ground blind for deer hunting?

[rugersol]

I got relatives in WI that use ground blinds when they're not driving/posting. I've used one ... mostly, 'cause that's what they did.

But, I've had the most success (still hunting) with a tree-stand! ... and that's still my preference!

However, I'd like to get my boy an opportunity to shoot a deer this year ... which, so long as I'm in "arm's reach", he could try!

... I don't figure that's gonna happen ... in a tree?!

I'm probly gonna be limited to public land ... at which, even if I didn't mind the expense for somethin' I really don't want ... a 2x ladder stand ain't really a good option!

Aside from posting up, whilst others drive 'em towards me, I never figured to have much luck, jest standing around in the forest! ... I figure a 10yr-old boy's probly gonna have even less luck!

So ... I was thinkin' about a ground blind ... basically, a turkey blind?! I seen a blaze orange "cap" fer such a thing ... and most certainly, on public land, I'd make use it!

Past that, while I did check the regs, and found nothin' fer 'er against ... I'll go ahead 'n ask ... are ground blinds legal fer deer in MN?! ... is there a blaze-orange "requirement"?! ... does the aforementioned "cap" meet that "requirement"?!

Anyone ever use a ground blind fer deer? ... with a child? ... successfully?! ... anything, aside from the obvious, I should be concerned about?!

... any recommendations?!

Thanks!

[JJ]

Ground blinds are legal. You don't have to put orange on the outside, just have to meet the orange requirements on your person.

I have hunted from them in the past when we were new to our property and hadn't put up towers. Scent control is a huge factor. At least in a tree stand your scent is spread out a bit before it reaches the ground. Ground blind, not so much.

Another consideration needs to be shot safety obviously. Shooting from a tree stand, your shots are directed into the ground. A ground blind you are shooting level, so you really have to be aware of your surroundings.

Check your prevailing wind and setup on high travel corridors. Remember bucks will like to travel in the thisckest cover, and likely will travel just downwind of the main trails.

[hunterfreakhd]

I know you said public land but.....if you have a chance it is a good thing to set up your blind long in advance so the deer have a chance to get acclimated to the blind or the deer will be very wary of something they don't normally see on the regular travel routes.otherwise you could brush it in which then conceals you better but higher chance of someone shooting towards you

[FJ540]

Brushing in isn't needed and probably doesn't work like people think it does anyway. Deer know the forest - they live there. When you park something in their living room or kitchen, they're going to notice it wasn't there yesterday, or last week, etc. Regardless of how natural looking it appears to you. If someone put a door in your hallway you'd notice, even though there's lots of doors already lining that hallway.

I've had excellent results using ground blinds, just like I've seen the biggest buck of my life next to someone's detached garage eating their flowers. Deer get used to stuff that doesn't harm them. If you can leave the blind out for a few days, you might end up with something like what happened to me - deer damn near stuck his nose into the open window (and promptly got shot). I was "different" than it looked the day before when it was empty and he noticed that. Smile wait for flash!

[Ramoel]

I use one at times on my own hunting land. No blaze cap but no other hunters in my area either.

I don't think I'd feel comfortable in one on public land, blaze cap or not. I haven't hunted public land for many years but I have many memories of bullets whizzing overhead in some more crowded areas.

I've had someone shoot right in my direction when a doe was standing in front of me (I had no doe permit). Jerk missed the doe and only quit shooting when I shouted at him. He didn't see me dressed like an orange popsicle, I know for sure he wouldn't have noticed a ground blind.

[hunterfreakhd]

I wouldn't recommend setting up in their "kitchen "or food source or their bedding area or their living room". Its best to set up off the trail and set up your ambush on their way to the kitchen or living room and brush in the blind, if you don't have time or the private land to set up the blind weeks or months in advance. The kid will have a much better chance.

[hunterfreakhd]

And it would be pretty tough to still hunt from a tree stand jest fer the"record"!

[FJ540]

I was being figurative. If your neighbor built a house, or dumped a pile of trash in their yard, you'd still notice it.

Deer are pretty curious when not on the hunt for bootay. I've had no problems getting them to come close to me, as long as they didn't see me as a threat. Once I started moving, they spooked and bailed, but I've had deer at under 20 feet while sitting on the ground leaning up against a tree with nothing for cover or concealment. Sadly, it's allowed them to wander way too close for a shot on more than one occasion.

I think the blind is a fabulous idea for getting kids hunting, and plan on using mine for the same reason. Kids moving around sounds like a great way to never see anything - being able to hide it will be a big plus.

I left mine out all last year and had deer walking past it daily. I took it down because I wanted to use it for late archery, but ended up not hunting again. When I get up north to do some yote hunting, I'll be deploying it again.

[rugersol]

And it would be pretty tough to still hunt from a tree stand jest fer the"record"!

... my mistake! ... my uncle and his buddies weren't exactly sticklers fer terminology!

[rugersol]

I think the blind is a fabulous idea for getting kids hunting, and plan on using mine for the same reason. Kids moving around sounds like a great way to never see anything - being able to hide it will be a big plus.

... that was my thinking!

I still don't have a good idea where we can go. I know a couple places in state forests ... unfortunately, so do 'bout a million other guys! I plan to do some more looking around, this spring/summer. If after that, it's the typical state forest deal, 'er nothing ... at the least, we'll probly skip opening weekend!

I still gotta take a closer look at the regs ... purdy sure there's early "youth" hunts ... but I'm also purdy sure they're all 12yr+.

Several things've gotta come together, fer this to be a go! ... this is simply one of 'em!

Thanks fer the replies!

[yukonjasper]

My $.02 is if you have a chance to get you and the boy out to the area your going to hunt a few times over the summer, set up the blind and "camp out" for the day on the edge of a meadow or somewhere you are likely to see deer. The kid gets an idea of deer movement and, more importantly, what happens when you make noise etc. Its good exposure to the idea of hunting and it demonstrates how still and quiet you need to be to have success.

As for the safety of a ground blind on public land, that is a tough one, but I'd use blaze ribbon in the immediate area in the trees around the blind and use the blaze top. I'd also be tempted to scout the area to find a location that affords you line of sight(bullet path) security from a couple of angles so you don't get blind sided by stray bullets. It would be a great idea to find out if an area is already "claimed" by someone - someone who has hunted it for years - thats were conflicts arise - not that anyone has the right to "claim" public land, but you know how it goes. By finding that out, you may be able to figure out whether the "resident" hunters can be trusted or are chuckle heads that barely survive the season hunting with their friends.

Ultimately, if you can find some private land to hunt, you'd be miles ahead.

[rugersol]

Ultimately, if you can find some private land to hunt, you'd be miles ahead.

No question!

I've used the ribbons before ... used to have a real good spot! ... then Potlatch decided they'd start leasing it ... had no clue 'til the night 'fore opener!

[hornswaggle]

I've hunted with my kids from stands and ground blinds on private property and they are very different but offer their own advantages. I picked up a double-wide ladder stand on sale at Fleet Farm a few years ago and I wouldn't exactly call it easily 'portable' for one person but it would be possible to carry it in to public land with two people. This was especially nice for the first few outings to sit together with my kids so I can teach them but once they have some confidence it's actually nice to sit apart. I've found that ground blinds, whether built from fallen timber and branches or using a popup style tent, are nice to use on those warm afternoons after a nice lunch when I start to get sleepy and I don't want to fall out of the stand when I take a nap