I have a Double Bull T5 that I love to archery turkey hunt out of. It's been nothing short of amazing for that. I'm really wanting to do some deer hunting out of it but I'm just not that confident. I've seen the videos of guys having tremendous success but when I drag it out there in the woods I feel big, loud, and obvious sitting there. I'm pretty uncomfortable at heights too so I'd love to stop hanging treestands. You guys have some real life tried and true tips for taking deer with archery equipment and ground blinds?
Thanks!

I was the same as you for years. I thought Blinds were bulky and too obvious sitting out in the woods.

Then in 2006 I put in a food plot in a new spot, and after hunting it 2-3 times realized my stand was in the wrong place, and there were no other trees in the area to use. My only choice was a blind.

I went out on a Sunday morning and bought a Yukon Tracks blind. I set it up near the food plot at Noon and went home to have lunch. I headed back out to the blind at 3pm. By 5 pm, I had seen over a dozen deer in the food plot, and had all but one of them within 25 yards of me. By 5:30pm, I had shot a nice tall 8-point 2.5 year old buck.

Like all the deer, when they first saw the blind, they would glance at it for 2-3 seconds, and then go about their business. THe buck I shot above, was standing broadside, feeding at 8 yards when II release my arrow. Moments after shooting him, I had another buck come in within 15 yards.

In two years of using a blind, I have killed my 2 largest bow-bucks from them. I also have harvested many does, and also recorded some great video footage for my memories. (The picture is of one of the bucks I shot from the blind. The shot was under 10 yards)

I can hunt longer and quieter in a blind. I am protected from the bone-chilling wind, and the blind keeps me dry from snow or rain. Plus if the hunting is slow, I can move around, stretch, and even read a book with out the deer seeing my movement. Using a blind has allowed me to spend more time in the woods.

I still hunt from treestands, but I have no hesitation about using my blind when the terrain calls for it.

I was a doubter, but now I am a BELIEVER in blinds!

Wow, that's what I'm talking about for a confidence builder. I greatly appreciate your post and I definately enjoyed reading it. Some of my hunting daydreams are going to have to start including the blind.

i hunt a blind... but i hardly ever put it in the woods... my blind always goes on the edge of a field. Its great because u can move around, bring a magazine, drinks, and a sandwich or 2 and relax and wait for the deer. Like dampland said its also good for blocking wind on a cold day. I am able to stay out a lot longer in a blind then in a tree stand.
The downsides i saw with my blind were:


-Difficulty getting gun out front window
-Not enough clearance to draw bow without putting arrow out window, then my arm still hit back of blind... wih shoot through mesh on, it was impossible.

But then again i got to sit in a comforable camping chair... haha so it balances it out :)

Glad to hear the positive feedback! I got on here tonight to post the very same type question.

I hunt from a ground blind also. Like Dampland said, they will look at the blind curiously for a while. The only downside, and only if you are using shoot-through mesh, is seeing your sight pins in late light. I would recommend a lighted sight just for that purpose.

What about scent containment when using a blind should you amp up or just hunt as you normally would?