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Pop up blinds and your experience

MattMan81

MattMan81

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2020
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Location
The Mitten
So what has been your experience with pop up blinds?
When I have tried them for deer the few times, I probably have not hid them we'll enough.
Have you had good luck setting one in the AM and not spooking the deer? If so how did you accomplish it? Plenty of cover in and around it?
Windows open or closed?
Did it work for archery season? I can see firearm season working, as you don't need to be on top of them.
What has your experience been?
 
I have one sitting in my shop gathering dust right now, lol. I had it out on that lease I was in, but I had it way up in some new growth pines looking down a narrow lane. I put it in weeks before season and brushed it in pretty well. I chopped a narrow and very well-hidden lane in there. There were a good many deer in there. Never had a good one come along. I wouldn't put one out where anyone could find it since that would be a great way to get into the unpaid guide business.

Some of my friends use them a lot but they put them out long ahead of a hunt, never the day of.
 

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The problem we have around my area is if we put them out early, even the day before a hunt, the bear get to them and rip them apart!! I have used them successfully on same day hunts but you have to really brush them in well and make sure there is some kind of back drop!! But with all the other options out there now it is really too much work to be worth it!
 
Nice to have if it's gonna be raining hard or if u wanna take kids....mine rarely gets used....it cost me a deer because the 1 I got is just a little cramped to be drawing a bow inside....I have to stick the broadhead out the window and pay close attention while drawing....I had a doe at 10yds and my elbow hit the back wall as I drew and the noise scared her off...better for gun hunt IMO....I tie flagging tape on the top and corners and hope I won't get shot....I'd rather just tether to a tree on the ground if given the choice
 
Weldabeast said:
Nice to have if it's gonna be raining hard or if u wanna take kids....mine rarely gets used....it cost me a deer because the 1 I got is just a little cramped to be drawing a bow inside....I have to stick the broadhead out the window and pay close attention while drawing....I had a doe at 10yds and my elbow hit the back wall as I drew and the noise scared her off...better for gun hunt IMO....I tie flagging tape on the top and corners and hope I won't get shot....I'd rather just tether to a tree on the ground if given the choice
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Totally agree kids and rain are the only time these offer any advantage!
 
I’ve had mixed feelings about pop up blinds over the years but the failures were always obvious after I looked back. 1. I’ve definitely spooked deer with a pop up but afterwards realized I put it in the middle of a main area the deer used to travel on my property. This was confirmed by a game camera and later observations. 2. I have killed deer in a pop up the same evening I set it out but it was near a feed tree. 3. I’ve had bucks make rubs within feet of a pop up that had been out for several days. My conclusion is if I place a blind near a travel corridor I’m more than likely going to spook deer if I get too close. If I’m closer to a feed tree or something that distracts the deer it’s less likely to be bothered by the blind. I know it seems like a no brainer but it’s taken me several seasons to work it out. I’m still hunting with kids and some disabled guys so a blind is a necessity for me.
 
Back when I took my boy on youth hunts I used them. Set them up the morning of no problem. Sat in them no problem with small tripod stools. Even harvest 2 does and one small buck from them. Thru the few years we used them. Didn't brush them in, just found opening and popped it up. Had deer within 15 yards and didn't care it was there. In the right application they are great. That being said. Haven't used it since my boy moved out. Lol I just prefer hanging from a saddle. Good luck to you.
 
Ground blinds are for turkey hunting. :)

I've heard of guys here in Ohio having some success, but it's nearly always a young doe or buck that gets shot.
* Deer don't like the windows being open or having that dark appearance, as it freaks them out.
* Leaving a blind out for the deer to get used to is a waste of money, because the blinds don't hold up to the weather elements.
* Then there's the theft issue. :rolleyes:
* Non-natural surroundings cause deer to go on alert.

Your time and money would be better spent on a leafy wear suit, a good limb saw and a hunting chair....while hiding in a blown down tree. :cool: I killed this 3 1/2 year old doe, by doing exactly that and at one point she was less than 10' from me and had no clue that I was there.
Doe1.jpg
 
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I like them for rifle when it’s really cold and climbing with layers is a PITA.
Killed this 9 point two years ago at 85 yards from a blind that I set up that afternoon. Didn’t brush it in either.
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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Personally if I'm in a blind and have limited tunnel vision I'd fall asleep. Point blank lol. I'll take my kids turkey hunting in a blind and my son and I will make natural brush blinds to rifle hunt but that's the extent of it for me. I love being in a tree.
 
My first deer from a ground blind was at 8-10 yards and I shot through the window mesh with a bow.
 
every light and portable blind i've seen was too small to comfortably shoot a vertical bow inside....like you have to sit really low and then must maybe not hit the cam somewhere....forget drawing and then turning inside at full draw to shoot out another window because the deer moved

i've had decent luck getting deer close wearing a leafy suit top with face paint and then bring a few tomato stakes, camo cloth, and twine and make a little open top blind that you crouch in and put some brush around...i haven't killed with this setup yet, but have had does feeding during daylight within 15 yards
 
I killed this buck on private out of a pop-up with a rifle.
FF399449-B04B-4F02-99DE-7DA65F961984.jpegMy son killed a small buck last night in a youth hunt out of a pop-up.

Being able to leave one set up for a while for them to get used to is the key.
 
kbetts said:
Unless you need the roof, unnecessary IMO.....especially with a gun.
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I can see that the roof would shade you and make your movements less noticeable inside. But overall, not worth the hassle.

I haven't done it in a few years, but It was really nice to throw 1 or 2 rolls of that cheap camo fabric from Allen (Wally World special) in a pack with some twine and then have 4 or so bamboo tomato stakes bungee'd together as my walking stick. Very light and handy and quick.

It goes up easily just about anywhere. I always built it around a tree, like saddle hunting using the tree to hide from where you expect deer or give you some back cover. Then don't go crazy (and make noise and put ground scent everywhere) but lay some downed branches around it.

Just like a tree stand, it's best to do this where the deer won't be looking directly during their line of travel. It seems they have those travel routes memorized on a high level. It amazes me that they remember that a clump of brush was not there yesterday. Makes me ponder how we define animal intelligence.
 
Blinds are great. Especially come late season or on windy, rainy days. You can stay warm and dry and sit longer. I shot my big ten point sitting in a hardwoods, blind wasn't brushed in, though it had been out there for a week prior. I had a comfy chair and my Mr. Buddy heater going. Pretty sure I was just in a hoody. Most guys sitting in stands head in for lunch time to warm up, no need in a blind.
 
WISCO said:
Blinds are great. Especially come late season or on windy, rainy days. You can stay warm and dry and sit longer. I shot my big ten point sitting in a hardwoods, blind wasn't brushed in, though it had been out there for a week prior. I had a comfy chair and my Mr. Buddy heater going. Pretty sure I was just in a hoody. Most guys sitting in stands head in for lunch time to warm up, no need in a blind.
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What kind of blind? OP was talking about pop ups, which are usually cramped and you can't sit in a normal chair and shoot.

I'd love to find a big pop up blind that works. I can't sit in a tiny chain all day or it'll kill my back from being slumped over.
 
I have a pop up that gets used just for turkey at this point. I've tried using it for deer, but anytime I left it out to give them time to get used to it, the weather screwed it up.

If I'm hunting from the ground, I look for some kind of natural ground blind like downed trees. Or I'll make one out of branches and stuff. On of our most consistent spots on public is a stick built ground blind my uncle found over 30 years ago. During my last few outings scouting, I have found some seriously impressive ground blinds people have built. Found this one, with a nice rub right outside of it on the right there. In the middle of a ton of buck sign in really thick stuff. It was a clear cut that has since grown back and it's damn near impossible to make it thru...ask me how I know.

Looks like no one has used it in a while, there's some huge mushroom growths in it, so I may be setting up in it this weekend to try my luck

Capture.PNG
 
Empostarr said:
I have a pop up that gets used just for turkey at this point. I've tried using it for deer, but anytime I left it out to give them time to get used to it, the weather screwed it up.

If I'm hunting from the ground, I look for some kind of natural ground blind like downed trees. Or I'll make one out of branches and stuff. On of our most consistent spots on public is a stick built ground blind my uncle found over 30 years ago. During my last few outings scouting, I have found some seriously impressive ground blinds people have built. Found this one, with a nice rub right outside of it on the right there. In the middle of a ton of buck sign in really thick stuff. It was a clear cut that has since grown back and it's damn near impossible to make it thru...ask me how I know.

Looks like no one has used it in a while, there's some huge mushroom growths in it, so I may be setting up in it this weekend to try my luck

View attachment 75432
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be careful...looks like over 100 lbs of pointy timber all around you
 
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