PUT YOUR BLINDERS ON

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

In 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. 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.

... TO FIRE

Don’t settle for mediocre meals in hunting camp when there are upland birds to harvest. Tiffany Haugen’s hobo pack grouse will give your menu some pizazz.

ENJOY A WINGED TREAT AT HUNTING CAMP

By Tiffany Haugen

One of the joys of hunting camp is cooking your quarry. While big game hunters prepare to head afield this month, don’t overlook the opportunity to pursue forest grouse and cook them up fresh in camp.

Regardless of what you’ve got in the game bag – sooty or ruffed grouse, even quail – hobo packs are a great way to cook up a meal over the campfire, charcoal or a gas grill. Preparing hobo packs ahead of time is a time-saver when it comes to camp cooking. And if all else fails and you come up empty-handed, you have a nice vegetarian meal ready to heat up at the end of the day.

Plan on two to four grouse breasts and thighs per person. A combination of any or all of the following ingredients can be included in a hobo pack. Note that some vegetables need to be cooked ahead of time, as you don’t want to overcook your grouse. Sliced potatoes, partially cooked Sliced carrots, partially cooked Sliced zucchini Sliced mushrooms Diced bell pepper Diced tomato Minced onion

Minced garlic Corn Peas Butter Provolone cheese Salt, pepper and smoked paprika Cayenne pepper or red chili flakes (optional) Heavy-duty foil

Prepare hobo packs prior to leaving for hunting camp. Partially cook potatoes in an oven or microwave until they just start to soften. Steam carrots on the stove or covered in the microwave until tender. Let cool completely before slicing. Chop all other vegetables. Cut two 18-inch sheets of heavy-duty foil for each hobo pack.

To assemble hobo packs, put two pats of butter in the middle of the foil. Spread a layer of sliced potatoes on top of the butter, about a 6- to 8-inch square. Add carrots on top of potatoes and a sprinkle of salt, pepper, paprika and any other spices you’d like.

Continue building your meal, adding any of the other ingredients desired. Add another sprinkle of salt, pepper, paprika on top of the vegetables. Finish with another pat of butter and close the foil. Store in a cooler or refrigerator until ready to cook in camp.

Prepare grouse by removing breast and thigh meat. Chop meat into tiny pieces and inspect carefully for any shot. Sprinkle meat with salt, pepper, paprika and any other favorite spices. Tuck grouse meat into the middle of the hobo pack above the potatoes and carrots but below the other ingredients. Top with a slice of provolone cheese, reseal the package and cook on the edge of the campfire, atop of hot coals or in a medium-hot grill. Packs should take 15 to 25 minutes to cook.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular cookbook, Cooking Game Birds, send a check for $20 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order at scotthaugen.com.

If hunting from a tree stand, keep movement to a minimum. The value of hunting from a tree stand is that it gets the hunter off the ground, thereby allowing their scent to carry above animals. It also hides slight movement, but be careful not to move around too much when sitting in a tree stand.

Cover any metal parts that may potentially make noise with thin carpet or foam. Carpet can also be used to line the floor of ground blinds, which keeps things nice and quiet. When sitting in a ground blind, pick a comfortable chair that doesn’t make any noise when you move. There are specialty chairs available, designed specifically for hunting out of a ground blind.

BLINDS SHOULD BE LOCATED near trails that animals use as travel routes. Archers will position their blinds within 30 yards of a trail, or better yet, where a series intersect. Due to that close proximity, archers must make sure the wind is blowing in the right direction, from the trail toward the blind.

Rifle hunters may position a blind

Trail cameras are a great tool for monitoring the movement of big game, which allows you to strategically position a ground blind or tree stand to hunt from. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

200 yards from trails or a hillside they are hunting. With today’s shooting aids – even portable benches – getting a solid rest inside a blind is easy for a rifle hunter to achieve. The more solid your rest, the greater the chance of connecting on that first shot.

When hunting from a tree stand be sure to use a safety harness. There are

Blinds and stands allow you to hunt animals like this unnoticed Roosevelt elk, with the intent of catching them as they move along game trails. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

many types of safety harnesses, so try them on to see what’s most comfortable and what fits best. Once you decide on a harness, practice shooting with it on from your stand, as you don’t want any surprises come time for the hunt.

Due to the keen eyesight of deer, elk and other big game animals, many hunters prefer being in a blind. The fact you can sit for hours in a blind, unseen, means you can relax, move a little and have a commanding view of the area in front of you. Just be sure to remain as quiet as possible, for the slightest unnatural noise can spook game.

SEVERAL HOURS, IF NOT days, can be spent hunting from a blind waiting for an animal to pass by. Then again, if in the right place at the right time, a hunt can end surprisingly quickly.

Scouting and the use of trail cameras will help you decide where blinds and stands should be placed. The rest comes down to patience and persistence, and a little bit of good luck never hurts either. CS

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, send a check for $20 (FREE S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order online at scotthaugen.com.