ground blinds for whitetails: a few questions, comments, observations.

Justin Falon · May 16, 2019, 04:44:40 PM

Let's take this to another level. How about a wireless game camera? I am tempted to try it because I know how tempted I get to check them. Large/old deer don't tolerate intrusion. Thoughts on wireless game cameras??

Justin

BAK · May 16, 2019, 05:26:51 PM

When hunting antelope in Wyoming we built numerous waterhole blinds. Our material was hog netting, a fencing material readily available, cheap, and not too difficult to work with. Shape to suit then weave in grass and brush. Amazingly effective. Good luck.

1Arrow1Kill · May 16, 2019, 05:32:46 PM

Wireless game camera with no visible flash as long as there's signal capability in the area. Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries should make it thru the season. Keep it all scent free and disguise the strap with a couple carried in branches with leaves/needles. It should help pattern his coming, going, time and direction. Good idea by me.

Justin Falon · May 16, 2019, 06:19:18 PM

Hog netting. I'm on it. Thanks for the tips. WIth your guidance, I may have a chance!!!

OkKeith · May 16, 2019, 07:18:13 PM

Justin-

Your Spring at the head of the gully is probably a tile drain coming from under the adjacent farm fields. No big deal, I just wouldn't depend on it for consistent flows.

I also like temporary "natural" blinds but the deer always manage to find the holes in them. For semi permanent blinds I have gone to using sections of cattle panel wrapped first with black sheet plastic and then with burlap. They are less expensive than Pop-up blinds and wind, rain, sleet, snow... and COWS can't hurt them. They don't take any longer to put together than cutting and dragging brush would and last a whole lot longer. Unless you really go to town with the construction, natural blinds rarely have tops and I don't mess with roofs on my panel blinds.

Don't buy new panels unless you just want to. In my experience there isn't a farmer or rancher in America that doesn't have a few rusty ones (I see CAMOed, rather than rusty) laying around and the smell is pretty much knocked off of them. You can probably get them just for the service of hauling them away or if the farmer is thrifty, buy him a couple new ones and trade for the weathered ones. I'm happy to go into a little more detail if you would like to know how I build the panel blinds.

Sounds like you have your new obsession for the Fall! Good luck!

OkKeith

Hud · May 17, 2019, 12:03:56 AM

I do not recall if you mentioned travel routes, or had an alternate spot in the event the wind changed directions. Does he cross the river to and from his bedding area where you might set up a second blind, especially if the two a far enough apart. Good luck, I like your approach.

Justin Falon · May 17, 2019, 07:41:37 AM

HUD

The west end is pretty isolated. The river on the east side is a half mile away.
I have an observation stand on the east end and could add a second ground blind nearer the west end if needed. Mostly I don't want to disturb it. Hence the cellular camera. It got my mind off turkey hunting!!!

Hud · May 17, 2019, 04:42:49 PM

It sounds like the old buck has met his match and the turkey should be thankful.

Justin Falon · May 18, 2019, 04:08:23 PM

I wouldn't go that far, but I do think that I have a chance to get this guy, especially since I am planning to put a cellular camera on the spot and stay out.

Justin Falon · May 22, 2019, 03:21:54 PM

Blind is nearly complete. Spent much of the morning in the rain yesterday getting it ready. I have a trail cam pic that shows a buck walk right up to my shovel. I need to resize it because it is a picture of a picture. At first I thought it was a doe. Nope. It's a buck. Guess the blind will be in the right spot!

Justin