Do I want a blind that I can leave set up all season, or one that I would have to take down periodically to keep Mother Nature from destroying it after a period of time?
How tall in the center do I want the blind to be? Since I am 6 feet, 4 inches tall, I would have difficulty in a blind that is only five feet tall in the center. I could make do, of course, but a blind that is taller in the center would be a better fit for me.
The number of shooting windows is a factor. Some just offer shooting windows that are open, but most offer the mesh windows that allow the hunter to look out and shoot, but the animal has difficulty seeing in. That is, if you are not having a problem fidgeting around in excess.
Is the blind heavy? If it is, does it have a convenient way of carrying it to and from the hunting area without you collapsing in exhaustion after a taxing walk? Some have backpack straps; others just have a big loop to put across your shoulders.
How difficult is the blind to set up after you get to where you are going to hunt? Some blinds are a snap to set up, and then there are those that are more difficult. Checking into the degree of set up difficulty would be prudent for anyone thinking about purchasing a ground blind to hunt from. Definitely try setting it up a few times in your back yard before packing it up to take to your hunting destination.
I would rather be in a tree. I enjoy the elevated view of the woods that I get when in a tree stand, whether it is a ladder stand or a climber. I've only hunted out of a ground blind once, and that was for turkey, not deer.
The main reason I am going to go this route is my age.
Using a climbing stand is a joy in most instances, but the year I fell tempered my use of these devices greatly. These types of stands give a hunter the greatest versatility, because it is so easy to climb down and move your stand to the area where you see the most activity.
It was fortunate that I had climbed with a safety belt attached to the tree, or I probably would have been badly injured when I hit the ground. Using these stands is for someone with much younger legs. I'm not saying that an older person can't use a climber, just that the body sometimes is not as steady when you get into my age category.
Ladder stands are gaining in popularity. I have three altogether. One I own is an Ol' Man and another is the Gorilla ladder stand. The last ladder is a Bear Creek I think, and is only 12 feet to the seating platform. This stand is too short for my tastes anyway.
The older model stand, Ol' Man, makes some noise when you deploy the foot platform, and it is sometimes awkward to step on to it from the step rung beneath it. It also will make a little noise if you shift your weight a certain way.
The Gorilla ladder stand is heavier, and definitely takes two people to erect it, but it is the most comfortable tree stand I have ever sat in. The foot platform lowers from the rear, and there is a footrest in the front of the stand that makes you wonder why you didn't bring your portable TV. Maybe I should invest in a Yahtzee game this year to pass the time while on stand.
I think I'll revert to the ground blind and see how I like it. That doesn't mean I won't deploy the two ladder stands, but being able to move around in the blind without spooking game has got to be a plus.
We'll see.
