treeclimber or ground blind?

[overshot1]

I'm new to bowhunting ( 1st year ) and I've gotten mixed advice on the matter of which is better to hunt out of. I hunt in San Saba and we have alot of live oaks, which seems to me would be hard to hunt out of due to the drooping branches. Anyway I was just trying to get some of yalls opinions on which would be better. Thanks.

[Stins]

ground blinds offer alot more concealment for scent and movement which is great. However, they can get really hot in the early part of the season and you will not be able to see as much. If you have to limit yourself to one I suggest a GB because you will be able to get away with alot more.

[overshot1]

I would also like the room it would offer, I could bring my son with me bowhunting and give him more time in the woods. Also were my deer are coming from is mainly brush and mosquite trees not big enough for a tree stand. I'm trying to just keep my tracking down. Thanks for the reply Stins

[cantexduck]

climber?? what about a tripod?
Good question. I am also new and was thinking about this the other day.

[overshot1]

That was one of my first thoughts also, but I was told that the shooting rail would be in the way plus were I hunt its not very flat. I suppose you could take the rail off but that could get a little fun if the wind pics up.

[Stins]

its not a big deal to hunt out of a tri-pod with no railing we do it all the time. I add a sort of seat belt to my seat to keep me in in case I fall asleep or something.

However, for you I would recommend a GB.

[Dc78]

Look at ladder stands. If you have mature live oaks, have hunted out of them for years. It takes so work clearing shooting lanes.

[muddydog]

You will have an advantage from an elevated stand, but Ive killed alot of critters on the ground using natural log blinds. Try to keep the wind in your face and the sun at your back. Ive had deer walk within 4 ft. of me in a log pile and go unnoticed.

[overshot1]

The rancher is doing some underbrush clearing I could probably camo a ground blind pretty good with all of the cut brush. I just was'nt sure about my scent coverage. My towerblind is 15ft to the bottom of it so thats never been a issue. But thanks for all the help guys. Also I've been watching some of the videos and I'm going to try that too and it will probably be much easier from a ground blind. Thanks

[Cur_Dog]

I just never liked hunting in a box or pop up. To confined for me. Ladder stand would work great in those live oaks and well as tripods. Make sure you WEAR a proper saftey device, not just a rope around your waist.

[overshot1]

Also, I bought my son a mathews Q1 from a friend but its set at 50#'s. Thats really all he can handle pulling. Is that enough?

[aggie2000tx]

A decision on a stand really has to do with the terrain you are hunting. In some places a ground blind will be better and then in others a tree stand is better. On thing about a ground blind is that you have to brush it in very good. Sometimes it takes time for the deer to get used to the ground blind. As far as your son and the Q1 50lbs is enough to hunt in Texas. The state min. for draw weight is 40 lbs.

[Buck-a-Do]

GB's are good and so are elevated stands. I think I would use both. You said you had mature oaks, you could built a stand in the oaks with little to no money to see if this is the way you want to hunt. Put your money towards a "good" GB and if this isn't for you, put it in the classifieds here and you will get close to what you paid for it if it doesn't work out. I prefer the tree, your up off the ground and your scent is also. You have an elevated view of things around you before the deer are upon you (usually), this will give you time to prepare your self for the shot. DO not cut a lot of branches away from you as you will need to be concealed with nice leaves and branches behind you so that your body frame blends in with the tree. You can cut two or three lanes to shoot from thus concealing your self from the front.

[tuthdoc]

The answer is "neither". Neither is better than the other. Every blind has its place and I wouldn't limit myself. However, I've not been too many places in the hill country where a "climber" would do me any good.

If you have cedars, there's nothing better to use to get off the ground than a tripod. You can hack a hole in the cedar and erect the tripod in the middle and hunt. YOu don't lose cover from leaves falling off and just wiping some leaves will give you a little cedar smell. Forget about the rail. You don't need it. 6 to 10 ft will be good heights. We make ours so that we can use different length legs for one base. Here's one with legs that put the platform at about 6 feet.

For live oaks, the best stands for me are platform adjustable lock ons. They can be used in almost any crooked tree. The Gametamer is probably the best. For hunting live oaks, that's probably my no. 1 choice. I've got lots of pics with gametamers in oaks in the hill country, but I'd have to scan them. They were predigital days.

As far as ground blinds, they can be used anywhere. You can buy a pop up or build ground blinds out of natural brush. Either will work. The pop up is just a lot easier and quicker and keeps you mobil. Brush it in as best you can, but don't think for a minute that it has to be invisible or it won't work.

My daughter and I, when she was little, made a ground blind every Thanksgiving for she and I to hunt out of. Made them in thickets using cedar and weeks and anything else we could throw on one. It was fun and they worked.

Every spot is different and will need different approaches. Not get yourself into a single mind frame when it comes time to "hide".

[Hog Killin Dillan]

I like the tripod myself but just go with what your comfortable with.