Lessons learned from ground blinds

[txtimetravler]

Lets hear what you have learned.

Here are mine....
Brushed in is good
Mothballs keep snakes out
More brush is better
A few cedar trees can make a lot of brush
A lot of brush is better
Brush on top of the blind will collapse it
Rake leaves from bottom of blind.

[BirdRanger]

Yep that's a lot of brush.

Here is what I learned last year, when you add that much brush and I did, make sure it doesn't effect arrow flight.

Add some fresh stuff night before, smells good and adds more cover.

[treestandjunky]

If u put it under a tree, you can tie the roof up so when you put cover on top it won't cause the roof to cave in.

[ByronB]

Here is what I learned.....if I have to add that much brush to cover up a ground blind then I am going to put a loc-on stand up in one of those trees. That is a lot of cedar. Hey, it probably needed to be cut down any way. You certainly put a bunch of work in to all of that. Once you take off some of the stuff on the top it should be just fine.

[LloydMcCoy]

Put popup on platform and you don't need to brush it in

[Silent Assassin]

Dang! I just use CAMO netting to cover the GB exactly like yours and cleaned up the inside ground cover. I didn't use anything else you've mentioned.

[sharkhunter]

Put popup on platform and you don't need to brush it in

X2 set it up two to three weeks early.

[LloydMcCoy]

Here's my platform with permanent blind

[Horitexan]

That's how I brush mine in but I use different brush types because we don't have cedar. I ALWAYS put brush on top but you only need enough to break up the straight lines/silhouette of the roof. I always try to place my blinds where something will cast good shadows on the roof; or add brush to cast those shadows.

Great job brushing in that blind, btw!

[CletusBodeen]

Here's what I've learned

In Texas, brush it in until it looks good, then brush it in some more.

In Kansas, set it up and kill a deer 30 minutes later without brushing it in.

[wow]

Like the safety feature. the red light alerts the other hunter. Whem I was a kid we used Palmetto fonds and brush.

[iamntxhunter]

Set it up and get to hunting no brush in required.

[aironeout]

We use to brush them in but have found, that.

-Brushing in is way over rated especially if you are going to leave it up all season.
-We have numerous popups and several permanent bow blinds, one of which is set under one lone mesquite tree in the middle of an 8 acre field. The feeder is 13 yds away. Another is next to a mesquite tree in about a 5 acre opening with the feeder 18 yds away. We've killed deer, pigs and missed a yote out of them.
-I've had deer feeding right up to the base even if they aren't brushed in.
-When you set them up in September and leave them through Jan/Feb and brush them in they seem to get torn up easily. Especially when the wind starts blowing 25 out of the S one day and then the same out of the N the next. All that extra brush just acts as jagged "swords" in the wind.
-I could see where if you were going to put one up and hunt it that evening or the next day then brushing in might help. Otherwise, they will get completely use to it. Usually within a couple days.

>E

[klepdo]

You better hope the moth balls work or its going to a good snake den.

[lodgepole]

Brush is good.

Add more mid season as leaves fall off.

Make sure shooting lanes are clear.