Shooting House - Location Advice

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Our farm has a long ridgeline that is primarily open (as you can see in the picture). On both sides of the ridge, there is a tree line running somewhat parallel to the ridge.

I currently have a shooting house on the primary ridge that offers some good shot opportunities. However, I am considering building a new shooting house and placing it on the top of the secondary ridge closest to you in the picture below.

BUT.. this location would offer no place to "hide" the shooting house. It would literally be out in the middle of the field on the top of the ridge. Do you guys have any experience with locating shooting houses out in the open? What kind of impact does this have on sightings (if any)?

 

[cbhunter]

they will definitely notice it and they will definitely get used to it and return to all normal patterns!

 

[duckriver]

We have tripods in spots like they and they pay no attention to them

 

[landman]

I've got 4 sitting in fields
All have killed Mature deer

You may want to let a path grow up in weeds
to allow you to access it unseen

Most important is why are you putting it there
Is there food around it?
Are deer currently using that area?

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

I've got 4 sitting in fields
All have killed Mature deer

You may want to let a path grow up in weeds
to allow you to access it unseen

Most important is why are you putting it there
Is there food around it?
Are deer currently using that area?

Good questions. Simply put - yes and yes.

I actually had to watch two nice shooter bucks cross that area this year while hunting in the other shooting house. The distance is 300+ yards from the other shooting house so I am not comfortable making that shot. Granted, I have killed two nice bucks from the other shooting house in the last three years, so it's a good place too.

My question is more about the idea of a shooting house smack dab in the middle of a wide open area.

 

[shaggy]

I have a Sportsman's Condo(all black) that is sitting in the middle of a field. I do have a few small pine trees around me but they aren't tall enough to cut yet. It didn't take them long at all to get used to it.

 

[landman]

I've got 4 sitting in fields
All have killed Mature deer

You may want to let a path grow up in weeds
to allow you to access it unseen

Most important is why are you putting it there
Is there food around it?
Are deer currently using that area?

Good questions. Simply put - yes and yes.

I actually had to watch two nice shooter bucks cross that area this year while hunting in the other shooting house. The distance is 300+ yards from the other shooting house so I am not comfortable making that shot. Granted, I have killed two nice bucks from the other shooting house in the last three years, so it's a good place too.

My question is more about the idea of a shooting house smack dab in the middle of a wide open area.

mine are in plots/fields from 2 acres to 13 acres, killed a 138" buck out of one at was only up 2 weeks
The big think I like about them is scent control, they are all commercial blinds, fiberglass and good windows
I have found over the years you can get by with the wrong wind at times by keeping all windows closed until needed to shoot
Once I got my father to realize that it made a big difference for him too

Good Luck

 

[megalomaniac]

deer will not pay it a bit of attention once it's been in place for 2-3 months.

and yes, you can get by with a LOT of bad wind, motion, etc in an airtight blind with sealed windows closed. Keep 'em closed until you are ready to shoot.