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Hunting Blind or Stand, Which One is Right for You?
When trying to decide between a blind and a stand, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as concealment, mobility, shot opportunity, cost and comfort. Ultimately, the choice is yours, so let’s take a look at each one to help you decide.
Concealment is a significant factor when hunting. Thankfully, both blinds and tree stands offer concealment, just in different ways. Tree stands keep you off the ground and out of sight. Deer are mainly worried about “ground predators,” so this is effective. The height also alleviates your smell traveling straight to deer as long as you remain downwind. Blinds, though, offer 360-degree concealment on the ground if every door and window is closed and the blind has been brushed in (camouflaged with natural foliage). A newly positioned blind with the window open, however, can be a huge red flag to a wary whitetail.
Mobility varies depending on the stand or blind. Climbing stands are the most mobile of the bunch but take time to position each morning. Ladder stands stay put for an entire season. Blinds can work either way but are susceptible to natural issues such as branches falling. Still, some blinds on the market are pop-ups and are compact and easy to carry when disassembled.
Your shot opportunities are a large factor. With treestands, you’re only limited by the surrounding branches, which you can easily remove before the start of the season. Blinds, however, can significantly limit your shot path, especially if you are bow hunting. With a rifle, you can scoot to the edge and angle yourself to an extent, but a bow is more prominent and harder to angle with a cloth wall in the way.
As for cost and comfort, these are only limited by your endurance and funds. Blinds are certainly more comfortable, a lot roomier, and you can tailor the seating to your liking. They also allow you to stretch out and move freely for the most part without being worried about spooking a deer. Even better, blinds are around half the price of a tree stand, on average. Tree stands, though, are quickly catching up to the comfort of a blind. Many on the market offer plenty of space on the platform with memory foam and zero-gravity seating. Still, every hunter is glad to climb down at the end of the day.
Now that you know the limitations of both blinds and tree stands, it’s up to you to do your research on which one you’ll purchase. It’s not unheard of for hunters to have both, so that’s a viable option if you can afford it. The bottom line comes down to your preferences and hunting style.