Bowhunter – September 2019

chasing elk and blowing on elk calls. Not
surprisingly, elk are now less willing to
throw caution to the wind and lumber in
to elk calls made by eager hunters.
As this started to happen, I realized I
needed to add some more tools to my box
if I continually wanted to have elk suc-
cess. Since that time, we have tried many
different methods ranging from various
calling methods to stalking to treestands
and ground blinds. My hunting partners
and I have had success using all of these,
but in this article I’d like to focus on
ground blinds and how they’ve added to
our elk-hunting success.

WHY GROUND BLINDS?
I’m often asked why I choose
a ground blind over a treestand, and
the answer is twofold. The easy an-
swer is I don’t like heights, although I
do hunt from treestands from time to
time. I just prefer a ground blind, for a
few reasons.
First off, blinds conceal you very
well. I know people say elk are not
conditioned to look up like white-
tails, so they rarely see you if you’re in
a treestand. To date, I can’t recall one

time when an elk has spotted me in a

ground blind. You can get away with a

lot of movement, even more so than in

a treestand. Being able to move around

and stand up and stretch without fear of

being spotted allows you to remain

more comfortable.

Ground blinds also help contain

your scent. I find this to be the most

beneficial factor, because the wind

swirls constantly in elk country. As

long as you don’t have all of the win-

dows wide open, your scent does not

seem to blow around as much. I have

Blind Selection

I have a few criteria when it comes to

selecting a ground blind. I want it to be

big enough for two people and their gear.

I usually carry some sort of chair to the

blind. For me, the extra weight of the chair

and the bigger blind is worth it, because it

allows me to sit comfortably for extended

periods. My blind must have brush loops

for attaching vegetation to the outside. In

addition, I need adjustable shooting win-

dows, so it is functional in varied locations.

I have used several different quality blinds from companies like Primos Double Bull

and Big Game, but for the past several years my go-to blind has been the Apex ($400)

from Xenek (huntxenek.com). This particular blind is spacious at 72" x 72", allowing

plenty of room for two hunters and their gear. I have even slept in this blind overnight

when I didn’t want to carry a tent in. The 73" height is nice when you want to stand up

and stretch your legs during all-day sits.

Another feature of the Apex blind that I like is the KUIU Verde camo pattern, which

blends in great in most of the places I hunt, along with the multiple brush loops the blind

has for tying on vegetation. The blind also has a carry bag with straps and extra pockets

for times when I pack it in.

BLINDING ELK

WITH WITHOUT

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photo: Sam Soholt