The animals we pursue have incredible senses and to get within bow range of them, hunters need to take every advantage possible. Ground blinds and tree stands come into play as we try to take away the animals’ sense of sight. Let’s find out which is the right choice for you.
Ground blinds
Pros: Trying to hunt from the ground is almost impossible without a ground blind. An animal’s eyesight is so good that it will probably spot the movement and bolt before you get the shot off. Just as you cannot see into a dark room, animals cannot see into a dark ground blind. Ground blinds can also provide a higher level of scent control. A ground blind allows you to shoot from ground level. While this is closer to how you might practise shooting at home or on the range, sitting in a chair is very different than standing and shooting at your target. Set up your ground blind and practise shooting from the chair. This will dramatically help you during a hunting situation.
An animal’s vitals are the largest they can be when shooting from ground level. Aiming in the lower two-thirds of the vitals will ensure a short blood trail. If the animal stays stationary during the shot, the arrow will go through the vitals’ lower portion. If the animal drops a bit at the sound of the bow, your arrow will go through the higher portion of the vitals, still ensuing a clean quick harvest.
However, if you aim in the middle of the vitals, and the animal drops a bit at the sound of the shot, there is a real possibility of trouble. Your arrow may hit the spine and anchor the animal which will usually require a second shot to finish the harvest – not ideal. And then there’s “the dead zone,” an area high on a deer’s back that is commonly thought to be a space between the deer’s lungs and its spine, but is actually a non-lethal section above the vertebrae, created by a natural dip in the deer’s spine.
Cons: Big game are very in tune with their surroundings. As soon as you put out the ground blind, animals (especially deer) will recognize something new in their area. That means you need to put out your ground blind weeks before the season starts so animals get used to it. A second disadvantage is you have to shoot out of a window. This limits your view of approaching animals and your shooting area. An animal needs to be at the right spot for you to draw your bow and make the shot. An animal can be 30 yards from you, but if it’s not standing in your shooting window, it might as well be hundreds of yards away.
Tree stands
Pros: Not only does a tree stand dramatically increase how far you see, but also allows you to shoot in multiple directions. An elevated hunter is out of an animal’s direct line of sight, and usually above their sense of smell. From an elevated position, you have a much better chance of seeing an animal approach and can prepare for the shot.
Cons: Some people shoot over their intended target when shooting from a tree stand. This is because the animal looks further away that it is. If the animal is 25 yards from the base of your tree, then that is what you shoot for — 25 yards. The animal will look further away from you. One of the most important tools a bowhunter can have is an angle-compensating rangefinder. These calculate the actual shooting distance from your stand, compensating for the elevation. The second challenge is knowing where to put your arrow. From elevation, you must shoot higher in the vitals because your arrow will travel on a downward angle through the body.
If you shoot the animal in the bottom half of the vitals, there is a good chance that the arrow will exit too low, and not hit the far lung. With a lung intact, recovery will be much harder. Also, the shoulder blade will significantly reduce the overall size of the vitals from elevation if the animal is quartering towards you. Arrows hitting the shoulder blade will not likely penetrate the entire vitals, resulting in a challenging recovery.
My pick
When deer hunting, my preference is the tree stand. I appreciate the visual advantage I get from elevation. Not only can I spot approaching animals long before they are in bow range, but other forms of wildlife will keep me occupied while waiting for a shot opportunity.
For turkey hunting, ground blinds are the best. You can position your decoys so that you can shoot out of the ground blind windows while concealed.
Originally published in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ 2023-2024 Hunting Annual
Leave A Comment