Lesson No. 4: Ground Blinds

by
posted on November 24, 2009
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
20091130-s7_417296_imageset_03_m.gif

Last year when it came time to thin the whitetail herd a bit I carried a folding chair down to the bluff that overlooks the river bottom and stuck it behind a convenient bush for cover. It was OK—I shot a couple of does from it—but it lacked some important amenities. I confess that I am not the best stand hunter. Sitting perfectly still for hours just doesn’t work for me. Too, when the wind kicks up—not exactly uncommon in the Big Horn Basin—I am even more prone to fidgeting. Add to that my deer-hunting companion is a hyperactive Border collie; I needed better cover.


I thought about constructing a shooting house, but lugging the materials to build such a facility and the tools a half-mile aboard the tractor is an undertaking far down on my “To Do” list. Eventually I may do that, but in the meantime I needed something better than a chair behind a bush. Cabela’s came to my rescue with its Lightning Set 4-Season Hunting Blind.

It has a 75x75-inch footprint and a center height of 78 inches, plenty of room for a magnum-size guy like me and Spur, the Wonder Dog. With eight windows around its circumference you can cover 360 degrees. If you shoot sticks and strings there are the shoot-through netting window veils, but I chose not to use them. Its basic assembly takes less than 30 seconds—if you can open an umbrella, you can set up this blind. Another couple of minutes are needed to stake it in place and assemble some guy lines to buffet the wind. The Seclusion 3D camo pattern blended well with the sagebrush and grasses native to my area.

I spent every afternoon for about 2 1/2 weeks in that blind with Spur, and we shot three deer from it. A neighbor shot another deer from it after I was done. I was never “busted” by the deer despite my fidgeting, and, in fact, I was able to observe some very interesting rut behavior during my time in the blind. Even on those days when the wind kicked up to 25- to 30-mph we remained comfortable and able to focus on the task at hand. There was plenty of room for my pack, and I even threw together a small table to hold my water and rangefinder.

I am not too hot about most tree stands—credit it to the fact that I weigh 240 pounds and have an artificial hip—and I absolutely refuse to climb into a tripod stand for the same reasons. This ground blind may not be the answer to every hunting situation, but I found it the next best thing to an opulent shooting house.

Latest

Lead Photo 02
Lead Photo 02

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Building the Ultimate Elk Bow

Elk are remarkable creatures that dwell in some of the most hellish landscapes on earth. An elk bow needs to be tough, light, and ultra-accurate. Here's how to build the right one for you.

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.