hunting blinds

[BoBean]

I have a couple of questions about hunting from a blind. I will be hunting my first season in the hill country, just moved here from Alabama. I have always stalked or used a climber to bow hunt. In the terrain of the hill country it seems most appropriate to use a blind. I am gathering that I should set up a blind 2/3 weeks in advance and blend it in.

My concern is the blind becoming home to rattlers or other non friendlies? Is this an accurate assumption? If so what are good ways to leave a ground blind established without the critters? Pour Sevin or Boric acid on the interior?

Just curious. Thanks in advance.

[whitetailfanatic]

Flashlight and a long stick! chemicals may smell,good luck!

[RobinHood]

Hunt from up in a tree (if trees are available).

[trophy8]

i always have to throw some of those smoke bomb kinda things in mine. hornets get bad. never had to deal with snakes(knock on wood)

[Horitexan]

I've had very few critters take up permanent residence in my blinds. the worst ones are the mice. Just be careful getting in. A snake or bees can move in in ONE night just as easily as in 30- you ALWAYS need to be cautious! If you do get 'em in there you'll have to coax 'em out. A stick or .22 works good for snakes and soapy water out of a garden sparyer works GREAT for bees without leaving a lot of odor- you can even use the scent-free detergent you use for your camo. I hate putting all the stench of bug bombs, sevendust and such on my blinds.

[Jen-Man]

Flashlight and a long stick! chemicals may smell,good luck!

Same here..........but a short stick makes it more fun

[tarjake]

if you are quiet, and use good cover scent, maybe they wont notice you?

[Fightinaggies]

I have had several owl issues in elevated blinds but never anything in ground blinds.

[az2tx]

I put those hanging no pest strips in my blinds during the off season, keeps the wasp and bugs out. Mice may be an issue, try taking some mouse poision cubes and thread some on a wire, and attach them to something outside the blind, it should take care of the mice and if there are no mice there shouldn't be any snakes

[Rudyl]

Hey, I'm trying that az2tx. Thanks for the question BoBean.

[Tuffbroadhead]

I have been hunting from ground blinds for a long time and a flashlight and long stick will cure almost every problem......

When things are slow bow hunting for mice while sitting inside your blind is amusing, LOL!!

[tuthdoc]

Setting them up as soon as you can is great, but don't think for a minute that deer can't be killed in last minute set ups. If you find a deer you want to kill, go in and set up in the middle of the day. Brush it in. Cedar in the hill country makes great cover and scent. Hunt it next morning.

As far as critters, I worry about spiders and scorpions in my blinds that stay out all year. I'll dust the inside with insect powder a month or so before the season. I take a stick and wind up all the webs and stomp every heathen insect that I see. In my blinds of the year, they usually aren't a problem. Yellow jackets, when it starts getting cool, look for places to bunch up. They'll get in feeders and blinds and netting. They can be absent one day and fill the blind the next.

Snakes can be a problem and always look before climbing in the blind. I've had no snakes get in one of my blinds and I have A LOT of blinds and a lot of them are in snakey country. I clean my blinds to the dirt. NO grass. Nothing for a snake to hide in. I may put a piece of outdoor carpet in the blind, but never to the edge. I don't want anything to hide between the edge and the carpet. Use your light and your eyes and then go in.

Skunks have made appearances in two blinds that I know of. One this last axis season to Trikyolgus. That will get your attention. One guy on one of our leases shot the skunk in his blind. DUMB. Couldn't hunt it for quite some time. We've had coons bed on top.

Almost all of them will eventually get mice or rats. We had a lease at Spofford where the pack rats would fill up a pit blind or ground blind overnight. Now THAT'S when you want to be snake consious.

Be cautious and use common sense, but don't let it drive you crazy. Risks are very minimal.

Also, if you are new to ground blind hunting, get a chair that's comfortable. I like the Walmart office chairs. They are adjustable up and down. Get a ground stake to hold your bow. I hate having it in my lap.

Tripods are also an option in cedar country. Very easy to put a tripod in the middle of a cedar thicket. Use string to tie limbs out of the way and over your head instead of cutting, at least as much as is possible. Good option for above ground hunting for the snake and bug leary hunters. LOL