My buddy recently acquired 80 acres, low fence. We cleared a little bit, put up an old feeder and a tent blind. Cameras are picking up some nice typical and small non typical native bucks. Interesting though when I’m in the blind, nothing, maybe a spike, doe. I park about a quarter mile away and walk in. Not sure what I’m missing... for morning hunt usually get there an hour before sunrise, afternoon get in blind around 245 or 3, non scented clothing, quiet and still, lol. Feeder goes off at 7 am and 4 pm. Lots of variables I know, but something is spooking them. Are we feeding enough? Should we add anything? Thoughts. Thank you.

How long has the blind been in place? Might help if you brush it in. The better bucks you saw on camera may not be local bucks and could be 5 miles away and may not be back for any reason other than they are still searching for a hot doe. Lots of reasons why the better bucks are not showing up.

The blind has been there since early September. Also the blind is only about 40 yards from feeder. May try to hide it a little better.

Are you bow or gun hunting the blinds?
If gun hunting try moving the blinds farther away (100 yards)
Be sure your scent isn't blowing towards the feeder and always hunt the wind.
You can't beat a deer's ability to smell you, but you can try and mask your human scent as best a possible.
I use Tinks Skunk scent when hunting with great success.

40 yard ground blind from feeder sounds too close unless exclusively bowhunting

Yes it’s close. Due to layout of the land and heavy brush, we don’t have a lot of options, unless we cleared out huge pathways.

Get to clearing

I have a popup blind myself 40 yds from the feeder...no problem here unless new place where the deer run from you 200 yds. away. First you may want to think about putting the blind south of the feeder. Right now the deer will give you a dollar for a piece of corn. I would start with throwing corn about 05:30 am. I would start with 50lb.s corn. See what happens...put out tinks 69 circulating around the feeder...no corn south of the blind...put out one drop Tinks every 20 feet from the feeder in a half circle...out 25 yds. further another semicircle...out another 25 yds. put out another set of sent pads every 25 feet.(sent pad is only a square of paper towels with only a drop of tinks). ..every day. Sooner or later you will have a pay off. I dont care when the peak of the rut is. You will need a grunt call..use it when ya get in the blind ..just a few calls will work...wait 15 minutes then another set of two calls...close to daylight just set quite ...wait for the does to show the later the big bucks. Don't miss...lol...if this dont work then do it again ...it will work.

This.

You can only shoot what you can see.

Wind in Texas blows from the south predominately. Put the blind northeast of feeder if possible. If this is a long term place consider concreting 4x4 pressured posts in the ground and build an elevated blind. Find someone local that'll come out and clear some brush. 8 hours on a skid steer won't break the bank. Good luck.

Good info, thanks.

Yea I’d like too. Like I said, it’s not my land. I’m gonna try and talk him into clearing out a path, maybe in a better wind direction about 80 yards.

I’m gonna go out there Saturday and check it out. Get accurate layout as far as the blind sits in what direction of feeder and common wind patterns. Maybe plot a course for clearing out a different path to feeder. Feeder is in a great spot. A natural clearing. I’ll report back.

I have a pop up blind on a 12ft stand, and I too am 40 yards away. I have deer and hogs come up every time I'm out there. My blind is south of my feeder. The only time I notice the wild life being a little spooked, is when their is heavy wind and the blind wont stop the flapping noises. The hogs do seem a little more scardish if wind is blowing from south.
I also only open the opening a little bit and just facing the feeder. I tested different scenarios with my grandson, and other openings seem to shine light on my face, or behind me, which still seems to highlight my head/face.
I was parking my black truck about 150 yards away,but this season, I park 50 yards the other direction , behind me.All with in site of blind and feeder.
My blind is along a fence line, mesquites on left and open field on right.
I typically get one season out of every popup, but I leave it year round.

Check the time on your camera and see when they are showing up. They have been fairly consistent at my lease, showing up around the same time. Could be they are coming in when you are not in your blind and you are missing them.

Is there a bedding area downwind of the blind or are the deer coming from the downwind side? I've used pop up blinds a lot & once the animals get used to them 10-14 days I've never had any issues.

My Central Texas set up. Make sure you take advantage of natural cover. Me, window mesh, youpon, grass deer butt. Deer is maybe 10' away. I have video of them looking at me face to face but don't know how to put it on here.



This one is about 8 yards away


This is a new box blind, 17 yards away.

A couple of things. First, my Grandsons are mostly bow hunters and put blinds closer than 40 yards with no apparent ill effects. They do brush them in.

OTOH, I sat in one of them a couple of weeks ago with a 30 30. I saw. movement in the brush and soon saw part of a doe. She stared at the blind and in about a minute she bolted and left. I had the wind in my face, saw her coming before she could see the blind, and didn’t even wiggle my toes.

But, she knew I was there. No idea how

Be careful HOW and when you get to your blind. If something different was in your living room you would know it pretty quick.

Added blind pictures.