Treestand vs. Ground Blind: Which One is Right for You?

Tree stands and ground blinds play a significant role in the hunt for wild turkeys and white-tailed deer both spring and fall after shooting successfully from both. Based on the quarry and the hunting scenario, each type of cover has specific benefits and a few downsides as well.

A treestand is a seat or platform that relies on a tree for concealment support and elevation, and deer and bear hunters are common.

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A ground blind resembles a camping tent set up on the ground with a camouflage pattern, and the cloth conceals the hunter(s) sitting inside. They are common among hunters of deer and turkey and, to a lesser extent, hunters of waterfowl.

We would expect that most readers would identify the two most common goals they are built for: deer and the different subspecies of wild turkeys pursued across North America as blinds or stands for hunting.

Both forms of concealment also assist in smell protection in addition to avoiding identification by sight. While that’s not necessary when hunting turkeys, their main line of protection is whitetails’ sense of smell.

Since they are elevated, treestands can help to keep human smells outside the scent detecting zone of the whitetails. Ground blinds can also help control the smell of a hunter, to a degree, within the fabric.

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Concealment:

Tree Stand – By getting above their quarry, treestands help bowhunters avoid detection. Tree cover tends to hide them, and the height of the stand holds human smells above the deer’s identification range. However, the principal advantage of treestands is their height. Deer and other four-legged prey evolved alongside ground-based predators, but whether they sense anything or see unexpected changes in their peripheral vision, they typically don’t look upwards. That’s why the height advantage of the treestand persists until leaves decline in mid-autumn.

Ground Blind – Ground blinds are cover that is manmade. He would be unseen if a bowhunter entered a blind and closed both door and window. But here’s the catch: shutting any window stops something behind the blind from being seen or shot. At least one window must be left open. You must even hide from the blind. Even if most ground blinds are made of camouflage material, once they are hidden from the area with brush and trees, prey animals are leery of newly-placed structures. This method is called the blind’s “brushing in.” Blinds set up well ahead of the hunt, however, allow prey animals to become relaxed with their presence.

Mobility:

Treestand: Treestand styles have a major impact on the mobility of a bowhunter. While ladder stands are more restrictive, climbing and hang-on treestands have superior mobility.

Ground Blind: As for mobility, ground blinds fall into the center, being on par with hang-on treestands used for climbing sticks. They are quick to move when necessary, but with every hunt, most bowhunters wouldn’t want to set up and take down a blind.

Shot Opportunity:

Treestand: Overhanging limbs and branches can enable a bowhunter to cut shooting lanes across a treestand, but shooting opportunities are rarely restricted by the treestand itself.

Ground Blind: Inground blinds, bowhunters need to shoot from designated windows. Opening so many windows raise the detection chance, but the less windows you open, the more limited the options for targeting becomes.

Cost:

Treestand: Treestands differ in cost, but for around $100, you can have a simple hang-on stand and climbing sticks to access the stand.

Ground Blind: It costs less than $50 for some ground blinds. Inexpensive choices, however, typically have little space and low ceilings, which create issues when hunting with vertical bows such as compounds and recurves.

Comfort

Treestand: In recent years, larger platforms, zero-gravity seating, and memory foam have improved the comfort of the treestand. That said, you’ll always be happy when the sun goes down on a treestand after a long day and you descend to the ground.

Ground Blind: Ground blinds are the bowhunting kings of real estate. Blinds have plenty of leg space and room for gear. Even some blinds are wide enough to allow you to stand inside. Blinds shield you from poor weather as well.

Deer Hunting from Treestands

Currently, this is the favorite deer hunting method. But that’s not doing things any better. It just means We enjoy it more personally. There are some pros and cons following.

Pros:

When you’re elevated, thermals are much to your benefit.
The height that you need can be selected.
Mobile stands allow you to choose from more places, such as lightweight lock-on styles.
You’re more open and more likely to pay attention.
Your smell begins in the air, which is pleasant if there are deer nearby.
It positions you out of the line of sight of a deer.
Stands allow you to have viewing capabilities of nearly 360 degrees.
Shots are at angles downwards, which is more stable.
You can see distances well above that.
Stands allow you to see early successional growth down to thicker.

The Cons:

To hang one, you need a tree.
Steeper shot angles make kill zones smaller.
Not ideal for those with injuries and problems with health.
Higher risk of injuries as a result of falling.
No protection against the wind.
It can be heavy and loud for some models to hang up.
Trimming lanes for shooting can be a hassle.
For stands, comfort comes at a premium, while blinds make a butt-soothing chair.

Deer Hunting from Ground Blinds

Some hunters hunt only from the ground blinds. That is all right if it works for you. Some hunt more from treestands, and I’ve even done some deer hunting from field blinds, and deer killing. Here are few items that are pro and against this hunting process.