What is the best way to set up a stand or blind in mesquite where you can't hang a stand. I've tried ground blinds brushed in and left them out for over six months and the deer are still skeptical about approaching in bow range. The area I hunt is George West / Three Rivers.

Well, there are tripods.
Have you ever tried putting up a pop-up and on the same day you hunt and not brush it in?? This has worked for me in the past.

After getting 3 ground blinds torn up by cows I changed to a tripod this year. I hunt in an area where its pretty flat with mesquite bushes here and there and then every so often a good trash tree. I set it up into one of the trash trees and brushed in behind me to thicken it up a bit. Guess we will see in about 2 weeks if it works

I'm done with ground blinds......you can't see at the best times, too dark.......may try the tripod but not crazy about it........thinking of building a stand in a larger mesquite is probably what I'll try.

Find a tripod with a larger platform and you will be more comfortable. Also helps when you have some sort of tree to hang stuff in next to it.

Had a doe come up and lick the ladder of my tripod last season and not run away.

Hunting out of a popup has been difficult for me as well. if you leave it there long enough for them to get used to it then it falls apart. Best luck I have had is head to toe cammo sitting on the ground on my but leaned up next to a tree.

Have you tried a lock-on? One of the biggest bucks I ever shot with my bow was in a lock-on about 8 or 9 feet up.

trees aren't straight enough

Try building some ground blinds out of dead mesquite.

try burlap. You can adjust it to fit around in most mesquite bushes and easy to cut holes to shoot out of. Take some native branches and brush it in and it may look close enough to normal surroundings they get accustom to it. Maybe the game is not use to seeing something that is solid?

You do know that there are lock-ons that are on the market just for crooked trees.

Also for a lock on you don't need a straight tree just a straight part about the right height then hang your ladder accordingly.

I've been hanging loc ons for 20 years, I know how they work but thanks for the info........I ve tried guys and wasn't safe enough for me. I have three tripods I use but they kind of put you in the open even when set under a tree. Thats bow hunting

Nobody said ground blinds had to have a roof. Just build it without and its not any darker than it is outside. I hunt less and less off the ground every year and like it more. Dig a pit blind, my brother dug one last year and you can do jumping jacks in that thing with deer at five feet and they have no clue.

Something else you may try with a tripod is standing it up over the top of an appropriate height mesquite. The little branches can give a lot of cover.

Well, you asked!!!
All I got now is get some 2x4's and go from trunk to trunk then a sheet of plywood. Place chair on top!!

Never liked hanging stands in them... they loose to much cover during winter

Yup they are pretty much an early season only treestand.

thanks guys, I got some good ideas from y'all, no telling what I'll end up doing but I'll give em hell