GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: avator on December 06, 2023, 10:17:29 AM
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We have an acre of wooded area just outside the fenced in area North of the house. It runs up behind the barn. I already blazed an ATV trail through the woods and there is an old raised railroad bed that runs the middle of it with the swamp pond on the left and woods on the right.
About halfways up the RR bed there are some small trees that form an arch over the path. This is where I will make the hide using that arch as the framework. I'll use bushes and fallen branches to finish it off. There are a couple fallen trees running through it to provide seating.
I've added a few pics of it below and will add more as I go. First is a pic heading out the gate. Then a pic leading up to it on the RR bed and next is a closer pic of the hide.
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Even with what little rain we've had this past week, the swamp pond is at it's lowest level. In the rainy season it fills on both side of the RR bed and attracts alot of the local critters. The old boat in one of the pics floats around when the water rises.
When I first went through the gate this morning I jumped one of the does and her twin yearlings that stay in these woods. Most days we see them in the morning and late afternoon. I don't hunt deer and to be honest, I hope these ones survive the season. We enjoy watching them grow and develop. I didn't get any pics of them because the tablet did not power up in time.
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On the opposite side of the RR bed is more open and gives clear shots to the ground and trees. This area also gets very wet and marshy.
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As you could imagine, eyes need to peeled and head on a swivel because this marshy swamp area is laden with things that can cause you harm. Moccasins being #1 on that list.
Next pic is from the woods looking up into the hide. It already provides alot of cover and just needs a little tweaking.
And finally a pic heading back down the RR bed to the house.
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Nice!
I, too, have never outgrown my enjoyment of playing in the woods.
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Dude, once it's finished I will enjoy sitting out there and popping things floating in the swamp pond. Even if it's just a bb gun. It ain't always about killin' stuff.
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Dude, once it's finished I will enjoy sitting out there and popping things floating in the swamp pond. Even if it's just a bb gun. It ain't always about killin' stuff.
I'm thinking a hammock, and learning to shoot from said hammock ;)
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LOL... did I mention the mocs? I don't want to get too comfortable.
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Sweet! I have thought of something similar for the woods where I hunt.
Hummm, I wonder what I could build with ROCKS? ::) ::)
(The name of the community is ROCKVALE! (Truth.)
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LOL... did I mention the mocs? I don't want to get too comfortable.
Are they climbers?
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LOL... did I mention the mocs? I don't want to get too comfortable.
Are they climbers?
Not sure but certain areas of my body hang closer to the ground when I'm laying in a hammock. I can just see things getting all cheeky and junk. :o
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Are they climbers? I've many times seen moccasins in tree limbs over the water sunning themselves.
From the description, bet there's a fair population of skeeters too
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Wendell.. now that you mention it, I remember someone telling me a story about floating down the river in a canoe and a moc falling off a branch into the boat. He said he almost beat a hole in the bottom of the canoe with the paddle before he got the snake out.
And yes, mosquitoes are thick around here at times. We are also surrounded by cattle, horse and goat farms and those big biting flies are no joke either.
Like I said... lots of things around here that want to eat you.
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Self explanatory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C7cAQy4rlo
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Hi Bill.
Thank you for the pictures.
Best Wishes - Tom
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Looking good Bill. The only blind I built this year is under water right now. :(
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Nice set-up Bill.
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Hi Bill.
I'm sure your "Natural Hide" should work out great for you.
I've done the same thing but I called them "brush blinds".
Mine don't have any snakes to contend with.
Best Wishes - Tom
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Think I'd rather deal with mosquitos than those biting flies.
Maybe this thread'll motivate me to action.
We have a fallen cedar tree along side the stock tank been saying for years I would make a hide in.
Aside from the cattle, you never know what'll show up for a drink or to hunt frogs and such
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Hi Bill
We get lots of mosquitoes, deer flies, black flies and other biting insects ..........but not in Fall and Winter. ;D
They all go away after the first hard freeze and are gone until late May or early June.
When I am out in the blinds it is after all the leaves are down and it is already starting to get cold.
I bring a small amount of charcoal with me for warmth.
I put it in an old coffee can and light it up.
Best Wishes - Tom
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Perfect way to spend part of your retirement Bill! I 'd do the same if I had access to a wooded acre adjacent to my house.
What do you expect to pop up from that small water pool? Frogs? Will you shoot water moccasin too? How about squirrels?
Better not nod off, or sleep with 1 eye open with the venomous snakes around, or Betty Lou will blame that on me too if something happened ;D
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Yeah Harry, mostly snakes around the water. Frogs and turtles will mostly get a buy because they don't do damage or harm to property, pets or people here. Squirrels chew on stuff and there are many pesky birds that build nests in the grills of our vehicles and other places they don't need to be.
There are larger critters that don't really need killed but they need to know they are not welcome here. A few BBs in the butt may discourage them.
But alot of time in the hide will just be spent enjoying the area and all that goes on there. Lots of activity that many people don't even realize is happening all around us. I spent alot of time in the woods when I was young, before life got in the way. Now that I am retired and have such an easy access, I want to take advantage of what time I have left. I can spend hours in the woods without even knowing there are other people around affecting my life.
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Perfect spot for a blind. Nice :)
Jeff
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I agree with you Bill. I wish I could retire early, and stop working 55-60 hours/week while they pay me for 40. I increased my 401K contribution by a lot a few years ago in hopes I can maybe retired a couple of years early.
There is probably nothing more peaceful than spending a couple of hours in the woods, except maybe being out on a boat in calm waters waiting for fish to bite. I find that very relaxing too. Jeff and Randall know what I am talking about.
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I'm thinking Bill need some sort of fishing rig he can work out of his hide, by the nearby pond, added entertainment :)
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In the dry season that swamp pond drys up completely. Not much chance of any fish in there. Crawdads, frogs, turtles and snakes are about the only thing in there besides skeeters.
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Check the local thrift stores for a second hand screen room. I've got one amongst the pile of camo nets and camo tarps I use for temporary blinds. They come in handy for blind building.
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Sounds like a plan.
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Check the local thrift stores for a second hand screen room. I've got one amongst the pile of camo nets and camo tarps I use for temporary blinds. They come in handy for blind building.
I picked up a cheap bright orange 2 person popup tent, have it set up on my flatbed trailer at work in the back field alond a deer/ turkey run, camo no needed just cover. I am thinking about painting wheels and doors etc on it to make it look like a VW Bug LOL
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Best purchase I made was buying camo netting. One of them is actually white which I use in the winter after it has snowed a lot, and the other is green/brown camo. They were inexpensive and are very effective with Starlings which are very jumpy and can spot the slightest movement. I hang it over an open window, set up a tripod behind it and stick the barrel through 1 of the holes. Starlings and squirrels never know what hit them.
You can hang the camo netting (or a white one if there is snow on the ground and trees) between 2 trees or 2 branches or tall bushes, sit in a chair behind it and rest the gun on a tripod with the barrel through the netting. The ones I have are 10ft long (by 8' I think) so with 2 of them you could have them all around you with some sticks or given the right spot.
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Harry,
I don't know if you saw the picture but, when we first moved here the was one of those elevated wooded kid's play sets in the yard. I wrapped it in the camo burlap from Walmart. I cut 3" strips in the burlap for gun windows. I think that stuff was like $10 for 6' x 12' panels? I might eventually do something like that on this hide.
James, I also have an old 2 man pop up tent around here somewhere. I think it's blue. I could put that up inside the natural hide and drape that camo burlap over it. Then cut shooting windows in it. Thanks for the idea.