01
Should I elevate my deer blind?
If it is viable, yes. An elevated box blind gives several advantages and can turn the odds in your favor. When you take the high ground, you give yourself a better line of sight for a clear shot, whether you plan to locate it on the edge of a field, in a transition zone, or near a food source. Not only does it give you better vision, it gets you up, out of the line of sight of your prey - one of their biggest advantages. Deer have an incredible ability to spot even the smallest movements. You will be hunkered down for extended periods, so comfort is a big deal. Compared to ground blinds, raised hunting blinds give you some insolation from the mud or snow, making for an all around more comfortable experience. The major drawback is the extra setup time. Raising a hunting blind takes effort and once set up, it will take a few weeks for the animals to adjust. Having to climb a ladder or stairs also creates the opportunity to blow your cover. It’s important to strategically place the blind where you can come and go without alerting the animals.
02
Can deer smell you in an elevated blind?
If your movements don't get you busted, it will be your scent - an elevated deer blind helps mitigate these. Elevated blinds have the advantage of carrying your scent up and away from the noses of those whitetails. An added benefit to hard-walled blinds, whether they’re ground-level or raised, is insolation that helps contain your scent. Hard-sized blinds from
Advantage Hunting do this particularly well with gaskets on both the doors and windows. This keeps your scent in, but also the bugs and cold out. With that being said, no blind is 100% odor-proof, proper scent control can’t be forgotten. Hunters that use deer blinds will often overlook scent control in the belief that the box makes them unsmellable. Yes, they help, but you still need to be mindful of your entry and exit. For best effect, you should only enter and exit your blind when the wind direction is favorable. In addition, practicing normal scent control such as sprays and covers is advisable. Yes, elevated blinds help with scent control, but you still need to put in the effort beforehand to make sure you don’t get busted.
03
What is the best height for a deer blind?
This is a hot topic. The common advice you’ll get is “the higher the better”. Generally, the advantages of an elevated hunting blind will increase with height: a better vision of game, improved scent control, etc. It goes without saying that at some point you’ll have diminishing returns from a taller blind. One simple reason, it’s hard to remain inconspicuous if your tower is absurdly tall. Most elevated deer blinds on the market are between 5 and 10 feet. The best height will depend on the terrain and vegetation where you plan to hunt. If, for example, you plan to locate your deer blind on the edge of a field or in a wide open area, a 10ft bind such as the
Muddy Gunner might be the way to go as obstructions won’t obstruct your line of sight. Now imagine you’re in the forests of the Northwest where the foliage is thick. Going higher doesn’t mean you’ll have a better shot, especially if it would put you level with the tree canopy. In these scenarios, something a bit shorter like a
RAM 650, sitting at 78”, will put you up close and personal with those bucks & does while still getting the benefits of a raised blind. If your location gives you natural high ground, say atop a hill or ridge, maybe you don’t need the ultra-tall blind.
04
How to stand up an elevated deer blind?
Once you choose a good location, pretty much all blinds will follow a similar raising procedure. This involves assembling the legs and cross braces while the box is lying on its side, then using leverage to pull it upright The actual standing is the hair raising part, but it doesn’t have to be… if done correctly. There are a few ways to go about standing a blind. The key is to use enough rope so that no people or vehicles have to be in the line of fire if something goes south. Most will opt for tilting their preassembled blind upright using a winch or come-along. To do this, you’ll need a solid anchor such as a truck, ATV, tree, etc. If the blind wants to drag instead of lift, you’ll need a fulcrum point near the base of the legs. A 2x6 or similar lumber is commonly used to make a fulcrum. As the blind is raised, it’s just a matter of slow and steady until it reaches equilibrium, where it will fall into its resting position. If you have access to the big guns, use ‘em. A tractor, skid loader, or other heavy equipment will lift your blind like it’s not even there. The concern is doing it in such a way as to not mangle your investment. Depending on how much your rig can lift, you can consider scooping it directly. With this method, ensure enough cardboard, wood, or other sacrificial material is between your blind and the heavy equipment to not cause damage.
05
How do you secure an elevated deer blind to the ground?
Once you get your blind stood up, it's time to lock it in. The most common way is hooking your blind to a ground anchor via some type of cable. Many boxes come with provisions on the bottom for one, two, or even four anchoring points, depending on the size and height. This approach involves running a cable or strap from the bottom of the box to the ground, then securing it with an earth anchor. Earth Anchors come in all shapes and sizes, some require digging, while others screw into the ground with power tools. Rather than pulling down on the bottom of the box, you could go directly to the source - the legs. Again, earth anchors will be used, but they’ll be attached to the legs near the ground. A possible downside to this method is the necessity to use four anchor points, which might be overkill in certain applications. Either way, it's important that your fastening includes some type of ratcheting mechanism, such as a turnbuckle. These allow tension to be adjusted as needed. It’s often an overlooked point, but the earth will settle after a few rainstorms. Having adjustment allows you to compensate for movements in the ground. For the most permanent of deer blinds, concrete can be poured and appropriate fasteners used to secure the legs to the slab.
