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Open Field Stand #6707267 03/16/17 10:37 PM
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Already planning for this years season and thinking about moving one of stands to a new area. Most of my stands have always been surrounded by trees or brush. However, for this new spot if Im to setup two feeders at about 100 yards in opposite directions it will require me to put the stand in the middle of a field. The grass in this field is kept very low by the cattle we have on the property. My question is will this stick out like a sore thumb to the deer or will they get used to it and should be just as good of a spot as if I had the stand concealed by natural vegetation?

Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707326 03/16/17 11:53 PM
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I hunted a smaller, open field this past season and saw deer just about every time I was in the stand (10ft tripod). While the area sees a good bit of ranching activity, I was somewhat surprised how frequently deer would cross it. And all were bucks that seemed to be using it as an observation point for does. It only makes sense when you think about it. If a buck is looking for a doe, what better place than where he can see a larger area. I honestly believe they were scanning the field edges to see if a doe might step out from the woods.

I put my tripod in some trees at the highest point at the field edge. One buck passed by at less than 10 yards.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707370 03/17/17 12:44 AM
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my issue with in the middle of a field is how you get to it with out being busted


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707404 03/17/17 01:15 AM
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Put your stand on the edge of the field and make longer shots to the feeders.

Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707492 03/17/17 02:39 AM
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The best blind on my place is mostly open (backed up against a little scope of trees in the pasture). 140-180 yards from the food plot. Believe me, the big bucks are well aware it is there. 3 1/2 year old deer will come into the plot. Mature bucks will only do so if they are with a doe. And I mean with her meaning breeding is imminent. Otherwise, they will come to the edge of the woods (usually at the far end of the pasture), check the pasture/plot, and step back into the woods. Killed my best buck doing that very thing - was lucky to be looking that way or would have never seen him. Oldest buck I have killed (8 1/2) would let his doe cross the pasture, sprint across when she hit the woods, and do it all over again. Finally shot him through a little hole in the brush.
They will check the blind for your silhouette (I use mesh netting). It wears you out keeping your head on a swivel......

Missed a chance at what would have been my best buck because I wasn't quick enough...

It's still my favorite spot because the woods are very hit/miss in picking the right spot during the rut. I like the field of view.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707709 03/17/17 01:16 PM
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they will get used to it, especially at rifle distances. a mature buck that wont step into a field would act the same if the stand wasn't there.

I put my pop up out in them middle of a basketball court sized opening without a lick of brush around it and had deer @15 yards the next morning, including one of the biggest and oldest bucks in the area. it still sits in same spot only on a 5ft platform now and they don't pay it any attention at bow range.


Originally Posted By: cameron00
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707735 03/17/17 01:49 PM
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I grew up hunting on a family ranch near encinal and we had a blind called the "field blind" it was in a food plot and had a feeder on the edge of the field. The blind was one of the most productive due to the food plot and deer would feed all around it. Lots of mature deer taken from that blind.

Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707739 03/17/17 01:53 PM
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Deer will get used to it for sure.

Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707759 03/17/17 02:09 PM
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As stated before, it works as long as you can get n and out with out being busted. Once witnessed first hand, a doe bedded down in the middle of a 380 acre field. This stand is 300' above the field on a bluff so you can see the whole field. She jumps up and immediately darts off to the north as if something is chasing her. A couple minutes go by and a rutting buck inters the field from the south about 1000 yards away and tracks with his nose high in the air to the specific spot the doe had been laying. Another doe gets up a few feet away but the buck pays her no attention. From there his darts off along the exact path where the doe had darted off. About 5 minutes go by and another buck inters the field from the west. Does the exact say thing going over to the spot where the estrus doe was laying, the other doe was still standing close by and the buck didn't even acknowledge her and darted of in the direction the other two had gone. So as long as does aren't bedding down in the field and you can get in and out you might get lucky and witness something similar someday.


They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason! nidea
Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707805 03/17/17 03:36 PM
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Not only is my blind in the open, it's on top of a berm. I have 360 degree view, never had a problem. The only thing you'll want to watch out for if your hunting both sides of the blind at the same time, is to make sure you aren't silhouetted through the opposing windows.

Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6707968 03/17/17 07:51 PM
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I will add to this that a stand will be fine but a tripod or quad pod with an open top might create some silhouette issues. The deer will know you are there and will avoid it if there are silhouette issues. However, a closed box stand will be fine. I have a trailer based box stand in the middle of a large wheat field and had deer all late season coming out and never once thought about us sitting in it, no mesh or anything on the windows. Have another blind against the treelline of same field and have had deer as close as 5 yards walk right past and didn't know I was in there.

So, if the stand you are referring to is an open top blind, you might want to find a way to prevent silhouette issues (put a top on it or some sort of mesh around it, or even out a dummy up there to give the impression there is someone there).

Re: Open Field Stand [Re: Texas buckeye] #6708983 03/19/17 02:42 AM
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Really appreciate all the responses guys

Last edited by HVILLE HNTR; 03/19/17 02:43 AM.
Re: Open Field Stand [Re: TX0303] #6710292 03/20/17 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: TX0303
Put your stand on the edge of the field and make longer shots to the feeders.
up


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Re: Open Field Stand [Re: HVILLE HNTR] #6710307 03/20/17 07:34 PM
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Our best stands are in fields looking towards the woods. Deer will come to the edge of the woods with no problem. Even the biggest and older bucks.
After the blind is established deer see it as part of their environment like a tree, telephone pole, shed or fence.


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"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
Re: Open Field Stand [Re: Simple Searcher] #6710641 03/21/17 01:23 AM
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Originally Posted By: Simple Searcher
Our best stands are in fields looking towards the woods. Deer will come to the edge of the woods with no problem. Even the biggest and older bucks.
After the blind is established deer see it as part of their environment like a tree, telephone pole, shed or fence.


How on earth do you stand the heat?


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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