TRY A NATURAL BLIND

By Tom Cooper

I’m not sure, so I’ll ask: who doesn’t know how to assemble a ground blind? This article isn’t about how to set up a tent with shooting windows, maybe a nice, heated recliner, then corn all around to attract your deer. I do not deny that a tent blind or a small shack on stilts has its place in today’s list of hunting alternatives. However, my article is about how to use what nature provides to set up natural concealment that just might let deer or elk move close enough, naturally, for a hunter to take advantage of the situation. Since I just used three versions of the word “nature’’ in one sentence, you probably aren’t surprised I call these “natural blinds”.

Why, you might ask, would one even consider assembling a natural blind? I can suggest several reasons: 1) many of us, let’s say mature, hunters don’t or can’t, or at least won’t climb trees anymore to use a tree stand, 2) most Western states’ hunters tend to use vast areas for hunting (a combination of public and private lands) and simply cannot manage multiple commercial blinds or stands, especially on public ground, 3) natural blinds allow hunters to shoot from a standing position, 4) natural blinds can be quickly assembled and easily improved if needed when you arrive to hunt, and 5) natural blinds are temporary; at the end of the season, disassemble it, if necessary.

What are the Property Rules?

Before you charge off to your favorite hunting area with a natural blind blueprint, you need to examine the rules for that property. For private property, you should contact the owner and ask about cutting trees (dead or alive), trimming branches and brush, moving/stacking dead trees and branches, and whether permanent blinds are allowed. At a minimum public ground will require a review of federal or state regulations, usually available at public lands offices or their web sites. If the regulations seem vague, find the agency’s land manager and ask your questions. There are significant differences, depending on the purpose of the public land.

For example, in Montana some wildlife management areas prohibit disturbance of vegetation, dead or alive. Other public lands may not specifically restrict branch trimming, but cutting live trees of any size may not be allowed, and permanent stands/blinds may or may not be permitted. National Forests and the Bureau of Land Management generally do not restrict disturbing dead or decaying material, but probably prohibit cutting live trees. Bottomline is before assembling a natural blind from available forest materials, find out what is allowed on the property.

Location, Location, Location

Before discussing how to assemble a natural blind, your next step is to find a location where deer or elk frequent. Generally that means watering holes and food sources because they are good locations for natural blinds, just as they are for tree stands and commercial blinds. Specifically for elk during early seasons, a good location might mean wallows. For Whitetail deer it might mean rubbed trees or scrape lines. In terms of importance, right after food and water comes annual ruts and breeding.

Frequently, a good blind location overlooks the intersection of two or more game trails.

Look for Significant Natural Components

When you find an ideal spot, what’s next? The most basic natural blind is a “wall” created by trimming a few branches off one side of a pine or fir tree.

The hunter stands behind the tree with room to draw a bow or shoot a rifle. Otherwise, start with a chunk of Mother Nature to serve as a primary wall (like a large live tree or a boulder). Typically, dead branches can be added for more cover. Another possibility is a large deadfall that serves as a primary wall. If a really large deadfall provides adequate cover, it might serve as your entire blind (no assembly, or disassembly, required). However, a deadfall with a lot of branches usually needs a little trimming (with trusty garden shears) to create shooting lanes or openings to see through. The opposite might also be true; for a little more cover, stack branches on the deadfall.

In other instances, a live tree could become a center post for a V-shaped structure, with two walls created by stacking dead branches or smaller deadfall trees to form the “V” enclosure.

Similarly, another design uses two fairly large live trees as corners, maybe 3-5 feet apart. Two trees facilitate stacking of forest materials in three directions to create a U- or horseshoe-shape structure. Don’t use wire or nylon rope to secure components; just stack the stuff as best you can.

Generally, chest high is adequate for archery hunting, or a little higher might be better for gun hunting. Natural blinds should be easy to assemble (or disassemble if necessary); if a hunter spends over 30 minutes assembling a natural blind, it is probably too large or complicated. Disassembly of a portion might be a good option.

Don’t Forget a Chair

For every blind, a seat or bench to sit on is a good idea. Standing for hours wears us down and ultimately shortens the time spent in the blind. One option is to carry a lightweight stool. However, a natural seat can be assembled using short chunks of dead trees, just like Lincoln logs (most of us remember those), forming a small bench. A large rock, if available, is another option. Locate the seat near the back of the blind, out of the way when the hunter stands and prepares to shoot.

Include Blinds in your Scouting

Since scouting is usually a big part of a hunter’s preparation for next season, it makes sense to include natural blinds you expect to use. This is important because natural blinds begin to deteriorate almost immediately. Heavy rain can easily knock down a wall constructed with brush and branches. Strong winds quickly disassemble a casually built natural blind. In Montana, snow is a major culprit as it crushes stacked forest materials right to the ground. Refurbishing natural blinds is just part of the process. Of course one good reason to include blinds when you scout is: sometimes hunters don’t recall exactly where they are in the first place.

And if you don’t refurbish your blind, it will disappear as nature consumes the materials.

One point to remember about natural blinds assembled on public land is they will be used by the hunter arriving first. A natural blind will not be a secret, public land means public use.

Controlling your scent, particularly as you approach a natural blind, requires a little thought.

Natural blinds might not be very effective if hunters arrive with the wind at their back. Mountain winds are a problem, because elevation changes and obstacles (like mountains) cause the wind to shift and swirl.

Focus on the most common wind direction when determining how to approach a natural blind.

Identifying alternative approaches as part of scouting is a good idea.

How long can you stay in your stand or blind? Experience says most of us get bored and leave too soon.

My suggestion is to bring a good paperback (I love Westerns). I’ve found when reading, and I hear a noise, I react by looking in exactly the right direction. If randomly looking around, I’m less likely to quickly pinpoint the direction of the sound. A good book will keep you in a natural blind longer.

Caution: Dead Trees

Hunters beware. More specifically, be careful about selecting large standing dead trees as a part of a natural blind.

Where a forest fire has killed trees, or if you hunt in an area with significant beetle infestation, those trees can collapse any time. On several occasions during the last twenty-plus years, I’ve observed blinds with a large dead tree laying across them,crushing the whole thing. I believe it’s best not to be there when the crash happens.

Natural is Another Option: Try It

My purpose in writing this article was to provide new and old hunters alike an option to consider. I’m sure many of you recognize natural blinds are not new to the hunting scene. I can think of one old example. How many turkey hunts have we watched on television’s outdoor channels, where hunters sit with their backs against a tree and they stack a few bushy branches in front of them for concealment? Pretty sure I would call that a natural blind. Try it, you might like it.