How long before hunting to you install your popup tents?

H

huntingfish

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This year for deer hunting season, I plan on using popup tents. I was wondering how long before hunting season do you install them so the deer can get accustomed to the new scenery?

2-3 weeks before deer season, we're going moose hunting. I was thinking of putting them up then.

Thanks!

David
 
If you brush them in I don’t think you need any time. But it sure won’t hurt. Unless there is a heavy wet snow that can damage them. I’d put a strong prop rod in the centre to avoid that problem. Mine got crushed the day before the opener last fall
 
FishHog said:
If you brush them in I don’t think you need any time. But it sure won’t hurt. Unless there is a heavy wet snow that can damage them. I’d put a strong prop rod in the centre to avoid that problem. Mine got crushed the day before the opener last fall
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ohh, I guess that's a sure way to squash your hunting plans. Sorry to hear that, but thanks for the warning.

Problem is, if I put them in while we're hunting...there's no one that could go remove some snow from them in the unfortunate event that there's heavy snowfalls.

However, any other time, my FIL could go and check on them if it snows.

David
 
I seriously doubt a deer (not very good vision) can see a "pop-up blind" if it's properly located in some bush. I have both the "dog house" and the "pop-up chair" type. My only concern with the "dog house" (enough room for 2 people & a piano) is the interior is BLACK and if you have a window open, that black stands out a lot. In the bush, I've come within about 15 meters without being able to see it as long as it's positioned well.
 
shoota said:
Brushed in and far enough back from where you plan to shoot 2-3 weeks should be fine.
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Tried doing a pre-setup where I want to have my tent setuped. Put up a couple of big branches that got cut off by Hydro-Québec (near a power line that goes to the camps near the river on this particular piece of land) to hide the tent once it will be installed, but I know it's not enough to truly hide it. I'm hoping that putting up the tent in advance will compensate for the fact that it will stand out a bit.

David
 
I put one up a couple years ago in the middle of deer season as I needed an extra spot for an additional young hunter. It was snowing lightly the afternoon we put it up and when we returned the next day to hunt the tracks in the snow showed that the deer walked right up to it and checked it out. The young fellow managed to harvest a nice young buck out of it two days latter and saw a bunch of does while he sat there.
 
Deer are very curious about new things in there territory, so they will check it out. After a couple weeks if it has caused them no concern they accept it as now part of their environment. However mature bucks not so much. Anything that is new in their territory they are very wary of, or they will just plain avoid if they don't feel comfortable. So if it is a wise old buck your after get your tent hide out as soon as possible. Brush it in so it blends with the surroundings as best you can, then stay away from it until your ready to actually hunt. I only hunt with a rifle so I open one maybe two of the zippered openings so they only have no more than a 3/4" gap. In fact when I initially set up the blind I open the zippered holes 3/4 " and then and leave them that way. So you basically have a slit about 8" long and 3/4" wide at the middle. That way anytime the deer come by that blind it always looks exactly the same. By keeping the opening very small you limit them seeing any little movement you may make, and most importantly it greatly helps contain your sent in the hide. I sit for many, many hours each fall in my hides just watching the deer. Every time they approach a hide area they always but always stop and give the hide the greasy eye just to see and smell if anything is different. They accept the hides but they do not completely trust them.
My experiences anyways.
 
I set one in the middle of a field a couple weeks before.....never an issue and have shot several mature bucks out of it.

I'm actually going to use a Frabil pop up ice hut in the field this year.

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Bucks that are accustomed to the area will take notice, they are wise & know their surroundings, new Bucks to the area or passing through will not know the difference.
The sooner the set it up, the better.
 
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