Mastering Hunting Blind Placement: Expert Tips and Techniques

Learn the best practices for hunting blind placement and increase your chances of a successful hunt. This guide provides expert tips and techniques to help you become a master hunter.

Hunting blind placement is critical when establishing a new feeder location.

A few things to consider when placing your hunting blind are:

• The direction of travel most likely used by animals
• Where the sun will be during hunting times
• What is the predominant wind in your area during hunting season
• Is the direction your shooting safe
• What are the farthest distances you should be shooting
• Does the blind have a backdrop behind it, such as trees or brush
• Will the hunter’s silhouette show through the window

When deciding on hunting blind placement follow this checklist. 

1. Set blinds farthest away from where you believe animals will be traveling to and from the feeder. It’s important to maintain space from any travel corridor when setting a rifle blind. 
2. Blinds should be placed facing either north or south. I suggest alternating which direction blinds face if there are multiple hunting blinds on the property. Hald of the blinds should be facing south while the remaining half should face north.
3. Blinds facing north or south will also keep the sun from shining on the hunter’s face when hunting.
4. Blinds should be set where any possible shots are sent in a safe direction. There shouldn’t be any blind facing a road or having the possibility of it being in line with another blind.
5. Consider what distance you believe is the farthest any hunter on your property is capable of safely harvesting an animal. I recommend not placing any feeders over 150 yards from the blind. 
6. Concealment of a blind does not necessarily need any cover in front of it. But having cover behind the blind is very important. It will break up a hunter’s silhouette from showing through the windows of the blind. Adding curtains or spray painting the windows that could silhouette a hunter is an excellent option if there is inadequate cover around the blind location. 

Archery Blind Placement

There are a few things to consider when setting archery blinds whether they are ground blinds or tree stands.

Timing

A tree stand, if hung high enough, can be placed on the day of a hunt and deer most likely will not notice it. This is not the case for ground blinds. The easiest way to avoid this issue is to place the blind a month or more before the season starts. This will allow the deer to become accustomed to seeing and smelling it.

Placement

The next factor to consider is where to place the blind itself. The trick is to be within range of whatever trail or food source you’re hunting while staying as far out of a deer’s field of view as possible. If you know where deer are most likely to approach from, try to place your blind off the side of that area rather than directly in front of it. You also need to consider wind direction, as your scent stream at ground level is more likely to get you in trouble than if you’re 20 feet up a tree.

Cover

The final step to keeping your ground blind from spooking deer is to properly blend it into the surroundings. There are a variety of ground blind styles to choose from, each requiring a different degree of camouflaging to make them unobtrusive to deer.

Natural ground blinds made from nearby sticks, brush, and grass are an excellent option for last-second setups and are about as stealthy as they come. But if you’re looking for something that will provide more protection from the elements, a manufactured blind is the better choice. The most popular blind option for in-season placement is pop-up, hub-style blinds. These style blinds must be tucked into cover and must be camouflaged using the natural cover in the area. I would also recommend using camo nets to cover the blind. This will help break up the outline of the blind. 

A few commonly asked questions about hunting blind placement:

Where is the best place to place a deer blind?

The best place to place a deer blind is near natural food sources. Additionally, positioning it near well-used trails or water sources can increase your chances of spotting deer.

Should a deer blind be on the ground or elevated?

The decision between ground and elevated blinds depends on the terrain and your preference. Ground blinds provide better concealment, while elevated blinds offer a broader field of view and help minimize human scent detection.

How long does it take for deer to get used to a blind?

The time for deer to get used to a blind varies, but it typically takes a few weeks. Consistent presence and minimal disturbance will help deer become accustomed to the blind’s presence.

Can deer smell you in a ground blind?

Yes, deer have a keen sense of smell, and they may detect human scent in a ground blind. To reduce the chances of being detected, hunters should use scent-control measures and choose a blind location with favorable wind conditions.

Need some help with your hunting blind placement? Contact us today!