There are countless ways to successfully harvest whitetail deer. I hunt from tree stands, popup blinds, and natural ground blinds every year. I have enjoyed tremendous success utilizing all three setups. You can to if you understand the pros and cons of each option. By understanding the pros and cons of each option, you can make an educated decision on which setup to use in order to maximize your chances of success.
Tree stand vs pop up blind vs natural ground blind
All three hunting setups have pros and cons. Let’s break down each setup commonly used for still hunting the whitetail deer.
Hunting in a tree stand
Hunting from a tree oftentimes allows hunters to see deer movement well in advance, before the deer comes into range. This benefit allows hunters the opportunity to anticipate how the deer will approach his or her setup which gives the hunter time to make preparations for a potential shot.
Another advantage tree stands often offer is the ability to stay out of a deer’s line of sight. Hunting from an elevated position in a tree reduces the possibility of being busted by deer.
However, there are some negative points to mention about hunting from tree stands. Tree stands are responsible for the majority of hunting accidents every year. Hunting in a elevated position can create a dangerous situation for a hunter if he or she does not properly use safety equipment design for hunting out of tree stands.
Another negative I have found hunting from a tree is, some designs can be difficult to transport through the woods as well as require two people to safety set the stands up. However, climbing stands offer a solution to this problem and are great for public land hunters that need to be extremely mobile.
Pros and Cons of tree stands
| Pros of tree stand hunting | Elevated position for more shooting opportunities Hunters can seer a deer approaching sooner thus allowing more time to prepare for a potential shot Hunters can stay out of a deer’s direct line of sight |
| Cons of tree stand hunting | Greater potential for a falling accident Some designs require two or more people to safely set up |
Hunting in Popup Ground Blinds
Hunting from popup blinds are a great way to chase that elusive buck. There are a couple advantages I love about hunting in popup blinds.
You do not have to have your buddy help you set it in a tree. A single hunter can take a pop-up blind to his or her favorite hunting spot and be ready to hunt in just minutes. You may want to consider using popup blinds for public land hunting if your area legally allows them to be used.
Hunting in a popup blind in my opinion, is much safer then hunting out of a tree. This an ideal setup for a young hunter. Also, you are protected from the elements to a certain degree. In most cases popup blinds keep the rain and wind off of you. One of the main reasons I love to bow hunt in popup blinds is the fact, they are great for concealing movement.
Of course, there are some challenges with hunting in popup blinds. In my experience, you cannot afford to make any noise what so ever. When hunting ground level with deer twenty yards away, there is no room for error. A simple squeak from a hunter’s chair will cause an old doe to zoom in on your position immediately. Another disadvantage I have observed hunting popup blinds, they stick out like a soar thumb if not properly brushed. Finally, they can easily be stolen by thieves because they can easily be transported by a single person.
Below is the basic pros and cons I have found when hunting from the ground.
| Pros for hunting in popup blinds | Hunting on the ground requires only one person to create a setup Popup blinds offer some protection from wind and rain Hunting in popup blinds are safer Hunting in popup blinds are great for concealing movement |
| Cons for hunting in popup blinds | Hunting in popup blinds require hunters to be extremely quiet In most cases popup blinds need to be brushed in order to maximize their effectiveness, especially for bow hunters Popup blinds can easily be stolen |
Hunting from a Natural Ground Blind
Hunting from a natural ground blind is a tried and tested method hunters have been utilizing since the beginning of time. However, many hunters today often overlook this method. I actually have friends who believe the only way they can be successful hunting from the ground is, hunting from one of the many popular name brand hunting blinds. This belief could not be further from the truth! Natural ground blinds offer a number of benefits when you properly setup. However, they can present a number of challenges!
My favorite benefit of hunting natural ground blinds is there is you do not have to lug it around on your back while you walk to your hunting area. If you hunt public land this is a huge benefit This gives a hunter the ability to be incredibly mobile. You never have to worry about thieves stealing anything.
However, there are some unique challenges to hunting on the ground with a natural blind. Much like a popup blind, noise control is critical for success and movement is extremely limited due to the fact you are exposed to your surroundings. This challenge makes archery hunting extremely difficult. Also, you must be fully camouflage from top to bottom and cutting a few pieces of brush to break up your human outline is always a good idea.
| Pros of hunting from the ground in a natural blind | A hunter can be extremely mobile while only carrying his or her hunting essentials and small hand saw for cutting brush There is not an expensive blind that could potentially be stolen while the hunter is not not present |
| Cons of hunting on the ground from a natural blind | You have to be totally camouflaged from top to bottom Hunters have to be extremely still for the entire hunt Archery hunting from a natural ground blind is extremely difficult Hunters have to be as silent as possible |
Check back with us at Americanhuntingsafari.com for an upcoming post I will be solely dedicating to hunting natural ground blinds. I will share every trick and tip I have learned from my personal experiences hunting on the ground in makeshift blinds.
Summary
Each method I mentioned in this post is effective for deer hunting. It’s really up to you on how you prefer to hunt. In my opinion, you should hunt the method you have the most confidence in. However, do not be afraid to experiment with the other options. Hunting from a tree remains my favorite, however, the older I get, the more I like hunting popup blinds.
I hope this post helps you guys get a basic understanding of the three common still hunting setups. I you guys would like more useful tips and tricks for deer hunting, go to our deer hunting page at Americanhuntingsafari.com. We love to share our favorite tips and methods so, please subscribe to Americanhuntingsafari.com see our latest post on hunting, fishing and cooking wild game.
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