I have not hunted in a commercial ground blind, but it does not seem at all appealing. They just look like they limit the view too much, while a natural blind affords a much better view of the surroundings. It also seems like a step away from the whole trad idea, especially with a heater. That said, when I was a kid, my dad built a little charcoal heater for me to help me stay warm. I wasn’t in a blind, just standing with my rifle in the snow next to a tree.

You might want to go to a store that has a blind set up and take your bow inside to see if you have room to maneuver. You might just like it. best of luck, dwc

If you find one you like, go for it….but beware the hunting “industry”. They will try to sell you a bunch of junk to carry around. Think light.

Slickhead

Couldn’t agree more that ground hunting is the best. And agree with dwc and Paleos comments to beware the “industry”.

Way back when, my uncle used to put a couple of lumps of hardwood in a tuna can with some vent holes in it. Lighted, those pieces would burn and smoulder for a couple of hours–put it between your feet on the ground blind wrap a wool blanket around you and leave a vent for the fire–stay warm. We didn’t use that until it was in the – degrees. Today I just depend on my mukluks and wool and when it gets colder then they can handle I sit in front of the fire at home and read this site:D

Best of luck on your search and welcome to the site.

Semper Fi

Mike

I would have to echo everything that’s been said. I have used a commercial blind but have found them way too limited for all but a few situations. Difficult to shoot most trad bows from. Natural blinds with a visually solid backdrop are far more effective.

Another advantage to natural blinds – you can build several, strategically-placed in a particular area, and move from one to the other as conditions change, without having to undo noisy zippers, velcro, etc.

And, for a minimal amount of pre-season work, you’ll have a few hundred extra dollars in your pocket.

I agree with all that’s been said about commercial blinds, additionally adding heat will set up convection currents and carry your scent not good on a cold still morning.

Friend of mine used an old metal bucket, air holes around the base and rim lit a candle turned the bucket upside down and sat on it, said it worked well but could get a bit too warm.

Mark.

I have a pop-up ground blind. I use it as little as possible. I bought it for this one situation where I had some property to hunt that had zero cover. It worked, but was no fun.

I like the candle in a bucket idea! But as the colonel says, if it gets too cold, stay inside. There’s always tomorrow.

Or hunt for a shorter time….

Sorry about being a little late to this thread. I hunt with a guy who carries a small wool blanket and a small garden trowel. He will still hunt until he finds a likely place to have a game encounter and he sits at the base of a tree. Then he digs a little hole in the ground between his knees and lights a tiny wood fire. Then he wraps himself and the fire with the blanket.

He stays warm enough and smells like wood smoke. Admittedly, he mostly uses a rifle with this technique. But a good bow hunter could use this as well.

TMS

I recall reading about this method being used by trappers to stay warm overnight, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

Mark.

I agree with all that’s been said. I also prefer natural ground blinds, as deer and other animals readily accept them, not so with commercial blinds. Also, like the idea of multiple blinds, to suit deer patterns and weather conditions. As in any situation, there is such a thing as deer getting too close, once inside that 20 yard perimeter their six sense begins to kick in, so always be ready for the shot.

TMS wrote: … Then he digs a little hole in the ground between his knees and lights a tiny wood fire. Then he wraps himself and the fire with the blanket…

Hmmmm. I think that sounds better in theory than it would actually be in practice. Reminds me of the famous last words of a red-neck: “Hay ya’ll watch this!”

I have apiece (2 yds) of waterproof camo fabric. I wrap it around myself when cold. Breaks the wind, holds heat in, and keeps me dry. I’ve been meaning to make it into a poncho, but sometimes think that would make it less flexible, like if I want to vent excess heat. The big drawback is that it is nylon, thus noisy.

Too frugal (not cheap, frugal) to buy a pop-up.

Gotta say I love my DoubleBull. Have a few of them throughout our camp. Never had issue seeing or shooting both blackies and whitetails but will say I shoot shorter bows (52-56″ KBX/PCH) as I learned my lesson when I blew shots TWICE in as many hunts on same beautiful 11pt when I put top limb into hub then, over compensating I guess, put bottom limb in lower up 10 days apart….needless to say never saw him again….??

My sons and I do brush them in pretty effectively as well…as for heat issue, been using little propane heater for years. Never been detected (at least that I know of) and it lets me sit comfortably, quietly and longer…

I’ve had good success with just a little warming fire. Animals are used to fire, at least out west here, and it makes a good cover scent. You have to experience it to believe it.

In my experience some animals like antelope are so curious and cautious that a new thing like a blind can make them not come into where you want to some unless you leave it out for a couple of weeks before you use it. Others like turkeys will still come in to a new blind with the right decoy. So it depends on the animal you are hunting if they will tolerate or not a commercial ground blind. For warmth I do not have a problem with that since I am my own heat generator. However i have friends who when turkey hunting will take into a commercial blind a little stove and a pot to make coffee and does not impact there hunting. I don’t know about Dec/Jan though.

Just wanted to throw a quick comment in here about brush blinds. I too, love hunting on the ground. Haven’t climbed a tree since I switched to traditional gear. One thing I have noticed is that, now that I cover much more ground over the course of a season, I come across the remnants of old blinds quite often. I think it’s good sportsmanship to hold ourselves responsible to the notion that if we take the time to build these, we should take the time to disassemble them at the end of the season. Kind of a leave no trace concept. I’m speaking of course about public land here. Let the next guy or gal have that feeling that they found a sweet spot just as we did when we found it for the first time. Just a thought.

Couldn’t agree more. Leave it like you found it when the season is over.:D

Mike

Df, that’s a good thought. Thanks for sharing. best, dwc