Spot and stalk or hunt from a blind?

[turbo]

Nap time is mandatory for me. Splits the day into two parts, and I treat the second part as a new day. Clears my head. I have learned to "wake up" slowly, looking around, listening. Once, I heard what sounded like footsteps and awoke to see a fork horn moving away. Blind, brush or spot and stalk time, eventually the Z-monster is coming.

 

I agree,btw, sitting eventually yields shots.

[Zeke-BE]

I'm to A-D-D!!!! Desert I try to place my self were the bucks are pushing the does in front of me (rut). Thick stuff or pines, I still hunt, and open areas I glass. Doesn't mean I'll try sitting water. I just can't sit there all day. After a while I tell myself " I'm sure there is a deer over that hill"

[pahncho2121]

I'm curious to hear how many guys build a natural ground blind vs a commercially offered ground blind. I know the norm is to place your ground blind early so the deer get use to it but then you run the risk of loosing it or having it destroyed. My gut is telling me for this upcoming season to use what is available instead of buying a blind. Any thoughts or recommendations?

[metau]

If the terrain and weather allows for it, I much prefer to build a natural ground blind, especially if you pack into an area. I have a few commercial blinds, and have used them. I've had deer and elk look at me before in a commercial blind that wasn't brushed in well enough, but I've yet to have a critter look at me in a natural brush blind. With the amount of brushing in that I do on commercial blinds to blend it in I might as well just do a natural blind. The commercial blind does allow for me to move ALOT more though, which is extremely helpful with my ADD. Both are equally suitable for napping, just one I'm in a chair and the other I'm on the ground. Also need to account for the different shot angles and if in a chair, drawing your bow while seated and aiming at all possible angles. I missed a bull of a lifetime on my first archery elk hunt because my arm was into my chair at full draw and rotated all the way to my right.

[mattys281]

I usually carry a roll of cord, a foldable saw and some camo clothe. Much lighter to pack around than a blind and you can string something up to hide behind virtually anywhere.

 

Nothing compares to a fully enclosed tent type blind for hiding your movement and offering full concealment though. The big down side to them is their weight and they can get pretty dang hot if they're in full sunlight for any part of the day.

[GreyGhost85]

I've always used pop up ground blinds with a lot of success. They keep you a lot more shaded, and really conceal your movement. I feel like they probably contain your scent a little bit as well. I brush them in a little bit but don't get too crazy with it. I always try to set them under a big tree to keep me in the shade all day

[bigorange]

Much as I hate to admit it... I cant help but doze off from time to time when hunting out of the blind. But when spot and stalking and theres nothing moving, I've been know to catch a little cat nap as well then go back to glassing.

Some of the best naps I've had were under a tree after glassing for hours. I won't mention my buddy on here who I've watched falling asleep while in his binos.

[Guest oneshot]

OneShots brush-blind:

I kinda dig down with the edges of my boots and make a level spot into the hill side about 4ft across, 2ft wide. Along the up-hill side I carefull stack flater rocks and make a bench type seat. Then I start dragging brush and build-up around the outer edge, higher on the backside and as high as possible in front, but still able to shoot while sitting.

I dig down so I don't have to "Build-up" so much and sight-line disruption is lessened.

I carry a folding saw, and drag material, dead limbs etc, from away where blind is being built.

It takes a bit of work the first time, but adding alittle more brush every year makes it disappear...

 

(So if you find a blind, in 34A, with a pile of rocks for a seat, probably mine, Enjoy...)

[pahncho2121]

OneShots brush-blind:

I kinda dig down with the edges of my boots and make a level spot into the hill side about 4ft across, 2ft wide. Along the up-hill side I carefull stack flater rocks and make a bench type seat. Then I start dragging brush and build-up around the outer edge, higher on the backside and as high as possible in front, but still able to shoot while sitting.

I dig down so I don't have to "Build-up" so much and sight-line disruption is lessened.

I carry a folding saw, and drag material, dead limbs etc, from away where blind is being built.

It takes a bit of work the first time, but adding alittle more brush every year makes it disappear...

 

(So if you find a blind, in 34A, with a pile of rocks for a seat, probably mine, Enjoy...)

Coordinates? Just Kidding!

[Guest oneshot]

 

OneShots brush-blind:

I kinda dig down with the edges of my boots and make a level spot into the hill side about 4ft across, 2ft wide. Along the up-hill side I carefull stack flater rocks and make a bench type seat. Then I start dragging brush and build-up around the outer edge, higher on the backside and as high as possible in front, but still able to shoot while sitting.

I dig down so I don't have to "Build-up" so much and sight-line disruption is lessened.

I carry a folding saw, and drag material, dead limbs etc, from away where blind is being built.

It takes a bit of work the first time, but adding alittle more brush every year makes it disappear...

 

(So if you find a blind, in 34A, with a pile of rocks for a seat, probably mine, Enjoy...)

Coordinates? Just Kidding!

 

 

There are even a few ancient NA blinds to be found in the Santa Ritas, mainly in the more open terrain at lower elevations... They are made of rock piled-up, three sided or "V" shaped, set along canyon sides...