dbltree
Super Moderator
I love being in a tree stand where I can see the fields and timber unless....it's raining, snowing, blowing, bitter cold or...all of the above! 
Ground blinds are an extremely useful and sometimes necessary part of any landowners over all plan and I have used them successfully for 15 years now. Much of the area on my farms has no trees large enough for a tree stand simply because was once pasture and trees have not reached sufficient size to enable the use of tree stands.
We always want to hunt a natural bottleneck of funnel that forces deer to move through a narrow area but to often we let the availability of a tree dictate where we actually put up a stand rather then where we actually need to be. Ground blinds allow us to position ourselves in the right spot regardless of trees.
Yet another problem is areas that are to open and deer easily pick us out in that environment making the use of tree stands a lesson in frustration. In those areas we often try to get higher up and closer to a runway and then have to deal with one lung shots because of the steep angle but...ground blinds solve all of those problems.
A ground blind that is not elevated allows for perfect pass through shots with no worries about angles, no concerns about being "picked off" in open areas and if the right ground blind is used, scent control becomes less of an issue.
Jim Mathias, owner of Lick Creek Enterprises in Birmingham Iowa custom builds what is in my opinion one of the best blinds on the market today. Unlike cookie cutter production built blinds, Jim is able to build each blind specifically for the owner and their intended use, so each blind can be the height and size desired and windows designed for bow or firearm or both.
I chose to have Jim build one with one vertical window that would allow me to shoot a bow from and the rest horizontal windows for greater viability and use of a firearm from.
A common complaint about other blinds is not being able to shoot a bow from them but shooting from these LC blinds is easy as pie!
This view shows a horizontal window dropped down
The windows and door seal very well and since the seams and corners are welded together there is little air or scent movement when closed and there is a vent stack that allows one to attach a vent pipe to carry scent up and away.
Tinted windows make it impossible for deer to see movement within the blind and they quickly adapt to the blinds once in place.
They are easy to move with a small trailer and with optional skid they can be moved around with an ATV later
Here we planted Egyptian Wheat out to and partially around this blind to allow the landowner to get to and from the blind without being seen.
In this case this blind will be used solely for firearm seasons
Many people have elevated these blinds on towers or stands but I prefer ground level and the ability to move the blind if necessary and deer quickly adapt to the blinds often passing by close enough to touch!
I took these pics from an LC ground blind last winter
This is one Skip elevated on 6 x 6 treated posts and cemented them in, the blinds aren't that heavy but in high winds any platform can give way if not securely "planted"
Another elevated LC blind
Jim does make extended vents if you can't run a tile vent up into a tree so because mine is out in the open I put one on the blind vent. Helps vent any scent up and away
Then insert a carbon filter into the vent inside the blind....just buy the filter at Menards and cut to fit.
Here is what to look for...and if you wish you can "stuff" as much as you like to help filter odors
Hunter 30901 Carbon Purifier Pre-Filter
Most days if the sun shines at all the blind warms and it's very comfortable but a small Mr Buddy Heater will keep you warm as toast when it's bitter cold. Jim can put carpet on the floor to quiet it down but I just bought some cheap floor mats for 2 bucks a piece.
I'm going to put an office type swivel chair in mine but Jim can also make a simple seat like this one that also doubles as storage space. I just used mine as a simple shelf for now.
Better pics of the inside and the welded seams
Floating beam
Vent
Before carpet
These deer are only 50-60 yards away during late muzzy season
They have no clue I am there thanks to tinted windows
Loads of fun watching deer in comfort!
Many were as close as 18 yards
and I could have easily taken any deer in the plot from this blind
I freely admit to the fact that Jim and Donna Mathias are good friends of mine so it might be easy to point to some bias on my part, so I encourage you to share your own thoughts on blinds and take a look at the Lick Creek Blinds for yourself before deciding what will work best for you.
If you wonder about the effectiveness of ground blinds versus tree stands I would point out that Larry Zach killed a huge Iowa buck in early October from a wooden box blind. While wooden blinds are less expensive I have grown weary of them being invaded by mice and squirrels that chew holes or dig underneath and then proceed to chew up my chair and any gear left inside.
Eventually they begin to leak and despite my best efforts are impossible to make anywhere near scent proof. I might add also that Jim can also manufacture "shoot through" window inserts that allow you to use cellophane and keep scent loss to a minimum.
Ground blinds are also fantastic for safely introducing children or a spouse to hunting or simply photographing wildlife and for those with a young "crew" Jim can build blinds large enough for all to sit comfortably.
Jim and Donna are Iowawhitetail.com sponsors and their contact information can be found to the left on this page.
These blinds are built to last and provide hunting enjoyment for a lifetime :way:
Ground blinds are an extremely useful and sometimes necessary part of any landowners over all plan and I have used them successfully for 15 years now. Much of the area on my farms has no trees large enough for a tree stand simply because was once pasture and trees have not reached sufficient size to enable the use of tree stands.
We always want to hunt a natural bottleneck of funnel that forces deer to move through a narrow area but to often we let the availability of a tree dictate where we actually put up a stand rather then where we actually need to be. Ground blinds allow us to position ourselves in the right spot regardless of trees.
Yet another problem is areas that are to open and deer easily pick us out in that environment making the use of tree stands a lesson in frustration. In those areas we often try to get higher up and closer to a runway and then have to deal with one lung shots because of the steep angle but...ground blinds solve all of those problems.
A ground blind that is not elevated allows for perfect pass through shots with no worries about angles, no concerns about being "picked off" in open areas and if the right ground blind is used, scent control becomes less of an issue.
Jim Mathias, owner of Lick Creek Enterprises in Birmingham Iowa custom builds what is in my opinion one of the best blinds on the market today. Unlike cookie cutter production built blinds, Jim is able to build each blind specifically for the owner and their intended use, so each blind can be the height and size desired and windows designed for bow or firearm or both.
I chose to have Jim build one with one vertical window that would allow me to shoot a bow from and the rest horizontal windows for greater viability and use of a firearm from.
A common complaint about other blinds is not being able to shoot a bow from them but shooting from these LC blinds is easy as pie!
This view shows a horizontal window dropped down
The windows and door seal very well and since the seams and corners are welded together there is little air or scent movement when closed and there is a vent stack that allows one to attach a vent pipe to carry scent up and away.
Tinted windows make it impossible for deer to see movement within the blind and they quickly adapt to the blinds once in place.
They are easy to move with a small trailer and with optional skid they can be moved around with an ATV later
Here we planted Egyptian Wheat out to and partially around this blind to allow the landowner to get to and from the blind without being seen.
In this case this blind will be used solely for firearm seasons
Many people have elevated these blinds on towers or stands but I prefer ground level and the ability to move the blind if necessary and deer quickly adapt to the blinds often passing by close enough to touch!
I took these pics from an LC ground blind last winter
This is one Skip elevated on 6 x 6 treated posts and cemented them in, the blinds aren't that heavy but in high winds any platform can give way if not securely "planted"
Another elevated LC blind
Jim does make extended vents if you can't run a tile vent up into a tree so because mine is out in the open I put one on the blind vent. Helps vent any scent up and away
Then insert a carbon filter into the vent inside the blind....just buy the filter at Menards and cut to fit.
Here is what to look for...and if you wish you can "stuff" as much as you like to help filter odors
Hunter 30901 Carbon Purifier Pre-Filter
Most days if the sun shines at all the blind warms and it's very comfortable but a small Mr Buddy Heater will keep you warm as toast when it's bitter cold. Jim can put carpet on the floor to quiet it down but I just bought some cheap floor mats for 2 bucks a piece.
I'm going to put an office type swivel chair in mine but Jim can also make a simple seat like this one that also doubles as storage space. I just used mine as a simple shelf for now.
Better pics of the inside and the welded seams
Floating beam
Vent
Before carpet
These deer are only 50-60 yards away during late muzzy season
They have no clue I am there thanks to tinted windows
Loads of fun watching deer in comfort!
Many were as close as 18 yards
and I could have easily taken any deer in the plot from this blind
I freely admit to the fact that Jim and Donna Mathias are good friends of mine so it might be easy to point to some bias on my part, so I encourage you to share your own thoughts on blinds and take a look at the Lick Creek Blinds for yourself before deciding what will work best for you.
If you wonder about the effectiveness of ground blinds versus tree stands I would point out that Larry Zach killed a huge Iowa buck in early October from a wooden box blind. While wooden blinds are less expensive I have grown weary of them being invaded by mice and squirrels that chew holes or dig underneath and then proceed to chew up my chair and any gear left inside.
Eventually they begin to leak and despite my best efforts are impossible to make anywhere near scent proof. I might add also that Jim can also manufacture "shoot through" window inserts that allow you to use cellophane and keep scent loss to a minimum.
Ground blinds are also fantastic for safely introducing children or a spouse to hunting or simply photographing wildlife and for those with a young "crew" Jim can build blinds large enough for all to sit comfortably.
Jim and Donna are Iowawhitetail.com sponsors and their contact information can be found to the left on this page.
These blinds are built to last and provide hunting enjoyment for a lifetime :way:
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