Welcome to Huntblind.com, your ultimate source for hunting expertise. In this article, we delve into the art of brushing in a ground blind to provide you with valuable insights and actionable information. As we strive to offer the highest quality content, we have carefully selected an esteemed author with a wealth of hunting experience and knowledge in the field.
Allow us to introduce Doug Norton, a distinguished expert who has dedicated two decades to mastering the intricacies of hunting. As a seasoned hunter and experienced marksman and archer, Doug understands the importance of blending in with hunting surroundings. His expertise comes from years of firsthand experience and a deep passion for the sport.
Doug’s extensive hunting credentials make him a leading authority in the industry. His invaluable insights have helped countless hunters improve their skills and increase their chances of success. Throughout his hunting career, Doug has honed his techniques for brushing in ground blinds, ensuring they seamlessly blend into their surroundings. His practical knowledge and expertise will guide you through the process, allowing you to become a proficient hunter.
In addition to his practical experience, Doug holds a background in wildlife conservation and has completed relevant educational courses to further enhance his understanding of the subject. He is also an active member of renowned hunting organizations, staying connected to the latest industry developments and best practices.
At Huntblind.com, we take pride in our mission to empower hunters with comprehensive knowledge and insights. Our aim is to serve as your trusted resource, guiding you towards success in the field. We understand the importance of delivering valuable content tailored to your needs, which is why we have carefully analyzed your search intent to ensure this article caters to your informational needs.
In this article, Doug Norton will address the essential tips and techniques for brushing in a ground blind like a pro. Whether you’re a novice hunter or looking to refine your skills, this article will provide you with the tools you need to blend seamlessly into your hunting environment. Doug’s step-by-step guide and expert advice will equip you with practical strategies to improve your hunting success.
As we continuously strive for excellence, we have ensured that this content is regularly updated. You can rest assured that the information presented here reflects the latest industry developments and best practices. The last revision was made on 19th June 2023.
So, let’s dive into this enlightening journey with Doug Norton, an esteemed expert who will guide us through the intricate world of brushing in a ground blind. Get ready to unlock new insights and take your hunting knowledge to the next level.
Ground Blind Brushing
As a seasoned hunter with two decades of experience, I understand the importance of blending in with the hunting surroundings. I’ve encountered frustrating situations where I hastily set up a ground blind without properly brushing it in, resulting in spooking game or compromising my shot opportunities. These experiences led me to create this article on how to brush in a ground blind like a pro. The purpose of this page is to provide fellow hunters, whether new or experienced, with valuable tips and techniques to make their ground blinds seamlessly blend into the environment and become virtually invisible to the game they’re pursuing. By implementing the strategies outlined in this article, you can avoid the frustrations I encountered and increase your chances of a successful hunt. So, let’s dive into the world of ground blind brushing and discover how to elevate your concealment game.
During one hunting season, I set up a ground blind in an area known for its abundant deer population. Excited and eager to get started, I neglected the crucial step of properly brushing in the blind. As a result, my presence was quickly detected by the keen senses of the deer, and they steered clear of the area. Frustrated, I realized that my failure to blend the blind with its surroundings had cost me the opportunity to observe and take a shot at those elusive bucks. Determined not to repeat the same mistake, I embarked on a mission to learn the art of brushing in a ground blind effectively. Through trial and error, combined with insights from seasoned hunters and experts, I discovered the techniques I’ll be sharing with you in this article.
So if you’re new to hunting or want to brush up on your ground blind skills, this post is for you. Let’s start and learn how to brush in a ground blind like a pro!
Let’s Jump into Camouflaging Your Hunting Blind
Ground blinds are an effective means to hide from deer and turkeys. Now… I LOVE hunting blinds, mostly because I suck at sitting still. If you’re anything like me, I like to be unrestricted when hunting, and a blind allows me to relax a little more when waiting it out. What’s not to love about them? They are quick to pull out and are portable. I’m pretty partial to a run-n-gun blind, too. Ground blinds block the human scent and help us to remain hidden. The most critical, mostly unforgotten, factor to efficiently use a blind is to brush it. There are several techniques and tips that you should keep in mind while setting up a ground blind, so if you’re sitting around questioning how to brush in a ground blind? Then, you’re in luck. Let’s dive into the five essential tips you need to know to brush in a ground blind.
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO BRUSH YOUR BLIND
- Check around for what you can use.
- Scope out the foliage that will work well.
- Cut down on what you require.
- Place your inventory around your blind.
- Study your blind from all angles.
- Secure the brush to your blind with a paracord
- Cut the excess cord away
- Apply more to the upper parts of the blind
- Cut around the window holes
- Set up your chair inside the blind
- Pack away everything in your bag and begin!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO ENSURE YOUR BLIND IS BRUSHED
With the above steps complete, some pre-planning will need to be done. These steps will make it easier when it comes down to brushing your blind.
PLACEMENT OF A GROUND BLIND
One of the crucial things for brushing is the proper placement of your ground blind. Try to study the nature and foliage around you. Observe particular foliage that you need to cut to make your ground blind look consistent with the surrounding nature. Look for natural ground blind ideas, like using tree branches and roots of trees. This way, you can use foliage to make a ground-blind cover. Try to place your blind in an area where you can hide it quite comfortably. There are many benefits to using cut-up bits of trees to cover your blind. First, the natural environment also makes the scent of the ground blind go away if you’re too lazy to air it out before a hunt. Second, is that it’s better hidden. But, it requires a little common sense. Most of the camo exteriors on the blinds are different. It’s essential to find one that blends into the area. The easiest way to do this is by seeing the foliage of a particular area where you want to hunt, taking a photo, and comparing the exterior camo patterns with your image. Buying the right kind of blind would help brush a ground blind more efficiently.
NATURAL GROUND BLIND IDEAS
Survey the area around you and find enough brush for your blind. Finding tree leaves to create a natural camouflage ground blind can give you a significant advantage on a hunt. Try to cover your ground blind in a schematic pattern and cover up the surface area. I usually focus on the entire front side of the blind and a portion of the sides. This is pretty dependent on where you’re set up. I like to hunt from a high position with one entry and exit point to focus on one area. This allows me only to cover up one specific face of the blind wall. If you cover the whole circumference of your ground blind, avoid covering the windows. You don’t have to cover the windows; the internal blackout prevents any whitetail or waterfowl from seeing inside. Don’t go overboard! After placing the brush around your ground blind, observe your brushed blind from all angles. Make sure that the lower portions are also covered entirely. It is also vital to secure your ground blind. You can do this by placing a paracord all around the circumference of the blind.
LOOK FOR THE RIGHT KIND OF GROUND BLIND
Another significant step you need to follow is to look for an excellent ground blind for your location. Nowadays, many ground blinds are available with increased durability to allow you to blend more efficiently with the natural environment. A ground blind with a pattern that fits the environment will increase activity on your hunt. Keep an eye out for the blinds available that have strips around them. You can attach natural camouflage to brush in the ground blind. One feature that destroys camouflage ground blinds is the manufacturing smell. The smell remains in the ground blind even after several weeks of placing them. However, many ground blinds come with carbon odour suppressors. These suppressors help reduce the smell and thus work as a camouflage for deer blind. If you are now releasing, your blind may not be the best for the location. There’s no need to panic; many methods are discussed to disguise your blinds better and suit the surrounding better. But if you think you’re blind sticks out like a sore thumb, we have you covered. Here is our in-depth review of the best blinds for camouflage; you can thank me later. Anyway, back to brushing the blinds in.
PLACE YOUR BLIND WELL BEFORE YOU HUNT
Even though you try to brush in the ground blind, animals have great insight. They avoid sites and areas where they see things out of the norm. For example, if a particular terrain suddenly appears, they would avoid coming near it until they feel comfortable. That same concept happens with blinds. Therefore, you should place the ground blind several weeks before you hunt, giving animals time to get used to the environment. Therefore, the more time you give to your ground blind, the more chance you will have to hunt down your prey. Furthermore, the more time you place your ground blind in nature, the more your ground blind will observe a natural odour.
TAKE CARE OF ODOUR
Animals generally tend to have a sharp sense of smell and sight. I’ve always wondered why. Massive knowledge bomb: Their survival depends on this instinct. They try to avoid areas where they can smell an unusual odour. They are also very sharp in detecting humans, using their ability to sense. Therefore, try to hide your human odour as much as possible. This scent camouflaging is possible by using a specific type of spray in the area around you, but this is unnecessary if you try to find a ground blind that has odour suppressors. Moreover, you can also use natural ground blind ideas to keep your scent away. Cover the surrounding area with natural camouflage like bushes, leaves, and trees. These natural camouflages provide a more comfortable way of providing a more efficient ground blind cover.
The proper placement of a ground blind and the significance of blending into the environment.
According to a post published on Mossy Oak, selecting the right camouflage for a ground blind is crucial for minimizing the chances of detection by game animals.
Renowned hunting expert Heath Wood emphasizes the importance of covering the blind, stating, “By brushing in a blind, it prevents the ground blind from looking like a big box in the woods. Putting branches/brush on and around the blind provides a 3D look that helps the camouflage pattern work to its full potential” (Heath Wood, 2018).
How can I identify the specific foliage to cut and utilize for brushing in my ground blind?
When choosing foliage, look for trees, branches, or bushes that match the surrounding vegetation. Focus on materials that provide adequate cover while maintaining a natural appearance. Avoid cutting down rare or protected plants and ensure that the foliage you use is readily available in the area.
Techniques for effectively covering the ground blind with natural camouflage.
Gerald Thayer, a respected wildlife researcher, outlines, “Concealing colorations means coloration that matches the background, but since an object’s background varies with the point of view, there can be no such thing as complete, intrinsic inconspicuousness. The means of objects’ recognizability, no matter how they are colored or marked, is almost always their silhouette – i.e., their outlines in ‘relieving’ darker or lighter or differently colored against their background.” (Thayer, GH., 1909).
Are there specific ground blinds designed to enhance camouflage and odor suppression?
Yes, certain ground blinds on the market come with advanced camouflage patterns and built-in odor suppressors. These features help to further enhance concealment and reduce the chances of detection by game animals. It’s advisable to research and invest in blinds that suit your hunting environment and offer these additional benefits.
By incorporating these strategies and advice from experts, you can significantly improve your ability to brush in a ground blind effectively. Remember, taking the time and effort to properly conceal your blind will increase your chances of remaining undetected and ultimately lead to more successful hunting experiences.
CONCLUSION
The most critical step of placing a ground blind is to brush it as much as possible to appear natural to the environment. To learn how to brush in a ground blind, we have brought you the top five steps you need to follow. Try to make the best possible effort to find natural ground-blind ideas. Furthermore, odour suppressors and finding a suitable ground blind also help brush in a ground blind more effectively. The more camouflage ground blinds, the more you succeed in hunting deer and other animals.
References:
- Wood, H., 2018. Secrets to Brushing in a Ground Blind Like a Pro.
- Thayer Gerald Handerson Abbott Handerson Thayer and Theodore Roosevelt Hunting Library (Library of Congress). 1909. Concealing-Coloration in the Animal Kingdom; an Exposition of the Laws of Disguise through Color and Pattern: Being a Summary of Abbott H. Thayer’s Discoveries. New York: Macmillan.
