Tree Stand or Ground Blind – Which is Best for Deer Hunting?

When it comes to deer hunting, which is better?  A tree stand or a ground blind?  Recently, someone asked me that question and it sparked an internal debate that led me to write a detailed article to compare the two options and help you choose which option is best.

Several variables affect whether or not you should be using a tree stand or hunting blind and serious hunters know that you’ll need both options to cover all of the circumstances you might encounter in preparing for hunt season.  For starters, let’s ensure you’re thinking about the correct type of ground blind.   A hub-style hunting blind is what the following article is based on.  Comparing a treestand to a high-end box blind, such as a Redneck Blind isn’t fair.

Instead, think about the Ameristep Caretaker or the TIDEWE 270 Degree See Through Ground Blind when reading this article.  There are three main types of tree stands: ladder, climbing, and hang-on.  For this article, we are going to focus on the most popular style of treestand:  hang-on stands.  An example would be Millennium M-50 or Game Winner EZ Set Oversize Hang-On Treestand

A few things to consider when trying to determine whether a treestand or ground blind is better for you are:

• Your Physical Limitations
• Safety Concerns
• Weather Conditions
• Wind direction and down-wind scent
• Availability of cover
• Shot angle
• Clothing options
• Solo hunting vs bringing someone along
• Cost

Physical Limitations

The quickest way to determine whether or not you should be hunting from a ground blind instead of a tree stand is whether or not you’re capable of hanging and climbing into a treestand.  If you’re not able to do these two things, skip the rest of the article and go buy a ground blind.  As hunters begin to age, they often find themselves unable to climb a tree like the used to be able to do.  Also, injuries play a role in this as well, as I found myself struggling to climb in and out of the stand this year after injuring my elbow.  Any guesses on how I managed to hurt my elbow?  Hanging a treestand.  Oh, the irony!

Are you afraid of heights?  If so, maybe you should stick to the ground and try hunting from a ground blind instead of putting yourself through the agony of climbing into a tree stand, only to be too scared to move once you get in the stand.

Safety First

Treestand and ground blinds each have different levels of risk that you’re going to want to mitigate.  (I was a safety guy in my previous professional life).  The obvious safety hazard when it comes to tree stands is the fall hazard.  This can be mitigated by wearing a treestand safety harness and being tied off 100% of the time.  This includes your ascent and descent up the tree.  Hunter Safety System has all of the necessary products to help you stay safe.

Another risk of treestands often occurs before the hunt, and that comes from hanging treestands.  Lifting, tugging, and pulling in awkward positions 20 feet up in a tree isn’t possible for everyone and my season was compromised due to injuring my elbow hanging stands before the season came in.

There are two main risks that are unique to hunting from a ground blind.  The first risk is being at eye level with wildlife, such as bears.  Many of the places that I hunt are full of black bears and if you can get one close enough without smelling you, curiosity often gets the best out of them and they get too close for comfort.  Has anyone ever been attacked by a bear while hunting from a ground blind?  Probably not, but I’ve had several blinds tore up by bears when I wasn’t around.

The second unseen risk unique to gun hunters is the noise generated from discharging a firearm in the blind.  Make sure you have the barrel out of the window or your ears will be ringing for the next few hours.  Ringing ears = damage to your hearing.

Temperature and Weather Dictate Comfort

When it’s hot, ground blinds can turn into a sauna, creating a miserable hunting experience.   If I’m hunting the high temperatures of the early season, a ground blind isn’t my first choice as it blocks the wind and holds in more heat.  Don’t get me wrong, if that’s my only option, I’ll hop right in for an evening sit but I might consider wearing shorts to stay cool.  The deer can’t see anything from the waist up in a ground blind anyways and having the right wind trumps the best scent control regimen.  We will touch more on clothing in a minute.

Treestands expose you to mother nature a little bit more, so a nice breeze feels great in a treestand when it’s hot out but the roles reverse when the temperatures drop.  In cold temperatures, especially during the late season, treestands seem to suck the warmth out of your body because the metal pulls heat away from the body through your feet.  Tree stands do not provide a windscreen like ground blinds.  Ground blinds are a better option in cold temperatures and you can even use a Mr. Buddy Heater to stay warm in frigid temperatures.  The walls of the blind help to block the wind, keeping you warmer in the process.

Mother nature can be hard to deal with during hunting season, so rainy days, high winds, and snow often push me into hunting from pop-up ground blinds instead of a treestand.  In a treestand, you’re constantly exposed to the elements, including rain and snow.  The harsher the conditions, the better the ground blind looks.

Wind Direction Matters!

Deer are most likely to enter an area from the down-winds side so be sure that your set-up puts you in the best position to keep you from getting winded.  Sometimes a ground blind isn’t the best option and the same could apply to a treestand.  Try to position the blind or treestand in a manner that deer can’t get behind you.  One hunting location might require multiple options depending on the wind direction, so be sure to keep your options open when choosing how to hunt an area.

One advantage that treestands offer that ground blinds cannot is that treestand can sometimes help you get above the horizon and with the right wind, you can send your scent off a ridge, above a deer’s nose.  Just keep in mind your travel routes to and from the base of the tree because ground scent matters!   To check the wind, pick up a wind indicator or some milkweed.  As great as OnX is about showcasing wind directions for your treestand locations, sometimes it changes throughout the hunt.

Ground blinds make hunting a bad wind much more difficult because your scent is at ground level, blowing directly into the nose of a downwind deer.  Be sure to use your Ozonics unit to effectively reduce human odors when hunting from a blind or treestand.

Understanding How Cover Effects Your Choice

Early-season foliage (leaves on the tree) often produces good cover for treestands and ground blinds, depending on the tree canopy in the area.  However, as the season progresses, the forest canopy decreases, leaving treestands more open and you more likely to get busted.  Early successional areas and/or open fields may not provide you with the opportunity to even hang a treestand, so the habitat might decide for you.

When trying to pick out a treestand location, look for branchy trees like pines or oaks for long-lasting cover.  Evergreen trees don’t drop their needles, therefore they’ll be your best form of cover.  In my neck of the woods, pines aren’t as common but white oak trees are.  White oak trees typically hold onto their leaves longer than any other tree in the area.  If you can’t find the perfect tree, you could always add additional cover around your treestand for added cover.  Try looking for a tree with multiple trunks, with three or four being a dream scenario.

If you don’t have the necessary cover in the perfect tree, you can always add branches directly to your stand with leafy branches or pine limbs.  I’ve had short-term success by putting branches in the steel mesh of the platform in the past.  However, my favorite way to add cover is by screwing the tree branches directly onto the tree.  This is only possible on permanent stand locations on private land, as this probably isn’t allowed on most public land.

Ground blinds on the other hand allow you to create cover virtually anywhere.  You can pop up a blind anywhere and utilize whatever mother nature has to offer to help you brush it in.  Corn stalks and pine branches make great cover in open field areas.  Don’t be afraid to bring in pine branches or leafy branches, preferably dead branches to brush your blind.  I don’t recommend cutting nearby branches from the area that you’re hunting as too much of a disturbance can spook deer.  It’s acceptable to cut a hole into a brushy area and tuck the blind into the area.  Just remember, you only need a shooting lane, not a giant opening.  Having cover in the area provides you the opportunity to draw your bow when a deer is close.

Shot Angles Vary at Elevation

Treestands may offer a better vantage point if you can find a suitable tree.   However, shot angles within bow range are more severe, making it harder to hit the vitals. Why does shot angle hinder hunters?   The size of the vitals (killzone) decreases when shooting downhill.  If you’re shooting uphill or at eye level from a treestand, you’re doing it wrong.  Utilize the terrain to get above the natural eyesight of a deer, just ensure that you’re aiming at the correct spot on a deer.  When preparing to release an arrow, focus on where you want the arrow to come out of the deer and aim appropriately.

Ground blinds, at ground level, often don’t sit at a steep angle so you’re more likely to have a better shot angle (better view of the vitals).  Less single-lung shots occur from a ground blind than they do from a treestand.

Watch:  Bear Hunting from A Tree Stand

Hunting Clothing Matters – Sometimes

One of the most controversial debates in hunting is whether or not a particular camo pattern makes a difference.  In my opinion, it makes a huge difference.  When hunting in a treestand, I prefer Sitka’s Elevated II pattern for most of the season.  Supposedly, it’s designed to blend in better from an elevated position.  However, a 3D leafy suit is even better, as I’ve had success during the early season wearing a thin 3D leafy suit with just a t-shirt and boxers underneath.

In a ground blind, you don’t have to wear camouflage as black is the preferred color.  Wearing black clothing helps you blend in with the walls of the blind, making you virtually invisible.  Also, sitting back as far as possible in the blind will keep you from getting busted.  Covering your face is essential when hunting from a ground blind and never has a window open that allows deer to see through the blind.

Solo Hunting or Bringing a Friend?

Do you enjoy hunting with a friend or bringing a kid along for the hunt?  If so, ground blinds are a better choice.  This is the single most important factor as to why you should have a ground blind set-up and ready to hunt.  Bringing my son along during the hunt is the most rewarding experience in my hunting career.  Sharing the hunt side-by-side in the blind is a great way to make memories together, as well as coach new hunters through the shot when it’s their turn!

Sure, you can hang double sets for treestand locations and do the same thing, but I prefer a blind when kids are involved as it conceals movement better.  Also, you don’t have to worry about them falling out of the stand when they go to sleep 30 minutes into the hunt.  There should be plenty of room for snacks and even a Nintendo Switch on occasion.

My Favorite Reason for Hunting From a Ground Blind – Sharing the Hunt with my Son

Which costs more, a tree stand or a ground blind?

Cheap ain’t good and good ain’t cheap!  However, HuntingGearDeals.com is here to help you find the best deals on ground blinds and other hunting gear.  Be sure to sign up for our Daily Deal email so that you never miss a deal!

You can pick up a ground blind or treestand for around $100 but there are other costs involved with each product that you need to consider when making a purchase.  When buying treestands, you’ll need the following accessories:

• Climbing Sticks
• Safety Harness
• Bow Holder
• Gear Hook
• Bow Rope

When buying a ground blind, you’ll need the following accessories:

• Ground blind chair(s)
• Better stakes (the stakes that come with most blinds suck!)
• Bow holder for the blind is optional but they’re nice to have

The initial cost of the ground blind set-up is probably cheaper, but I don’t typically get long-term value out of a ground blind as they get torn up easily.  I’ve had bears chew them up, I’ve poked holes in them with a broadhead, UV radiation destroys them over time, wind can turn a small hole into a new door, and the build-up of snow will cave the top in, breaking the hub and/or carbon rods in the process.  Heck, I even shot my ground blind this year for crying out loud!

Treestands on the other hand cost more money up front to get all of the necessary accessories, but I tend to get several more years of use from them, so they average out to be less money if you spread it out over several years.

Watch me shoot my ground blind on 7+ year-old buck!

Final Thoughts:  Which is better for Whitetail Deer Hunting?  Tree Stand vs Ground Blind

Hopefully, this article will help you decide which option is best for you and your hunting style.  However, if you can afford it, you should have both options available this coming season, you never know when you’ll stumble into a new spot with great deer movement.  I assure you that you’ll find a scenario where both are great options and should be part of the deer hunters arsenal.  Unless you’re afraid of heights, then stick to the ground.

I hunt from tree stands, ground blinds, and even a tree saddle from time to time.  I’ve killed big bucks from both and it all comes down to personal preferences.  You must take all of these factors into consideration when making the right choice for each hunting spot.  Each has advantages and disadvantages and whatever works best for you, good luck and tag @huntinggeardeals when you kill a big buck.

AUTHOR BIO

Hi, I’m Camron the owner of Hunting Gear Deals. I’m an avid bowhunter with a knack for finding good deals on hunting gear and love to help you save money on hunting gear.  I’m also the owner of the popular Bucks, Bulls, & Bears email newsletter that’s built to educate and entertain hunters.  If you haven’t subscribed, you’re missing out!  Last but not least, I’m proud to say that I work for Whitetail Properties as a Land Specialist in Ohio.  If you’re in the market for hunting property, shoot me an email and I’d love to help you find your dream property.  

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