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I'm considering getting a 1 man ground blind for elk/deer this year and setting it up a few weeks before we go out (soon...black powder).
I like to walk a lot but for first light and dusk I'm thinking this might be a good idea. Plus, a little weather protection is nice if you need it.
Dumb idea? I never used a commercial blind before, just natural cover like bushes, etc. Any suggestions? <$100 would be nice.
Oriented on a consistently used animal path, placed with LOS and no obstructions for a shot, with enough time to establish if they aren't going to change habits due to it, it should be fine.
Here's Cabela's offerings, starting at 59.99:
http://www.cabelas.com/category/1043...w&CQ_ztype=GNP
If you place the blind on private land I'd say go for it. I've considered getting a blind but I only hunt public lands and have decided that I wouldn't want to leave one unattended and I wouldn't want to carry it with me on the hunt. Limiting weight and bulk is essential.
If you get one that's light and packable, will it be stout enough to prevent flapping in the wind causing noise and movement that would be worse than not using the blind? Will it be tall enough to fire from a standing position? Being high enough above ground vegetation is important in variable terrain.
The concealment of a blind is offset by a lack of outward visibility. Very often a shooting opportunity lasts only a few seconds. Quickly maneuvering inside or getting out of a blind to move a few yards for a better shot could lose you the opportunity. For me, using natural concealment and disciplining myself to remain still seems a better method.
I have a primos, a style no longer made a simple pop up about 8x8 and under a $100. There are a lot of blinds under a $100, the one person ones are small get the slightly bigger one. We hunt on isolated public land so we put them up a couple of days before the season starts.
I hunt with my son and I think the main advantage is weather protection, and some visual shelter. So when you go out at dawn, have your light and get situated the animals don't see the light until you open the screens. Other things like movement from boredom etc is not seen. However we are hunting rifle season and shooting from 150yrds to 300. They are also nice to take a nap in.
I have not shot out of it, i will sit in it scouting and looking for elk. get small cushions to sit on, the style used in duck blinds, you inflate them and sit on them, much more comfortable and warmer than the ground. Also a short tripod chair is more comfortable. I also carry some extra camo netting and when the day warms up if i get bored i will sit outside shielded by the camo netting.
I also leave extra water and things in it, ie within reason that animals or people won't take.
Get one they are great. I have friends with the Ameritech ones and those seem good. Mine does not have a floor and some do, your choice.
Cabela's has them on sale as we speak and I'd go look at them in person. All brands and styles are way different. The best to me, is simplicity, easy of setup, weight, and how quiet the windows/access points are. By viewing them in person you can see the access points on them and how the windows open whether it's a velcro- a no to me, or my straps that are "silent." There is a Cabela's brand blind setup that is my favorite right now and it's also on sale. While it's a little bigger than I wanted to carry it has every other feature I want.
Lots of good points/advice here. Thanks guys.
I do understand the limitations of sight when you're basically in a tent with a few windows. Very legitimate point there.
I am not one who can sit for 10 hours in one place and hardly move muscle (I've done it, but don't like it). Typically, I go out before dawn to a predetermined spot, sit my ass down as the sun comes up and wait for the first 3-4 hours after dawn. Then I walk and sit....walk and sit...until mid afternoon (2-3PM). Some of the guys I hunt with think I'm nuts. "Elk aren't moving around past 10AM or so" and shit like that. I get it, but I'd rather stalk around and try to kick something up than sit around camp bullshitting about how you didn't see shit. I get razzed a little every year, but hey, I got a week to kill something with my muzzleloader so I'm gonna use as much of that time as I can. FWIW, I've seen more elk/deer when walking than when sitting and the only elk (bull) I shot was when walking. But that's not proof of anything, just my experience.
Then I go back out after an hour or two of some chow and rest until dark. Last year, after 5 FULL days of hunting and seeing nothing I blew it on my last day, right before dark. I heard faint rustling behind me. I remained motionless. Same light rustling continued for a while and I figured it was a friggin squirrel as usual. I SLOWLY turn my head and see a cow maybe 10 yards behind me staring right at me with eyes as wide as they can be opened. We stared at each other for a few seconds and she was gone like a shot. Being in a blind might have put her in the freezer last year. Yes, I know, my fatigue and impatience was my fault.
A spot for a cache and weather protection. This is one of the big reasons I'm thinking about this. Get to the blind before dawn. It's usually freaking cold. Sit in there nice and warm near a traffic area and when ready to walk (and it's warmed up a bit), shed a few layers and leave them there with some extra water. And if it starts to storm when walking, make your way back to the blind to wait it out. Maybe go back to the blind for some rest instead of heading back to camp for an hour or two mid-day.
Where we go is about an hour drive from my house, so packing a blind in/out really isn't a big deal. I can bring it in several days before the season, set it up and leave it. The area isn't overrun with hunters so it would "probably" be ok. There's always a risk of leaving anything in the woods. Shit, I had some stuff stolen from a well established camp once, only to have it all returned the next day. If I can find my post about that I'll add a link here. What a weird deal that was. LINK
Cabelas. This is where I'd go to look at them first, if they have some set up. It would certainly be best to actually step inside one and play with it before buying it unless I got a STRONG recommendation for something I couldn't go see first.
Sorry, I didn't mean to turn this into a technique thread about elk hunting, but I am JAZZED to get out in a few weeks, so it's on my mind constantly. I've only been going for elk for 5 (maybe 6?) years so just trying to up my odds as much as possible.
Thanks again!
And man, if this rain and cold keeps up, we could have some excellent early elk hunting this year.
They are cheap enough I'd pick one up. Bass pro has them on sale right now and they are setup upstairs so you can get inside and get a feel. The sub $100 are get what you pay for.
Velcro is loud. Zippers can be loud. May or may not have mesh to help conceal better. I'd get one with solid windows as well as mesh so you can look through the mesh and it helps conceal your movements.
I use ground blinds for turkey hunting when I'm not doing spot and stalk. For a 1 man for your first time, head to bass pro and look at the lightweight metal wire type. It is light, easy to carry, easy to pop up, ok enough in the weather to keep you dry, and it's cheap.
Also look at Sportsmans guide, I have bought a couple from there and the 5 hub blind has lasted for a long time sitting out. I'm pretty impressed. It does have velcro and zippers so again, noise is a concern, but I leave mine setup unless it is raining then I close it up to stay dry.
Since you said you could leave it setup and aren't hiking it in a terrible ways, if it was my money and you want to not spend a lot of money, go for the Sportsmans guide guide gear silent adrenaline hunting blind. It's only $55 bucks right now, can fit 2 people ok or you and plenty of gear, it has Velcro and zippers but if you leave it set the way you want then it is easy enough to slip in and only do 1 zipper. It's a 5 hub so a touch heavier but also more secure. Mine has withstood some serious weather sitting out and still going strong.
I feel the same way in wanting to see them setup before purchasing one. Then you can compare them side by side with what you like. The Cabela's in lone tree has 4 or 5 different brands and styles setup right now. It made it very clear to me some of the features such as windows, shooting ports, and how they are adjusted. One brand had velcro for the windows. Seriously? My favorite was one offered by Cabelas around $159 regular pricing I believe. It had a unique system to me and was silent. It had a slider system to adjust the windows and screens. It had window openings on all 4 sides which I thought was amazing.
I think you're in the right process and I'd strongly recommend going to seeing them in person. Now is the time of year when a lot of companies should have the blinds setup on display with on weeks before bow season opens. Good luck man.
If you find one you like, but it has Velcro, just break out the hot glue gun, some felt, and magnets.