods.  This is very true as a turkey hunter knows.  Sitting on the ground can be very uncomfortable.  A blind allows the hunter to be able to sit in a chair.  There are many options of chairs to use in a blind.  There are chairs that you can use as a back pack to carry your blind and other gear as you move around. There are other chairs with options such as cup holders, pads, and pillows.

The blind will also help in controlling sound.  It will be hard for the deer to jump the string if you are shooting out of a blind.  The blind will hold in or dull the sound.

Hunting out of a blind is not a free lunch.  There are some limitations to hunting out of a blind.  The biggest limitation is the view that you have.  With a blind you have to open windows so the hunter is not silhouetted inside the blind.  As you sit inside the blind you always hear something behind you.  A small bird flying past the back of the blind may sounds like a turkey strutting.

Deer are the hardest animal to hunt from a blind.  Deer seem to be bothered by the open windows of the blind.  It is very important that you have the shoot through windows up.  Turkeys on the other hand, don’t seem to care about the blind as long as it is dark inside and they can’t see into it.

Hunting from a blind can allow you to hunt areas where hunting from a tree stand is not possible.  A blind can also give you many options that you don’t have with other methods of hunting. When using ambush techniques you can not limit yourself to only one method.  You have to be willing to look at other options.    There are many brands and styles of blinds on the market and one of these will fit your needs.

Happy hunting,

Sean