5 Best Ground Blind Hunting Strategies

When hunting, success largely depends on your ability to plan, prepare and pay attention. In that regard, successful ground blind hunts are no different. It’s all about observing, getting and maintaining the advantage and giving yourself the best chances possible. If you’re among the many hunters that will hunt from a ground blind this fall, make the best out of deer season with these top tips and strategies so you can come home with meat for the freezer. 

1. Scout the Terrain Beforehand

Although this tip may seem obvious at first glance, many hunters grow complacent and make the mistake of relying on last year’s observations or the general tendencies of their favorite hunting locations. The best deer locations change seasonally, and significant variations can sometimes be observed between the start and the end of the same season. Because of these factors, it is vital to scout your location before you go, preferably before the season starts. The only way to know where the bedding areas and the best feeding spots are is to get your feet on the ground and scout for them. However, even the best hunters can’t be everywhere at once; consider taking advantage of modern conveniences, such as trail cameras, to keep an eye on multiple areas and increase your chances of bagging a trophy.

2. Deploy Your Blinds After Scouting

Once you have the lay of the land, you will get an idea of where to place your blinds. Map out the best locations and deploy your blinds there. Doing so may take time; this is why the pre-season is the best time for scouting and blind deployment. Taking the wind and the surrounding environment into account is vital. You don’t want to accidentally place yourself downwind or in a disadvantageous location, such as a poor field of view or low visibility.

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3. Use the Right Placement Strategy

A good location is essential, but it isn’t everything. If your blinds spook the deer every time they see it, they will be of little use. Although you should always brush in your blinds, there are three approaches you can use, depending on your circumstances:

• Heavy brushing:This strategy involves extensively camouflaging your blinds to the point that deer cannot detect where they are, even at very close ranges. This is best suited for areas with dense vegetation.

• Distance advantage:If you are in a relatively open area with plenty of visibility, where deer will spot the blind no matter what, make sure that it is at least 100 yards away from them. It will be far enough away for the deer to remain well within your rifle’s range without considering the blind a potential threat yet. This option is most suitable for gun hunters in open areas.

• Let them get used to it:A well-known brushing-in technique is to place your blind so far in advance of deer season that even if it’s not at an ideal distance, they will eventually get used to its sight and consider it a part of their environment. If the other strategies don’t work for you, this is a safe alternative.

4. Consider Using Decoys

Ifthe ground blind is the ideal tool to avoid being seen by the deer, the decoy is a highly effective tool to bring the deer where you need it to be. One or multiple decoys placed at strategic locations ahead of your blind may help you attract deer within your field of view, increasing the chances of getting a clean shot. Some hunters prefer using a single decoy, typically of a doe, while others may use multiples. A pair of buck and doe is one of the most common combinations. Decoys also make it easier to travel from blind to blind without being spotted, as you can partially conceal your profile behind one, fooling distant deer eyes into thinking you’re one of their own.

5. Do Your Part

Ground blind hunting lets you get a good vantage point with a reasonable expectation that the deer will not see you in return. However, you still need to do your part inside the blind. You can get away with some movement, but if you can’t sit still or make noise inside your blind,the deer will detect you and mark your blind as a potentially dangerous area.

Waiting for the deer to show up can take a significant amount of time and requires patience. At times, you are likely to see nothing but grass and trees for several hours. However, it is vital to do everything possible to remain focused and alert. Bringing a book, a phone, a tablet or another method of passing the time are common practices, but be ready to drop it at a moment’s notice. 

Prioritize bite-sized distractions and don’t get too absorbed in them. For example, if you’re reading a book, lift your eyes every few paragraphs to check the field out. 

See and Hunt Without Being Seen

Shadow Hunter Blinds is a market-leading manufacturer of professional-quality ground blinds. We offer a wide range of innovative and state-of-the-art blindsand blind accessories capable of accommodating up to three hunters, allying convenience, comfort and concealment. For any questions regarding our products, call us at (888) 446-4868.