So my son will be hunting with a crossbow this year and he has a pop up blind. The feeder pen has hog panel to keep cows out. Those that bow hunt in situations like this do you build a platform to elevate the pop up blind to clear the hog panel? Thanks

I would and for more reasons than just getting above the hog panels. Elevation will get you outta sight lines also.

This ^^^^^^ 4 feet would be plenty

You can also chum outside the pen when hunting.

All the above good advice. Higher and higher is better to be out of sight line but more important it gets scent higher. In pic you can see the old short tower but we are going about 15’ on all we can.

That barrel fits nicely on that there RealBark tower stand.

Something like this Game Winner product from Academy -

Very observant on the Real Bark tower, Hud.

Not to hijack the platform question, but I'd be curious what y'all think about how long in advance you should set a pop up blind either way?

Lot to consider between withstanding the elements, running scent/disturbing the area, etc. Planning on trying one myself for archery season this year.

The night before is better than never.

I am beginning to wonder if I have been had. Last year, I told SIL #2 that I would look into putting up a little elevated pop up stand next to one of my feed pens so he could hunt it with his bow. there is the perfect place for it there. My thoughts were he might come down more if I did. My bad here, but haven't given it any real consideration after I opened my trap.

Lipan, please tell me you are not my SIL.

LOL No sir.

I will put them up 2-3 weeks before archery season but if you brush it in good i've put them up the night before and killed a deer out of them the next day.

Use them a lot for deer and antelope here. We have shot animals out of them just one hour after set up. A couple days to a week early is nice, if you can; sometimes it just doesn't work that way. Usually take them with us on the TPWD draw hunts, and use immediately. Much more important is wind direction, scent control, and keeping your big white face out of the windows!!

Good to know, thanks Tx85 and Hud, appreciate y'all.

one last tip.....


if your bowhunting, turn the blind sideways and only open one window. Leave this window open the entire time.


The more light you let in, the more you can see inside the blind.....with only one window open it will hide you very well.


Too many people make the mistake of opening all the windows......stick with just one, its deadly. I have no problem getting deer 8-10 yards away from the blind doing this

We've set them up one day and killed BIG deer out of them the next. The trick is to brush them in really well and if you have persimmon trees those branches work great for doing it.

I’m convinced the smartest deer in the pasture isn’t a big mature buck but an old nanny doe. You can fool her you can fool any deer on the property.

Did what I said I would do. This one is nestled in pretty good.

Hud, you got er hid/hud in there nicely. Those leaves will die but that popup will hide y’all, of course.
I suggested to a friend to try pvc on a popup on a platform and he says it works great to keep them from blowing off.

I'm getting out to set mine up this weekend, all the tips here are super helpful. We had a pile of branches we trimmed to clear the area nearby anyways so I'm hoping to leverage those to brush it in. Think my biggest concern will be the wind, I have a general idea of how it blows in the area but you just never know what mother nature is going to do the day you try to sit in that stand. I'll try and post a pic of what I accomplish.

If you are in cedar/juniper country, cut a few fresh cedar limbs regardless of when you set it up. Helps with visual and scent concealment.

No way to plan for every wind direction. Some days the wind will keep you from hunting it. Most guys(or a lot) will set up either somewhat East or west. Even if the wind is hitting you in the face as you face the feeder, you still dont know which way the deer may come in from. Bow hunting is hard. Being higher can help keep your scent above the deer.

I put mine up a week ago @ 30 yards from my feeder so that gives them 3 weeks to get used to it. Didn`t brush it in but have it up against mesquites. I have a ladder stand about 150 yards from feeder that I will hunt also. Hand corned @ ladder stand last year and saw 6-10 deer every day.

We have this issue since our land owner has sheep. Corning outside the pens works well for us. Get the animals to stop before jumping in, as long as the sheep don't pass through. A platform to shoot over is better. no limitations. I build one feed pen like a tear drop. Pop up blind is at the "point" on the outside. I cut a panel in half on this end so it can be lowered while hunting. it works great. Can shoot to the feeder (18 yards) and down each side of the pen.