When I first started to hunt whitetails, it seemed ground blinds and ladder stands were the go-to ways to hunt deer. Back then it was nothing to have a handful of ladder stands in the timber each set up for different wind directions and different hunting scenarios. Ground blinds came into play when the perfect spot to hunt didn’t have the perfect tree. While I still have a handful of both ladder stands and ground blinds, I find myself spending more time hunting from more modern mobile ways. Not only do they allow me to be more versatile they are lightweight, and they allow me to be mobile.
I can remember one crisp November morning sitting in one of my favorite rut hunting ladder stands overlooking a creek crossing between a cut corn field and CRP. Every year this spot was frequented by several mature bucks that would be crossing over to check the doe bedding for any sign of a hot doe. Just as the sun started to peak over the horizon, I could hear a flurry of activity. I could hear deer running around in all directions and numerous different bucks grunting. I waited patiently as I spotted 3 bucks with one that appeared to be an 160-inch 10 pointer all chasing a doe through the corn field. The excitement started to build as the doe started to head toward the crossing. As they got closer it quickly turned to panic as they went about 40 yards past the crossing I was sitting over and crossed. I tried everything I could think of to stop them, but nothing worked. Knowing that I couldn’t just pack up the tree stand and move I waited and hoped they would cross back over in front of me. I watched them run all over the CRP for about an hour before heading in the opposite direction. It was this day I decided I needed to change my tactics. I took a deep dive into the mobile ways of deer hunting and have never looked back.
There are several benefits to the mobile styles of deer hunting and several different ways to hunt deer and be able to move locations quickly. You can hunt them from a hang on tree stand, tree saddle, portable blind, or even a panel blind. I will dive into each of these techniques next but first let’s cover the benefits of being mobile. The main benefit is the fact that it allows you to hunt where the deer want to be, not where you want them to be. Most of the above styles allow you to hunt from any tree, anywhere, and on any land even the public lands that have rules against securing items to a tree. Being mobile also allows you the convivence of tearing down and setting up again fast. I have headed into public land blind relying on my e-scouting before every stepping foot on the ground. While this type of scouting can get me close, as the sun comes up, I have found that I need to move. My mobile setup allows me to rehang my whole set in under 8 minutes quietly. Lastly, it allows you to hunt several different spots with minimal expense. Mobile setups can be expensive upfront but when comparing them to how many ladder stands you would need to hunt 10 different spots it makes a lot more sense to get a mobile setup. With one mobile setup you can hunt every tree in the woods if you would like.
Panel Blinds
Panel blinds are the most affordable mobile hunting style on the list. These types of blinds fold up compact until you get to your hunting location. They then unfold into 3 panels keeping you hidden from anything in front of you. I like to use this style of blinds best when I have a solid back drop like a large tree or the edge of a corn field. All that is really needed is your blind and a chair. This method is safer than some of the others because you are hunting from the ground. While this can limit how far you can see don’t let that scare you away, if you have never shot a whitetail from 20 yards on the ground at eye level it is an adrenaline rush like no other. There are two different panel blinds I recommend the first is the Barronett Blinds Face-Off this 3-panel camo blind has plenty of converge for concealment while offering shooting windows that are see thru. It is easy to pack into a hunt and can be setup in less than 2 minutes.
The other style of panel blind I like to use is a Ghostblind. This type of panel blind is made up of 3 mirrored panels that will reflect whatever is in front of them. This is perfect for hunting edges of corn fields and in fence rows. They are lightweight and can be setup in under a minute. Like the other types of panel blinds all that is needed is a blind and a chair.
Portable Ground Blinds
Like panel blinds, ground blinds are another method of hunting from the ground. These blinds offer some different benefits from a panel blind, but each has their place in the hunting world. Ground blinds biggest advantage is that they protect you from the elements. They keep you dry when it’s raining and can keep you warm and out of the wind when it’s cold. They come in multiple styles and several different camo patterns. Most of them are big enough for 2 or more people which makes them great if you want to take along a kid or a camera man. Most of them can be setup and tore down in under 5 minutes with no tools required. They can be setup almost anywhere you would like to hunt. I like to use them to hunt over small food plots and on the edges of agriculture fields. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to see far distances, so it is best to set them up in areas that funnel deer movement. A few tips to keep in mind for ground blinds are to keep as few windows open as possible. You only want to keep the ones open for a shot keep the rest shut. Most blinds have see-through one way windows which help with allowing you to be able to see out while keeping it dark inside. The other tip is to wear black or dark camo to keep you blended into the blind. My favorite two ground blinds are the Hi-Five and the Ox 5 from Barronett Blinds. Both blinds are made of heavy-duty material, are easy to setup and tear down, and have plenty of room for me and my daughter to enjoy hunts from.
Hang On Tree Stands
Some guys still prefer hunting from a hang on tree stand and they have come a long way in the last few years. Many of the new hang on tree stands on the market are lightweight easy to pack and only require a good set of climbing sticks to be hunt ready. Tree stands still have their advantages over blinds in the fact that they allow you to hunt from an elevated platform, this gives you the advantage of seeing farther while also taken you out of a deer’s line of sight. One of my favorite hang on tree stands on the market is the Hunting Beast Hang On stand. This lightweight stand weighs only 6.8 pounds and when paired with 3 of their climbing sticks you can have a hunt ready setup under 12 pounds. Another great hang on stand that is more budget friendly is the Rivers Edge Big Foot. This hang on is rock solid, comfortable, and can be found less than $150 dollars. When packing in a hang on tree stand one recommendation, I would like to offer is to get a good pack. I like the BOG Hunting Products Agility Stay Dry Pack. It offers plenty of space for anything needed on the hunt and has attachment points to attach your stand.
Tree Saddles
This is the safest method of hunting from a tree and probably my favorite as well. Sure, there are many different ropes, and it may all seem a little confusing but trust me with a little patience and a few YouTube vides you will see it’s not that bad. Tree saddles weigh less than any other method on this list while still not sacrificing anything. You can hunt 360 degrees around the tree while also putting the tree between you and the deer. This is the perfect way to hide yourself to buy a few extra minutes you need for a good shot. Saddles are also extremely comfortable once you get it adjusted to yourself. The setup is made up of 4 main components your climbing sticks, your ropes, your platform, and the saddle itself. When I said it was the safest way to hunt from a tree this is due to the fact you are attached to the tree from the minute your feet leave the ground. With a little practice and some patience, you can be in and out of a tree in under 5 minutes. My preferred saddle hunting setup is a Method 2 saddle from Latitude Outdoors. I like to pair this with Latitudes Carbon Fiber climbing sticks and their Wingman Platform. If you’re in the market for a new mobile hunting setup and have no issues with climbing a tree I suggest you give saddle hunting a try, you won’t regret it.
