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Ground Blind Hunting for Deer

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Ground blinds can be used in a wide variety of hunting situations.

By Gord Ellis
Gord Ellis is a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay, Ontario and a full time journalist, broadcaster and professional angler.
March 21, 2017
updated on: September 28, 2017

While most Ontario deer hunters are quite familiar with tree stands, far fewer have embraced the concept of the ground blind. Tree stands have the advantage of getting the hunter off the ground. There are many advantages to a bird's-eye view of the deer's world. Yet in several situations hunters routinely face in this province, ground blinds are the best option. Ground blinds are warmer than a tree stand, and a whole lot easier to get in and out of. They are also, arguably, a safer choice than a tree stand. You don't hear much about people falling out of ground blinds.

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Ground blinds are useful in a variety of deer hunting circumstances. In open country, such as fields, swamps and cut-over areas, they remove the chance of hunter silhouette and obscure movement. Oddly enough, deer seem to ignore unusual blocky or round shapes that miraculously appear in the bush. The whitetail deer reaction to the human outline is far less nonchalant. Some ground blinds also use scent absorbing materials that make it difficult for deer to wind the hunter. In windy or rainy conditions a covered ground blind allows you to stay put comfortably and for a longer period of time.

Ground blinds also allow you to use a rest and adjust yourself for a shot without being detected, and you can use a comfortable seat while waiting for a deer to approach. This comfort is much appreciated, especially if you've spent any time all sitting on stumps, rocks, or trees stand seats the size of a pizza slice. If you are on the deer grounds with an apprentice hunter who may have trouble keeping still -- ground blinds are especially good.

deer seen from ground blind A young buck steps out as a hunter watches from inside a blind. (Photo credit: Kaija Kolehmainen)

There are a wide variety of ground blinds deer hunters can use in Ontario, from purely natural designs to elaborate commercial pop ups. All have a place in the Ontario deer hunter's bag of tricks. A natural ground blind can be constructed of just a few materials found in the forest. The best natural ground blinds are built around large elements like a boulder, tree, shrub or slash pile. The ground blind should cover your movement, but still allow a free shot with a minimum of noise. It is critical that you have a couple of good shooting lanes when you pick your site. These shooting lanes should include some in directions you might not consider the key spots. This is true whether you are rifle or bow hunting with a ground blind. Deer have a habit of sneaking in where you least expect.

A buck steps out in front of a  blind in the evening.

The most common commercially available blinds are the hub or pop-up tent style.Commercial pop up tents are relatively affordable these days, ranging from $100 to $600. There are a staggering number of blinds on the market, from push out models too, folding designs and classic dome tents. Ground blinds come in a wide variety of camouflage patterns, and usually have several zippered or Velcro windows for viewing and shooting out of and at least one door. If the commercial ground blind is going to be left on private land, it will need to be staked or tied down. It's amazing what a bit of autumn wind can do to a tent not properly anchored.

Some folks consider ground blinds something of a novelties, and not really the domain of serious hunters. However, two of the largest bucks I've ever laid eyes on were killed during a ground blind hunt. Several years ago, my father, Gord Ellis Sr., his two grandsons, and this writer were all hunting mixed brush farmland in Emo, Ontario. My oldest son Devin and I were in a slightly elevated blind overlooking an alfalfa field, while my youngest son Austin and Gord Sr. were in a camouflage ground blind on an old trail in the bush behind us. Through several openings in the blind, they had a perfect view of two tree lines, and a half dozen well-stomped deer trails. The blind allowed them to sit in the relatively open country without giving the deer anything to worry about. Early in the morning, we heard a couple shots. After a time, Austin came on the radio.

harvested white tailed deer Gord Ellis with a nice buck he took while hunting from a ground blind. (Photo credit: Kaija Kolehmainen)

"One doe down," he said. Another hour went by. Then more shots. We had to go check. As Devin and I walked to the pop-up blind, we could see all sorts of excitement was underway. Turned out that my dad had seen two bucks fighting. He shot at one, and it fell. Yet the other deer did not run. In fact, the big buck started to drag the dead one away. They were locked at the antlers. Since we had my buck tag as well, Dad dispatched the second deer. By the time Devin and I got there, both the 13-point and 10-point bucks were down. That was a three-deer morning. Needless to say, Gord Sr. has become a believer in ground blinds.

Ground blinds of all types are a great tool for hunting whitetail deer in Ontario's varied habitat. You really should try one.

Gord Ellis is a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay, Ontario and a full time journalist, broadcaster and professional angler. He is the senior editor of Ontario Out of Doors magazine, Canada's best read fishing and hunting magazine. For the past 23 years he has been the weekly Sporting Life columnist for the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal and is a regular on CBC radio's Superior Morning. He has written over a thousand feature articles and columns for publications as diverse as Sentier Chasse Peche, in Quebec, North American Fisherman and the Globe and Mail. He is a long time member of the Outdoor Writers of Canada and has won better than 20 national awards for his writing and photography.     

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