Ground Blinds and Cross Bows

[D.A.1]

Ok... not sure if this is the right blog but....

Looking to get a good ground blind to set up in my back yard, because the resident heard of whitetails like to use my yard as a freeway. So I'm looking for a good ground blind that will allow me to stand up (I'm 6ft), and keep my out of the elements.... I might even take it and set it up elsewhere for hunting.

In addition, looking for a good crossbow, not too expensive or complicated to use for hunting.

 

[Patocazador]

Even tall blinds don't usually have the windows placed for stand-up shooting. Practice while sitting, it makes it easier to find a blind that works for you.

Once you get the blind, set it up in your yard about a month before the season so the deer become accustomed to it. Otherwise, they will be leery of a fresh addition to your yard.

 

[courtgreene]

I think you're looking at building one if you need to stand up, but a crossbow is easy to shoot while sitting.

 

[PapaG]

Just be careful not to wave the front of the bow around in the blind....razor sharp heads will slice through the material like it wasn't there. I know.

 

[D.A.1]

Gents,

Thanks for all the advice!!

D.A.1

 

[H&Hhunter]

4x4's chicken wire and cover it with the cammo/natural covering of your choice. Easy to build and you can use it for years to come.

Here is option B. Just make it taller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8a6xqwZnG8

 

[V-fib]

I agree with Patocazador that sitting is the best way to crossbow hunt. I have a couple of the Ameristep blinds but their windows are too tall to shootout of without sitting in a chair. Last year I purchase a "eliminator" ground blind from Lucky's blinds in Ubly MI. It's only about 4ft tall but nice and wide to allow you to sit on a pad on the ground and spin around if needed ( and lay down if I'm tired) He even customized it for me for only $10 more making it wider and putting the shooting windows at my height that I needed. shipping was cheap too! check them out it will be the last blind you will ever need. My ameristeps all leak after a few years, the spring steel breaks, the fiberglass poles break, and to prevent myself from getting wet I had to make custom tarp covers for their roofs.

v-fib

 

[MCgunner]

http://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Precision-Inferno-Crossbow-175-Pounds/dp/B002HMBJHC




I picked up an Inferno Fury recurve recently. The price is right, not the fastest bow out there. It's in the 230 fps range, but it'll kill a deer just fine. Recently got it lined out with a broadhead that works, 100 grainer. It's got this nifty sight rail that's adjustable for elevation. I got the red dot set for my field point, just go up two clicks on the sight rail and the broadhead is dead on.

Now, you rich guys can scoff, but this little bow has some SERIOUS accuracy. It's center of paper plate accurate for 40 yards. The worst thing I can say about it so far is the trigger isn't wonderful. But, I manage it. It's better than my SKS carbine. I know, that ain't saying much. It's manageable, I hit with it, but it's no target trigger, put it that way. Expensive bows like the Excalibur, I'm sure, have more refined triggers. They ought to, considering what they cost.

I didn't look at compounds when I bought my bow. I wanted the simplicity of a recurve, no taking it to the bow shop every year for new cable, can string it myself. If I wanted 70 fps faster, up into the 300 fps range, I'd have tripled the price and gotten an Excalibur. BUT, I'm quite sure this bow will do the job. I've read reviews, all good, even a guy that killed a good sized buck with his.

I did a lot of youtube and google searching before I made my mind up on a bow. I didn't wanna break the bank with it, but wanted a good bow. I can tell ya this, I shoot it lefty like my rifles and shotguns due to a weak right eye. I can DRILL the bull with this thing and I'm in serious jeopardy of Robin Hooding an arrow inside 30 yards rested with it. In NO WAY am I that accurate with my nearly blind right eye and my compound. Oh, I can hit a paper plate from 30 yards, but I have serious difficulty seeing the sight pins in the shadows of the woods. That glowing set of 3 dots in the red dot sight and my strong eye are the cure for that. The top dot hits dead on at 20 yards, the middle at 30, and the bottom at 40, and I mean dead accurate. I'm now ready for bow season. I want to hunt bow season because does are legal in bow season in this county and they need to be thinned out. There's a chance I could get a doe permit through a wildlife management association I've joined, but totally legal to shoot doe without one in archery season. This thing is basically a little stick rifle, but I'm sure I'll have to track 'em down in the woods. I'm decent at blood trailing, so we'll see how it goes this season.

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, if you're googling crossbows, the Excalibur I was considering is the Axiom. Good reviews on that one. The Excaliburs are quality from what I can ascertain. I can't help ya with compounds. I really wasn't interested in a compound, see no need in the complication vs a recurve. There are some compounds out there that are supposed to shoot 400 fps. Some folks are into the speed thing, but I asked that question on this board of folks. I came to the realization that native Americans were killing deer with a bois-d'arc limb and a bit of sinew with a rock for a broad head long before I was born. The deer around here ain't exactly elk, and the reviews were positive.

 

[Patocazador]

Usually the faster bows are noisier when shot. Mine is so loud it sounds like a .22.

 

[Sav .250]

Cross bow ---------like firing a rifle. Sitting would work for most shots.

Lots of CB`s available. You should visit Bass Pro or a Bow shop (if you have any) that way you get hands on . Get the entire package in one visit.

Sound like you have the desire but no experience. Do some home work on your own.

Then practice.....practice.....practice!!

 

[Kookla]

Here's another recommendation for Excalibur. I've had two- an Ibex smf and a vortex. I actually preferred the smf (I believe it stands for synthetic main frame). Both were very easy to set up and quite accurate out to the distance I was shooting- 25 to 35 yards at a target.