HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
Pop-up or man-made ground blinds like this offer 360-degree concealment, giving hunters the edge when it comes to sitting in wait for animals to pass by. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
SEEING THE VALUE OF BLINDS
ROOKIE HUNTERS CAN GAIN VALUABLE ADVANTAGE WITH GROUND BLINDS, TREE STANDS
By Scott Haugen
I
n the second of our two-part series on big game hunting basics, we’re going to take a look at the value of hunting from a blind. No matter your level of hunting experience, there will always be a place for ground blinds. However, if you’re new to big game hunting, ground blinds are a good place to begin your quest of putting nutritious and great-tasting game meat in the freezer.
BLIND HUNTING IS WHEN hunters rely
on a blind for cover, so they can remain hidden from game. Blinds are commonly used by bowhunters, but they are also utilized by rifle hunters in open terrain or in areas where movement may be detected by approaching animals. Blinds can be on the ground or even in trees. Ground blinds can be manmade – they are called pop-up blinds – or crafted from natural materials. Tree stands are a common type of blind that can be hung in or positioned against a tree. Box blinds, or tripod stands, are built upon a sturdy base and can be
placed in open or wooded terrain. The best blinds are those offering the most concealment. While a ground blind crafted of logs, limbs, brush and grass may look good, even the slightest movement can be detected by game through the smallest gaps in the blind. Pop-up and box blinds hide your feet, break up your outline and allow some movement to be made, making them great for hunters challenged by sitting still for hours on end. Open only one or two windows of a ground blind, just enough to shoot out of, and you’ll see their effectiveness.
calsportsmanmag.com | OCTOBER 2020 California Sportsman
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