Leaving out Pop up blinds

[BKhunter]

I was up this last weekend checking on and moving some stands around, and I have a pop up blind that I want to set up, but did not leave out yet. The reason for this is I do not want any bees to start a nest in it. I know you should leave them out for some time so the animals get used to them and the smell dissipates. I was planning to go back up in the middle of September and set it up and leave it out. Do you think this is enough time for it to settle in for the deer?

[t_barb]

when do you plan to start hunting out of it?   If it is for gun season, mid September is probably OK..   If for bow, I would put it out now

[BKhunter]

my intention was for both. I know I should have it out around now, but like I said I have had bee's nest in them before and I was trying to avoid that.

[slickrockpack]

lavender scented dryer sheets from the dollar store is what I use to keep scorpions, bees and mice out of our sheds, I don't see why a box of them in the blind wouldn't work just as well

 if you worry about scent that much is set off a Doe P bomb inside it when you set it up, just be prepared to come back to find out the deer stomped all over your blind trying to find the 'new' deer in their home.

Edited August 10, 2016 by slickrockpack

[soileauj]

I have 3 of them that I've left for the 2nd season now and luckily have had no problems.

Good luck.

[turkeyfeathers]

Am going to probably set up 2 cameras tomorrow. Sounds like maybe I should set up our pop up blind for youth gun weekend as well.

[growalot]

Mines out and no bees...but mine has zippered screens and zippered outer  weather closures...I'd worry more about deterioration of the weather proofing.

[soileauj]

Agree on the water proofing

[Buckmaster7600]

I have a few that have been out for 5 or 6 years now, little faded but no worse for wear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Water Rat]

21 hours ago, slickrockpack said:

lavender scented dryer sheets from the dollar store is what I use to keep scorpions, bees and mice out of our sheds, I don't see why a box of them in the blind wouldn't work just as well

 if you worry about scent that much is set off a Doe P bomb inside it when you set it up, just be prepared to come back to find out the deer stomped all over your blind trying to find the 'new' deer in their home.

Bees and mice wouldn't bother me....can't say the same for scorpions.

[wooly]

Mine have been out since turkey season, so any natural scent, other than my own during set-up isn't of much concern.

I'm just getting around to moving them to their early season deer locations now where I may catch a buck still on a late summer pattern that can be exploited. These will be geared more towards observing early season field activity before a move to kill spot needs to be made.

I DON'T believe that these initial set-ups will be the ideal location to kill a deer from by placing them now, and may actually do more harm than good if discovered. For the time being, they will be set in low percentage spots in high traffic areas, and used more towards gathering intel, rather than formulating an entire hunting seasons plans around them.

IMO, a blind (or stand for that matter) placed carelessly due to excitement and current conditions gives deer more time to encounter and avoid a location where something new has "popped-up" on the landscape and alter their patterns. We already know they do that with trail cams, and treestands, and any other number of changes that occur in their environment, so I like to keep my blind locations unpredictable as well to counter that.

My locations will change as the season progresses. I'm always looking for that one spot that offers an element of surprise the first time it's moved and hunted from when conditions are perfect. Whether I get that done from the move of a blind or stand, will be determined on a case by case basis, based on what I've seen happening up to that point by remaining flexible in my ambush approach.

 

[slickrockpack]

3 hours ago, Water Rat said:

Bees and mice wouldn't bother me....can't say the same for scorpions.

you don't want mice and bees in the blinds, mice means rattlers will be there too, bees mean grizzlies will be snuffing in there, anything that has formaldehyde in the making of it, circuit boards, refrigerator insultation,  these things all give off an odor like formaldehyde and many ants bears feed on have a similar smell, attracting grizz to your blind...all bad. Rattlers in there not great either.

[kpkot]

Anyone have any tips or experience with leaving blinds up during snow? Ive had 2 blinds ruined with a heavy snowfall. A doghouse blind and a pop out style from basspro as well... i did see a product at cabelas that you put up in the center of the blind... may give that a shot.

[kpkot]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/blind-saver-trade-ground-blind-roof-support/1611915.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dblind%2Bsaver%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=blind+saver

[Steuben Jerry]

We've lost three blinds over the last few years to bears. They seem to be sending me a message - lol.

I try to not leave them up any longer than I have to just to minimize my losses.

There's nothing like arriving to your spot in the early morning darkness and finding your blind trashed. One of those times, there was a big pile of scat left on it. Like I said, a message.

[thphtm]

I am on my second one , first one did not do anything and it lasted threw 3 winters before it was shot  ( doghouse blind ) , faded dried out and the poles broke. The second one I did as they wanted you to do an sprayed a few coats of anti fade spray and have it between 3 trees with cord tied to the top loops to keep the snow from collapsing it . It made it threw last winter and I have pictures of every type of animal and birds that are in the area walking by and eating next to it. Never used any kind of sent stuff at all.

[GR HUNTER]

I have on on an elevated platform that the squirrels like to make nests in. Basically turned it into a condo. Good idea to take a peak in before you step into a blind that's been out there for a bit.

[mlammerhirt]

Do you guys apply the waterproof spray to the whole blind...or just seems?
Also what is a good waterproofing spray to buy....will be placing an older blind out within the week.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[moog5050]

4 minutes ago, mlammerhirt said:

Do you guys apply the waterproof spray to the whole blind...or just seems?
Also what is a good waterproofing spray to buy....will be placing an older blind out within the week.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

I use camp dry on my feathers - seems pretty good and I have heard its durable.

[fasteddie]

2 hours ago, kpkot said:

Anyone have any tips or experience with leaving blinds up during snow? Ive had 2 blinds ruined with a heavy snowfall. A doghouse blind and a pop out style from basspro as well... i did see a product at cabelas that you put up in the center of the blind... may give that a shot.

I had the roof of my Hub Blind collapse from snow . I took an extendable golf ball retriever , cut the part that holds the ball in half . I propped the extended in the roof supports and the bottom handle on the mesh screen in my Ameristep Quad Pod elevated platform . It worked . 

The Dog House blinds don't hold up with snow on them .  

[turkeyfeathers]

On ‎08‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 0:46 PM, Steuben Jerry said:

We've lost three blinds over the last few years to bears. They seem to be sending me a message - lol.

 

sounds like you may have found a loop hole in bear baiting by leaving them up. Do you think painting them to look like a giant bee hive would be a better attractant ?

[CharlieNY]

If you set them up too early and they are in the sun, the fabric will become sun bleached in a short period of time during the summer, especially with this hot and humid summer we have this year. If you leave them up in the winter, you will risk the chance of collapse, even with the roof supports. I like to set them up a few weeks before season, and then take them down immediately after season closes. If you do this, they will last for many more years without any significant damage. I do the same thing during the spring turkey season- up a few weeks before and down immediately after season.

[eagle rider]

too early, wind, sunlight and critters that chew on stuff.....  

[Buckmaster7600]

If you set them up too early and they are in the sun, the fabric will become sun bleached in a short period of time during the summer, especially with this hot and humid summer we have this year. If you leave them up in the winter, you will risk the chance of collapse, even with the roof supports. I like to set them up a few weeks before season, and then take them down immediately after season closes. If you do this, they will last for many more years without any significant damage. I do the same thing during the spring turkey season- up a few weeks before and down immediately after season.

My double bulls look basically like new and 3 have been out since 2008. I don't know what kind you guys are using but I can't complain about mine at all but 400$ is a lot of$$$ for a friggen tent!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Grizz1219]

I will be putting my double bull and bone collector blinds out the 27th of this month.... gives them 4 weeks + to get used to them... never had a problem,... .