Lessons learned from ground blinds

[Johnny]

Looks good! With that much brush, keep an eye out for them slithery critters when getting in your pop. Just ask my lease partner JP.

[jerp]

I like to stake out a piece of carpet then pitch the blind on top of it. For one thing, a quick flashlight scan in the morning will tell you if "Mr. No Shoulders" has decided to use the blind for a crash pad.

[sqiggy]

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

This is what I do. Never understood why you need to brush it in. I just back it up to some thick stuff and kill deer same day or next day, fold up and move to another spot.
No cutting, no sweating, no snakes, no work!!!

[47]

cows eat them

[lilavidhunter]

What I have learned about pop ups is:
If you are serious about hunting for the long term, invest in a Krivoman blind.
They are lightweight and mobile and can be easily moved if you only hunt for a year on a place.

You don't have to worry about replacing them every few years. Cows don't eat them. Snakes and wasps can't get in them.

To me: Pop Ups, (even the good ones) don't compare to Mitch's blinds.

[systemnt]

Dont skimp.
Always..always...ALWAYS get the larger model that has enough room for the beer cooler

[DoubleGProstaff]

I've learned just spend 50$ and build a platform for the blind.

[huntinfool]

Brush on top of and next to a pop up blind in a wind will sound like all kinds of racket. Very noisy. I like to. Build a "frame" around the blind and then attach brush to that. However it doesn't always work.

[popup_menace]

Put it on a platform and snake problems get reduced quite a bit. Also, tuck it behind a tree and brushing it in isn't that big if a deal

[JTeLarkin08]

The number one lesson someone needs to know about ground blinds is!!!!!

You cannot use one in all situations.

[Horitexan]

It really depends a lot on where you hunt, as to whether you need to brush in your blind really well. Not all properties are the same. Where I work, if you just throw up a blind and hunt, you will be lucky to see deer closer than 50 yards; and, even then, only for a few seconds before they run. If you do kill a deer, it'll be a young one and definitely not one of the big bucks in the area. If you brush it in really well, you'll see lots of deer and have a decent opportunity at a great low-fence buck. I have friends, though, who's places are so low pressure you CAN get away with just throwing up a blind and you'll get deer to come in. Depends on the place.

My questions to people that say they don't need to brush in their blinds because they kill deer without doing it, are: 1. Are you sure that there wasn't a bigger deer out there, that didn't come in because HE figured you out? 2. Are you sure that you couldn't have killed the same deer in less time, if you'd have been more hidden? Since nobody could answer those questions accurately (not with any honesty, anyway) it only stands to reason that brushing in a blind has the distinct possibility of giving a hunter an advantage. Considering all the effort and expense that most hunters go through to gain an advantage of deer - scent control, camo, attractants, faster bows, better sights, etc., etc. - why would anyone argue that a tactic that takes little time and costs nothing is unnecessary or pointless?

I totally get the point about how they "get used to" to blinds that are left in place for many months or year round - I have the same experience with some of my personal stands. But this is a very expensive practice (it's super hard on your popup) and really not what pop-ups are designed for. They're designed for mobility. So, why put a popup through a summer long torture test when you could take 45 minutes and a little sweat and set up 2-3 weeks before the season, with the same (or maybe better) results? There are deer I've seen, even on the least pressured ranches, that just DO NOT like coming near any kind of obvious stand. These are deer that you need to ambush if you want to take them with a bow. The willingness and skill to brush in a pop-up blind CAN make it possible to get on these deer with a bow; where others will be forced to resort to their bang-stick later in the season.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here (Heck, I really couldn't care less how other hunters choose to set up) but I just haven't ever heard a compelling argument made for the advantage of NOT brushing in a blind. But I've heard plenty of compelling arguments for taking the time to brush in a blind.

Everyone has their way of doing, or not doing, things - to each, their own. No "right" or "wrong." Just sharing my opinion/experience.

[unclefish]

One thing I started doing last year was take my front end loader and scoop several loads of sandy soil and use it as a base for my pop-up. I build it up 18-24"....smooth it out and stake the blind on top. Its soft and very quiet. You then also have a nice soft sand to stake your brush upright for cover.

[acearrow]

Like to put mine on platform but that defeats the purpose of its portability. I know that I have been busted on a couple of occasions just after setting up when the blind was not brushed in properly. Once in Arkansas, I thought I did a pretty good job of brushing it in, but the deer just started blowing once they got close.
I guess one lesson learned is if you set it in some trees, especially cedar, you can pull limbs together and tie them to use as cover without cutting them. that way they stay as cover all year without dying

[systemnt]

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[unclefish]

I never have understood why the need to brush in a pop-up but not a platform blind....I don't think it matters either way if you put it out in plenty of time for them to get used to it.