store bought ground blinds

[ihookem]

 I am starting to look into store bought ground blinds cause me and my 11 yr old son hunt together. It is so cold in a tree stand in Wisconsin we can hardly stand it. I wonder if a deer is leary of  a new store bought ground blind or do they just walk by it unalarmed? If they aren't bothered by them they would be ideal. What is your experience with deer in these blinds? Thanks. ihookem.

[john keyes]

I have no experience with them but I have heard really good stuff and success stories about the pop up blinds, and some supposedly have a scent liner material.
sounds like a good idea to take a kid hunting, which is very important.

[Dillohide]

I've had a little one man pop up for about 3 years and seems to work fine. Have noticed at a distance the camo finish can shine in direct sun light. They suggest you throw mud on it ... dirty it up a little before taking one out the first time. Mine has ties all around the outside so you can tie tall grass, pine limbs etc to blend in. The only problem I had was getting the metal rings to fold up right after a hunt but they're trained now and pop back without a problem. Mine has a scent liner inside. I think they all do.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've had one for years.  It's similar to the Ameristep Doghouse in size and shape, but I can't remember who makes mine right now, and it's too cold to go out and look at it. 

Mine doesn't have a scent liner in it, but it does have a black liner and prevents animales from seeing movement or your outline.  I've heard several people say that you should put it up weeks before you plan to hunt, but I never do.

I've had deer and turkeys walk within 5 yds of it less than an hour after putting it up.  If you keep relatively still and the wind is right, the animals don't pay any attention to it at all. 

This past spring I took my 9yr old and my 6yr old out on the same morning.  We set up the blind, put a plastic bench in it, and we wrapped up in a big sleeping bag because the morning temps were in the upper 20's.  My buddy was calling for us, he was sitting about 10yds behind us.  We had 11 hen turkeys walk right past us, 8 or 10 yds out, and spend over an hour pecking and scratching right in front of us.  Even though I was whispering in the boys' ears about the birds and stuff, they never even knew we were there.  About 2 hours later, 7 does walked within 5 yds or closer and spent about 30 minutes browsing right there.  One was so close, I could have killed her with a spear.

I'd call them pretty effective, IMO. 

[nodlenor]

I have an Ameristep Outhouse that I've had for several years now. I've take both deer & turkey from mine. I usually take mine out and set it up a few days before season to let them get used to it. I've had turkeys walk within a few feet of it and not even pay any attention. Most of the time the deer will look at it but it doesn't seem to bother them much. I'm sold on them. They are a lot warmer and there is no danger of falling as there is from a tree. Get one, you won't be sorry.

[wareagleguy]

I have several.  Bottom line is the blinds work.  There are two things to remember.  If the blind was put up today the deer WILL NOTICE it tomorrow.  The best way to fix that is to cut branches and put over the blind.  The second thing relates to the first.  If the stand stays up enough the deer pay no attention.  Just the other day a friend of mine is in one of my blinds on a green field.  He had to wait for a deer to move away from the window to make a shot on another deer.  The deer in the window was less than two feet when he shot.  He said it was the funniest thing he had seen when the muzzle blast went off right next to his head.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Since we're on the topic, have any of you guys tried one of those folding chair blinds?  I've checked out a couple in the stores, and they seem like the best idea since sliced bread, IMO.  (I own a bread route, so I'm pretty partial to sliced bread being a good idea  ).  I got in one at Dicks (they had two, one was a bit bigger, so I got in that one), my cousin grabbed a bow off the rack, and there more than enough room for me to draw and maneuver with it, same thing with a crossbow.  They wouldn't let have a rifle off the rack to try though  .

[Jal5]

I have the popup one not the larger doghouse style, teepee style. I set it up on a woodline overlooking a small field. The darn deer came so close to the rear of the blind that as I moved on the stool inside I must have brushed the back and the teepee moved very slightly scaring that deer as I heard it run off. Later it circled out in front but I missed with the bow. As it came in the front it was looking right at me too as if trying to figure out what it was seeing!

Joe

[billy]

I have a chair blind from Dick,s and love it,deer walk ten to fifteen yards from me .It is easy to carry in and set up and has mess with magnets to attack it to rails .

[1sourdough]

 This was my 1st year deer hunting with my son. At times it was a little chilly for him & there were some movement issues. I just bought a ground/pop-up blind for next year. The one I got was Yukon Tracks 'Dispatcher' from Gander Mtn marked down to $79.95. Anyway I'll be ready for next year, maybe even for turkeys. I don't shop Gander a whole lot but they were cheaper than another store & the gunsmith even gave me a few screws I was looking for.

[ihookem]

Sourdough, my son is 11 and next year he can hunt. I have a big permanent blind on my land but we have to have several stands next year and public is our only option so a ground blind should work if we can find a highpoint. Anyway my son like yours is well antsy and I'm hoping the blind keeps us consealed and warm too. I just cna't hack sitting in a portable tree stand anymore, I just get too cold after 3 or 4 hrs. I hunt in Price county. Later ihookem.

[JonD.]

Anybody have the Ameristep Penthouse? How do you like it? --I have one coming as a Christmas present.

[embalmer883]

I am thinking of seting one up where I hunt. Although it is private land, I've still seen the occasional sunday stroller. do you guys know of anyway to secure em? Don't know how they work so not sure if there is a stable place to lock one.

[Graybeard]

You're kidding right? 

They weight on average less than ten pounds and are made of light fabric. Lock them? Prevent someone from stealing them? Yeah right. 

[embalmer883]

I was wondering if a chain could be run through the frame. Never fooled with one, was just wondering. If they had to tare it up to take it then it would detour people (except for hoodlems) from trying to take it.

[JonD.]

Anybody have the Ameristep Penthouse? How do you like it? --I have one coming as a Christmas present.

I got it today. This thing is big, I can stand and shoot my recurve out of it no problem! About March or April I'm going to test it on some turkeys.

[ccoker]

I have one of these, works great
had deer come VERY close to it

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat540014&id=0046824418668a&navCount=10&podId=0046824&parentId=cat540014&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat540014&hasJS=true