Hunting from a ground blind is no guarantee of concealment.
QUESTION: I just started to hunt out of a ground blind, but every time I’m in there the deer seem to know I’m there. Do I have too many windows open? The inside of my tent is black, so I wear black. What could they be seeing?
ANSWER: There are several possibilities. A deer’s pupil is elongated rather than round, and their vision is most acute directly in front and to the sides at eye level. They’re also able to detect and process movement much better and faster than humans. Even if you’re well concealed, they might be able to pick up your movement within the blind, unless you use shoot-through mesh in the windows. That’s especially true if you have enough windows open so that your silhouette is visible.
Deer are also very good at recognizing changes in their environment. Remember, they’re out there 24-7/365, so anything new or different will stand out. That’s why you should set your blinds out well in advance of when you plan to hunt so the deer become accustomed to them. Even then, if you leave the windows closed when you’re not there, which is most of the time, an open window creates a new, dark shape that may put them on edge.
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