Tree stand or Ground Blind

[billNpam]

Okay I have both a climbing tree stand and a ground blind. wondering which one you prefer?

[takeaction]

Before my back went out, I was 100% treestand. I can't climb one now though, so after my back blew, I started using ground blinds. Karen and I went to a WMA when we lived in Columbia (SC), and we used "scent destroyer". We had a doe and fawn come within 15 yards of the blind (she is my witness with no pics). That doe and fawn stayed in front of us for 15 minutes! It wasn't doe day, and I wouldn't have shot if it were, as she had her baby, and I will NOT shoot a doe with a fawn by her side. We sat and enjoyed them playing and eating. It was indeed a great day. We came home with no meat, no trophy, nothing but our happiness to be blessed with what we saw.

We now have 32 acres up in northwest SC, and it is a deer haven. When we first bought the land, I came out and walked it many MANY times. I got to know where every hole, every ditch, every tree was, and the deer got use to my scent. I hunted that first year (hunting isn't exactly what I call it which I will explain now)... My back was pretty bad by this time, so I picked out the longest shot that gave the most shooting angles. This is sitting ON the fiber optic pipeline- dead center.

It wasn't 'hunting' at all. It wasn't doe day, so I sat and watched 18 (18!!!) does work the pipeline, and come within 40 yards of me! I had scent destroyer on, but I was in the WIDE OPEN! I could be seen from ANY direction! They simply didn't care that I was there! After sitting for 3 hours, I saw a MONSTER buck come out behind me at the top of the pipleline... I pulled up on him and saw his rack... I couldn't pull the trigger... This deer is HUGE, and he's still here... We went out the other day, and saw his tracks are STILL HERE... This was the day that the police officer was waiting at our car when we got back. Maybe he can pull the trigger on the monster, but I just can't do it... He's beautiful! Or at least he was then.. I've heard, but don't know for a fact that as the deer age, their racks get smaller. I've only seen that deer once since that day, and he was huge then also!

I sat for another hour in the wide open just thinking about what I had just seen, and all of a sudden, a 10 point walks out about 300 yards down. He was walking straight at me, so I had no clean shot... He keeps coming, with me sitting right in front of him... He gets to 150 yards still coming straight at me, and I thought he was gonna get too close, notice me, and bolt...

He didn't... He stops at 125 yards, stands there for probably 15 seconds, even though it felt like an eternity, then turns 45 degrees and stands broadside to me, GIVING me the perfect shot... I took it and came home with a huge buck.

Many people will probably say, YEAH RIGHT... If you would like, I'll let you call here and talk to Karen... She is my witness! :big_smile:

So in closing. both work just fine...

[MRR]

Before my back went out, I was 100% treestand. I can't climb one now though, so after my back blew, I started using ground blinds. Karen and I went to a WMA when we lived in Columbia (SC), and we used "scent destroyer". We had a doe and fawn come within 15 yards of the blind (she is my witness with no pics). That doe and fawn stayed in front of us for 15 minutes! It wasn't doe day, and I wouldn't have shot if it were, as she had her baby, and I will NOT shoot a doe with a fawn by her side. We sat and enjoyed them playing and eating. It was indeed a great day. We came home with no meat, no trophy, nothing but our happiness to be blessed with what we saw.

We now have 32 acres up in northwest SC, and it is a deer haven. When we first bought the land, I came out and walked it many MANY times. I got to know where every hole, every ditch, every tree was, and the deer got use to my scent. I hunted that first year (hunting isn't exactly what I call it which I will explain now)... My back was pretty bad by this time, so I picked out the longest shot that gave the most shooting angles. This is sitting ON the fiber optic pipeline- dead center.

It wasn't 'hunting' at all. It wasn't doe day, so I sat and watched 18 (18!!!) does work the pipeline, and come within 40 yards of me! I had scent destroyer on, but I was in the WIDE OPEN! I could be seen from ANY direction! They simply didn't care that I was there! After sitting for 3 hours, I saw a MONSTER buck come out behind me at the top of the pipleline... I pulled up on him and saw his rack... I couldn't pull the trigger... This deer is HUGE, and he's still here... We went out the other day, and saw his tracks are STILL HERE... This was the day that the police officer was waiting at our car when we got back. Maybe he can pull the trigger on the monster, but I just can't do it... He's beautiful! Or at least he was then.. I've heard, but don't know for a fact that as the deer age, their racks get smaller. I've only seen that deer once since that day, and he was huge then also!

I sat for another hour in the wide open just thinking about what I had just seen, and all of a sudden, a 10 point walks out about 300 yards down. He was walking straight at me, so I had no clean shot... He keeps coming, with me sitting right in front of him... He gets to 150 yards still coming straight at me, and I thought he was gonna get too close, notice me, and bolt...

He didn't... He stops at 125 yards, stands there for probably 15 seconds, even though it felt like an eternity, then turns 45 degrees and stands broadside to me, GIVING me the perfect shot... I took it and came home with a huge buck.

Many people will probably say, YEAH RIGHT... If you would like, I'll let you call here and talk to Karen... She is my witness! :big_smile:

So in closing. both work just fine...

Thats a great story however you got me rather curious.Why was the police officer waiting at your car??

[takeaction]

Thats a great story however you got me rather curious.Why was the police officer waiting at your car??

oops. forgot to explain that part... stupid medicines! Sorry for that...

He was waiting at the car because Karen has a new to us, used car now. We pulled up at the bottom part of the land, which is on the highway. Our neighbor down there doesn't know this car yet, so they immediately called the police saying that someone was trespassing on our land. HEHE Thank god for neighbors! At least someone is looking out for us! :big_smile:

Everyone around us knows that we do NOT allow hunting except by a few people, and that is only ONE person this year, that officer! I do not have permission to give his name, but he is WELL KNOWN in this county, he is a gun safety/hunter ed training officer also, and a very good person in general.

Two years ago, the only person that had permission was a neighbor's son. He didn't bag anything, but that was his fault because he couldn't sit still long enough for anything to come out. LOL

[takeaction]

I like the ground blind for two reasons. First off I don't like heights and secondly I don't like to lug a bunch of stuff in the woods. I kill about as many deer as most and don't have to be concerned with falling and injuring myself.
Today's ground blinds are light and easy to carry and set up. They also keep the rain off and most of the wind.

We made our own blind. Karen and I both know how to sew (yes I'm a man that knows how to do "woman stuff" as some of my friends in arkansas liked to say).

We went to a fabric shop and bought enough camouflage cloth to do what we wanted, and bought some dowel poles of proper size to hold. Came home, sewed up the cloth, sewed in the poles, and we had a perfect height blind for both of us in a 8' diameter circle. plenty of room to move around in. Used it a few times, then bought this land and it hasn't been used since.

[whisker maniac]

I use both but I have to be careful on the placement of ground blinds in this area. There are quite a few hunters down this way so usually it is better to be in a tree stand. Plus as a shooter I like the angle insuring that my bullet won't travel very far. In a ground blind shooting level with a high powered rifle you have to know where and how far your bullet will travel for safety sake. If your hunting in the woods in deep cover it shouldn't be a problem but if your hunting a field or a high-line or pipe-line then that is another story. You actually don't know where your bullet might end up.

[cantstopgrandma]

Which do I prefer....that depends on the situation. If i'm hunting an open field, i prefer the ground blind. I have a place I hunt now that would be perfect for this if I had one. In a mature woods I prefer a stand, as I can get up higher and see/shoot farther, plus I believe the higher you get up the less the deer can smell you (and I dont have any of them fancy smell-proof clothes). In an immature woods a ground blind is good cause the short trees tend to be too short and thick for a stand. I also dont like heights, which means I dont use my climber much, unless I wanna hunt somewheres that I dont have a stand. I did kill a doe saturday night out of my climber, the first one i've killed out of that stand.

[whisker maniac]

Congrats to ya Matt on the first kill from the stand.

[Whistler]

I used to hunt from the ground. I'd usually try to find a deadfall and build a blind in it. I saw my share of deer. But once I started using a climber, I started shooting a lot more deer. So I've just stuck with that. We're gonna hopefully get to hunt some new land this year and if so, I'll carry one of those teepee blinds with me, just in case I see a place where I don't really want to carry the climber to. They do have their place and work great from all I hear about them. But I like my treestands and as long as I'm healthy enough to use one, I guess that's what I'll stick with.

[Angler4life]

I believe that both a ground bling and a tree stand are necessary for effective hunting. It depends on what kind of an area that you're hunting in. If there are no good trees in the area that you want to hunt, of course you would need to use a ground blind. One good thing about a ground blind is that it can help keep your scent from permeating the air. It also helps to conceal your movement better than a tree stand does. Stands are better in that you can see further and you have a woder range of shooting areas. I prefer tree stands if I can use one in a certain area, because I've had more success out of them. Good luck with the season!

[Kutter]

After recalling details of every deer I have killed over the years, I found very few were killed while actually in a tree stand. Most were killed while on the ground with no blind. As the years go by quicker, I realize I have no intelligent reason to climb a tree anymore. Have tried perhaps a dozen ground blinds and they all had good and bad points. Weight is not usually a good point. I gave away all my blinds & stands to young folks who could use them. Now, I have only one left, a "chair blind" made by Ameristep. If you get one, do not buy the one man style as it is two small to maneuver your rifle around to get a shot. I only use that blind in inclement weather. Mostly, I carry around an nice high back fold up comfortable chair, the kind that firs in a bag. Comfort is the key word as it will keep you out longer, hunting. Sometimes, under the right conditions, I carry a piece of camo cloth to drape around me if I need extra help in breaking up my profile. I don't worry a lot about scent, I hunt the wind every time and it's not a problem for me. I once sat in that chair in the middle of a 80 acre field, surrounded by 8 turkey decoy's. Watched 8 deer come into the field before picking the one I wanted. They saw me for sure, just didn't know what I was and the decoy's kept them calmed down.

[Whistler]

Kutter? You're in trouble and you know why! Switched! Right!

[Jacksmooth]

I have taken about as many from the ground as I have in a tree stand. I have taken about as many still hunting also. Now I dont trophy hunt. Im out there for meat so that maybe why its worked that way for me. Not saying I wouldnt shoot a trophy if I saw one and I do have one. Its a good 8 point I shot while still hunting. Oh yeah most of my ground hunting is without a blind. I think its all in what you prefer and making it work for you.

[takeaction]

Kutter? You're in trouble and you know why! Switched! Right!

Um... my meds may have me paranoid, but is that a joke?:confused2:

If so, I'll put thanks on it for the response. LOL

I hate my meds. :sad2:

[jodster]

I prefir the tree stand but, I hunt state land and they allow nothing perminate. I do have a climber but, have a couple problem with it; first thing it is aluminum and noisey, plus with my size, if the noise of set up ain't bad enough, I sound like a bear climbing a tree, then it is the most comfortable stand or chair I've ever been in , it more comfortable then my recliner. I just lay my head back and I'm sleeping, of course my sleep apthyna don't help. I got the tree lounge!!

[Kutter]

Um... my meds may have me paranoid, but is that a joke?:confused2:

If so, I'll put thanks on it for the response. LOL

I hate my meds. :sad2:

It's not your meds, it's Bryan's. He just found out some disturbing news and had to quickly get medicated. It's the only explanation I can think of. After all, earlier I sent him some positive rep, so there surely is no reason for me to be in trouble from that.:wink:

[Whistler]

Now about that title of yours? Let me see what I can do! LOL

[cats4uandme]

depends. if im in the morning and am tired or hungover ill sit against a tree. if in bright eyed and bushy tailed i go to the trees. i hunt for the meat mostly. so i shoot what comes along. not what has bones on its head. those bring me $. as i am a taxidermist.:wink:

[Slime of the South]

Both. If I'm bow hunting, I always use a tree stand because its easier to get deer to come within arrow range if you're up in a tree. During the first part of the gun season, before the deer get used to hunters being in the woods, I'll usually sit in my permanent tree stands. After a couple of weeks of gun season, it seems like the deer get wary of the permanent stands and I'll switch to a portable tree stand or start hunting on the ground a lot more to mix it up. If I'm hunting food plots, I'll just about always sit in an elevated stand. Wind direction also has a lot to do with wether I choose a permanent or portable stand or wether I hunt from the ground. They both have their advantages.

[Txbluecatman]

Both. If I'm bow hunting, I always use a tree stand because its easier to get deer to come within arrow range if you're up in a tree. During the first part of the gun season, before the deer get used to hunters being in the woods, I'll usually sit in my permanent tree stands. After a couple of weeks of gun season, it seems like the deer get wary of the permanent stands and I'll switch to a portable tree stand or start hunting on the ground a lot more to mix it up. If I'm hunting food plots, I'll just about always sit in an elevated stand. Wind direction also has a lot to do with wether I choose a permanent or portable stand or wether I hunt from the ground. They both have their advantages.

:0a27:

That pretty much sums up what my response was gonna be. LOL

[on_the_fly]

I like them both- I like my ground blind for quik cover for deer or turkey, and I realy like my face the tree climbing stand, its great for gun hunting and getting up out of the sent zone when by my self. and I also have a 2 man buddy ladder stand thats great because my 9 year old boy is starting to hunt with me and we all know how hard it is for a youth to set still so getting him up in the air and a cover around the stand allows for some forgiveness for my boy while he is learning a little patience.

[Bigbluefisherman]

I would much rather hunt out of a tree stand than hunting on the ground. In a tree stand you can see a whole lot more and you have a better chance as far as Im concerned, when it comes to playing the wind. I am not saying you wont get winded in a tree, but it gives you a little more of an edge with the wind. Now, if I can't find a tree to hang a tree stand in an area I want to hunt I will play the wind and set up a ground blind several days before I want to hunt the area, I will camo the blind in with its surroundings and just let it sit there for a few days and let the deer get use to it. But as far as the questions go, I would much rather be 20-25 ft in the air than one the ground.

[CountryHart]

If i'm bowhunting i hunt from either my climber or lock-on. Alot of times when i'm gun hunting, i'll pack a lock-on and just clamp it on a tree low enuff i can get in without steps. Don't weigh much, gives me a comfy seat and i can stand up and move without makin rackett. I ain't got a ground blind but have a friend who kills alot of meat using one. They are idea i think to start a kid off, hides their fidgeting and if he gets tired he can do some nappin till the meat shows up.

[Poppa]

I do not own a ground blind but I know a couple of spots where one
would work great. As far as my tree stands I love to hunt out of a Tree stand.
My family can eat 4 processed deer a year, I usually take these early during
black powder season or the first week of gun mostly does. From then own
its a mounting buck only. I have not mounted a deer in 4 years. So you can
see I spend a lot of time in a tree stand and seldom shoot, But this is the
best of times I see things that a non_hunter would not believe. You can
pattern deer and see the same deer at the same time everyday. If you
do it right you see all types of animals going about there daily routine
and they never know you are there. I have seen every animal native to
my state at one time or other out of a tree stand. One time I could see
a doe and her yearling, 2 otters, a beaver, 3 coons, and 7 wood ducks
at the same time. If you can't enjoy that something is wrong. It ain't
all about shooting.

[wolfman]

Okay I have both a climbing tree stand and a ground blind. wondering which one you prefer?

I like using both. Funny thing is...a few of my best ground blinds were discovered from observing deer patterns from a tree stand.

[Whistler]

depends. if im in the morning and am tired or hungover ill sit against a tree. if in bright eyed and bushy tailed i go to the trees. i hunt for the meat mostly. so i shoot what comes along. not what has bones on its head. those bring me $. as i am a taxidermist.:wink:

Jeremy, are you licensed now? I thought it was just a hobby. Lot's of work, but you can make some decent extra spending money doing that.

[psychomekanik]

I do not own a ground blind but I know a couple of spots where one
would work great. As far as my tree stands I love to hunt out of a Tree stand.
My family can eat 4 processed deer a year, I usually take these early during
black powder season or the first week of gun mostly does. From then own
its a mounting buck only. I have not mounted a deer in 4 years. So you can
see I spend a lot of time in a tree stand and seldom shoot, But this is the
best of times I see things that a non_hunter would not believe. You can
pattern deer and see the same deer at the same time everyday. If you
do it right you see all types of animals going about there daily routine
and they never know you are there. I have seen every animal native to
my state at one time or other out of a tree stand. One time I could see
a doe and her yearling, 2 otters, a beaver, 3 coons, and 7 wood ducks
at the same time. If you can't enjoy that something is wrong. It ain't
all about shooting.

Ground blinds are o-k for gun hunting. But it's hard to come to full draw on the ground without getting busted by a deers eyes. I agree with what you said, Poppa. One time I heard a deer coming down a ravine behind me. I stood up to watch a doe as she worked her way down the hill. She layed down. there were several squirrels playing and going about thier daily routine in the ravine. I watched the doe get up and move a little, and lay back down. I thought she was trying to stay in the morning sun as it came up. she did this several times over a couple hour period. Then a buck slowly came into view. he had his head down pretending to be browsing and inched closer and closer to her. she'd get up and move a few feet and lay back down every time. during this time a couple of racoons showed up in the ravine. I was enjoying watching all of them. Next thing I know I hear A turkey putt, putt, putt. I peered over my shoulder to see a group of turkey coming in from the field into the ravine. I remember thinking "I wish I had a camcorder"!! I'm sittin right in the middle of a live smorgasboard. Like you said. I'ts not always about making a killing shot....

[derbycitycatman]

Like others I hunt out of both a ground blind and a few tree stands. Depending on the weather, mood and where I think the deer are is where Ill hunt. The blinds are very comfortable for gun hunting and they keep some of the wind off and most of the rain. Im starting to like the blinds more and more due to the comfort and ease of moving them.

[WylieCat]

A treestand or ground blind really depends on your hunting conditions. Both are just tools, and neither is ideal in all situations.

For bowhunting I prefer a treestand. It is easier to draw at close range, and there is some help with scent at close range being elevated. Some rifle situation dictate a treestand is the better choice, especially on gently rolling open terrain like powerlines and gass line right of ways.

Ground blinds have come a long way are are typically overlooked by many hunters. Hunters are falsely decevied into thinking they see more from an elevated position, when in fact the elevation can mean there is more mid level canopy blocking your shots and field of view. Sure, you see more ground, but the actual distance you can see can be much less, especially when in the woods.

One of the best ways to hunt open fields is from a ground blind placed in the middle of the field. Deer have time to view the ground blind from the cover of the trees, and once they see it is not moving or posing a threat they will move into the field to feed. I have taken MANY deer with this technique.

[lance]

9 out 10 times I will use a ground blind . I do use permanent tree stands and have come to the thinking I just might set dummies up in them so they will look the same when I am up in them . Just don't know how to make the dummies snore cough and fart !:wink:

[Kutter]

WylieCat, you about said it all. Your a lot better at putting into words what needed to be said, than I ever could have.