No, no, — Don’t stop reading. This isn’t some tyrannical rant about supporting the NRA or denigrating the zealots pushing for more gun control and less hunting. It’s actually an article comparing and contrasting tree stand and ground blinds. I’ll bet I’ve listened to or been involved in a dozen conversations over the last couple months regarding the use of hiding places for hunters.
With bear season now in progress, three separate weeks of moose hunts approaching and October’s whitetail archery season followed by November’s deer hunt, talk of tactics and techniques abounds. For our fathers and grandfathers the two main styles of hunting included still hunting (stealthily sneaking through the woods in search of game), or sit, watch and wait; usually from a stump or blowdown overlooking a clear-cut along a ridge.
Nowadays sportsmen select food plots or proven travel trails to watch or even use calls, the sound of rattling antlers, and artificial scents to draw big game animals to them. Regardless of method, outdoorsmen need some sort of cover to conceal the human form, help reduce human scent and hide movement from the sharp senses of approaching quarry. Over the last 25 years various forms of tree stands have become that prime source of hideout, but over the last five seasons more and more sports are investigating the use of portable ground blinds, with great success I might add.
My first ever exposure to blinds came as a youngster when I used chicken wire and natural foliage; reeds, brush, cattails, and fir bows, to build duck blinds along local streams and ponds. Once old enough to drive, I escalated my waterfowling prowess by constructing a cumbersome but portable wire and foliage blind that rolled up and fit into the back of a pickup. Using three or four stakes my movable duck blind allowed me to explore waterways far and wide and be set up at any site with a blind, half a dozen decoys and two five gallon pails to hold extra gear, shells and provide seating.
The first real deer blind I ever saw, other than a guy hiding behind a tree or bush, was as a high school freshman hunting with my Dad in Escourt. A guy from Connecticut rented a camp the same week every year near the Beaver Brook Road. He would cut a dozen or 15 fir trees and tie them together in a tee-pee shape on a road corner with 300 yards of vision in both directions. It was a well known deer-crossing stretch. The sport could eat, drink, and read a book without being seen, was mostly protected from the elements and most Novembers he bagged a buck that stood in or walked down the road.
So, the tree stand or ground blind, what’s your best choice for Aroostook’s big game? Let’s look at a few pros and cons. For the most part, large animals seldom look upward as they least expect danger from above. Also, most human scent is 10- to 18-feet above the ground and more likely to be diluted and dispersed among the trees. Height offers a far better, wider view and shooting zone for animals moving silently through the area. The safety bar also serves as a steady shooting rail for handgun and rifle hunters.
On the downside, many hunting accidents occur while climbing into or out of a tree stand. Comfortable stands require a bit of work to carry in and attach to a tree and users are fairly exposed to the elements when bad weather sets in. In most cases, once set up, a tree stand remains in place for the season because it’s a pain to relocate Also, stands require yearly maintenance, paint, lubrication, bolts and screws tightened, and securing straps refurbished or replaced.
Ground blinds have their own pluses and minuses. They are fairly roomy and allow 360-degree vision, and they also offer protection from the elements while containing a lot of human scent. These enclosed tent-like structures also hide any movement by occupants, a crucial asset, and provide easy access for older or infirm outdoorsmen unable to climb. Negatives include being at ground level thereby allowing only as much vision as surrounding foliage offers.
Ground blinds aren’t light, especially the 2-, 3-, and 4-man versions, and require a fair amount of space and at least 15 minutes to set up, and that’s under ideal conditions. This is all well and good if you’re going to leave a blind in place all month, not so much if you plan to change locations regularly. More than a few sportsmen have returned to a blind to find bear or moose have trashed it, a falling or large limb has crushed it, or some lowlife individual has stolen it. Tree stands can be cabled and locked to the tree.
My personal choice is a bit of a copout, although I prefer to think of it as a compromise. For turkey, varmints, ducks, geese and deer in fields a portable ground blind, layout, or hay bale are my proven favorites. For bear, moose and woodland whitetails I choose the tree stand every time. After years of trial and error, for quality, safety and comfort I use an API Grand Slam Extreme for one hunter or a Big Game Partner Plus for a pair of outdoorsmen.
Top notch ground blinds to check out include RedHeads Blackout and Ameristeps Carnivore models, this duo comprise a near perfect combo of necessary features for all types of shooting sports. All four of these stands and blinds cost between $200 and $300 and will last for many years under normal conditions. Any of our local sporting goods stores can quickly order these items if they’re not already in stock. Bass Pro Shops, RedHead and Cabelas’ outdoor catalogs also stock my four favorites and many more that may meet your needs.
Standing tall or blind hiding in plain sight, either option will make you a more successful hunter.
