Ground Blind Mistakes To Avoid

As a crossbow hunter, you can enjoy numerous benefits hunting out of ground blind or a tree stand. First, you can get as close as possible to your game, at least a shooting distance of 40 feet or less. With these structures, you can remain out of sight and view the game uninterrupted. You can always opt for easy to operate, lightweight and fast crossbows such as the Wicked Ridge Invader G3, which is customized for ambush hunting accordingly.


You should expect a few challenges when shooting from a ground blind. However, you can try hunting feral hogs using a crossbow from a ground blind to get some practice allowing you to prepare yourself for when the deer hunting season comes around. Here are some useful tips to help you avoid some common ground blind mistakes.
Ground Blind Mistakes To Avoid
a) Getting Started
b) Check The Limb Clearance
c) Sit Down Whenever Shooting
d) Range Ahead
e) 3D Practice

a) Getting Started

Start by setting up the tree stand or ground ambush hunting blinds securely. Next, you should create proper shooting lanes to the feeding areas or active game trails to watch. You can avoid a lot of deflections by taking enough time to create direct lines of sight to your game.

b) Check The Limb Clearance

When you are setting up, make sure there is proper limb clearance for the crossbow you will be using. It would be daunting once you pull the trigger and the crossbow limbs come into contact with something on the ground. Your arrow will be thrown off course and everything you had prepared for will be wasted.

It’s quite common for numerous crossbow hunters to spoil their hunt because of failing to practice the hunt before doing the real thing. Therefore, if you are planning to shoot from a blind, you need to practice doing so. Even better, you should try out different angles beforehand to confirm the clearance required when squeezing the trigger. You should also do the same practice for tree stands. You can opt for shooting rails but they also have their own challenges with limb clearance.

If you are new to all this and haven’t shot your crossbow or don’t understand what clearance refers to, you can try using the arrow for measurement purposes. The arrows are about the same width as the crossbow before cocking. If there is some variance in the width you can take the right width then mark the arrow to use it as a measuring tool.

For instance, the Invader G3 has a width of 22 inches before it is cocked. You can shoot a 20 inch arrow from it and when it is set up using a broadhead, it has the perfect and comparable length to represent the width of the crossbow. You can hold the arrow up then change your angles to see how you can shoot it without making contact with anything around you.

c) Sit Down Whenever Shooting

There are a few things to take into consideration whenever you are practicing to shoot from tree stands and ground blinds. For instance, you need to try practicing shooting when sitting down on a structure. Once you get in the blind, you should find a good sitting position for the best possible shot. Take into account all the possibilities and angles to avoid being caught off guard.

You should practice shooting from the same chair you would use when in a blind. Make sure you can actually sit very high to allow you to see out of the window. Note that, a lot of camp chairs in the market often sag forcing you to sit too low when lining up a shot and eventually squirming to the edge or crouching when you are in the blind.

Keep in mind that all the extra movement will cause a fracas alerting the game and eventually you will be forced to shoot from a very unfavorable position. The same happens whenever you are shooting from tree stands. Therefore, you need to practice to counter any unforeseen challenges. For instance, you can set up the tree stand at the same height you will be hunting from then try shooting from different angles you might not be familiar with.

d) Range Ahead

You can reduce your movement and save a lot of time during a hunt by identifying your shooting range before the game shows up. You can do so by using a rangefinder to find out the distance to various objects in the shooting lanes and using them as reference points. You need to know the farthest shot you can take and anything within that range will be game.

You should consider reference points about 10-yard intervals to make sure when the game shows up you are 100% accurate. Even better, you will not be forced to move to confirm the distance. Rather, you can level the cross hair on the bow. Examples of reference points you should consider using include flowers, rocks, trees, grass or any other natural features.

If there are none available, you can use a marker, broken branch, stick or flagging tape. If you are placing markers, you should do so before the hunt begins. That way, you can avoid spreading your scent in the area with the game since animals can pick it up and run away.

e) 3D Practice

You can try 3D practicing by using targets to help you identify the best shooting angles as well as where the arrow would hit or exit the animal. You need to understand these angles, especially if you are shooting from a high ground. That way, you can identify if the arrow has hit the vital organs when it hits the game.

Try picturing the exit points on the target where you will focus the crosshair. You can also try shooting at different angles from the broadside to the quartering away allows you to learn the various shooting opportunities when it comes to hunting a real animal.