Natural Blinds

Blinds can be constructed from natural materials such as stumps, fallen trees and branches, rocks, boulders and hollows in the ground that are available near the site you wish to hunt from.

There are some benefits from constructing a natural blind:

• Cost [usually no cost to use natural materials unless you add camo netting etc]
• Improved hearing [being inside an enclosed blind can reduce your hearing considerably depending on the materials the blind is made of]
• Improved vision [you can see better instead of looking out through small slots]
• Shooting angle [you can usually see and shoot at any angle]
• Safety - it is safer to hunt from the ground than when you are elevated
• Easy to move positions if the wind changes or a decision is made to try somewhere else
• Little or no alteration to the hunting area and therefore less likely to alter the deer's movements

There are some disadvantages however;

• Exposure to the weather [usually you are more exposed to the wind, rain and snow although constructing a roof of camo material or being under some evergreen boughs can help reduce rain and snowfall]
• Exposure to movement [your movements are more easily seen]
• The hunter needs to be more alert to keeping their noise to a minimum
• Your scent is not so confined as it is when you are in an enclosed blind
• Preparing for the shot early to prevent any movement being detected

What are some of the key points when constructing a natural blind;

• They are usually built in a circular or rectangular shape
• There is an opening providing access into and out of the blind
• The sides need to be high enough to obscure most of the hunters body, but not too high that you can't see and shoot over them
• It is more comfortable when you make the blind big enough to accommodate a folding chair

Some points to consider;

• It is easier to stay alert when you are comfortable. Consider taking a folding chair or stool. It will minimize your movements if you are sitting comfortably - and therefore you will be less likely to be detected by the deer
• When you cut branches to form part of the blind, the scent of the cut leaves and branches helps to mask your own scent
• Taking some camo netting with you can quickly convert some branches into a natural blind. The netting has almost no weight and helps provide additional cover
• If they are available, consider using evergreen trees as a blind as they usually have more cover than the hardwoods. Conifers such as Spruce also provide excellent cover as often the branches grow right to the ground
• When you want to move around, eat lunch etc, look slowly around first before you move. Always keep head movements as slow as possible

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