I got permission to hunt a small patch of woods, but owner has a relative that bow hunts till then and I can't set up my blind till opening day of firearm season, that's his rule. Will that spook the deer ? I plan to brush it in real good and leave it up the whole two weeks of season. Any advice or experiences ? -Thanks

It will spook them early on, Turkey you can do that but deer you cannot

I would disagree

It would largely depend on the location and how used the deer are to having activity in the area

In an area such as a active farming or where there is a lot of activity it doesn’t seem to matter much, or if it’s a blind that doesn’t have a very big foot print, or it should in a spot where it’s more hidden such as amongst a grove of pines or blended into bushes ect

Now if you just stick it up on the edge of the woods or out in an open field there’s a big difference or if you have one that’s the size of a large camping tent ect

Put it in an area where it blends in and make as little disturbance in the area as possible and it will work just fine in my experience

I hunt a lot of state land where if you leave your blind for even a little while it’s going to grow legs and disappear on you so it’s set up when and where you plan on hunting at that time or not have a blind when you come back to where you had it

The trick like I said is not to stick it where it’s going to stand out like a sore thumb and make as little change as possible where you put it but blend it into the background vegetation as much as possible

I think you'll be fine. When I used blinds I'd move them everyday. Still had deer walk right by, even setting 20 yards out in a cut bean field. Maybe Missouri deer are just dumb lol

You should be fine! I like Fitzgeralds deer dander around a new blind or stand. Or red fox pee on your feet walking in. Walk the area around your blind and see what it looks like.

It freaks them out for a few days. Depends on how far away you can be. 100 yards or more don't worry about it.

Gun season...not so much of a problem unless you're pistol hunting

I've cut many trees to make wood and post, piled the brush. Returned after lunch and had deer eating acorns off the limbs in the brush piles. Yes they will notice it and look at it but if there is no scent or movement to scare them: they may even investigate.

I agree with Nightlife.

I hunt the iowa early muzzloader season. Many times ive set a blind and killed a deer the same day. Id rather sneak in a day or two earlier but it certainly doesnt seem like its bother them all that much.

If i'm in bush, just park your bottom ,against a big tree, or in brush, downwind from a good deer run. Sit still and be patient. You can adjust for wind direction. Old243

A friend and me set up a ground blind this year the same night isaw 4 deer feeding next to it. 2 nights later he shot the second buck that came by using a crossbow.

I think a lot of a deer's reaction to a blind depends on their recent experience, if any, with blinds. Some are curious and will walk right at the blind. Others have been made nervous by being shot at, or smelling people inside blinds.

I've done it and been successful. Obviously turkey don't care. When it comes to deer the best days in a blind are when you first put it out and when it's been there for awhile.

I think animals are like people, some are calm, some are like meth heads, paranoid that every noise and everything that moves is out to get them lol. I've been having some trouble with an old doe this year like that. She needs to go

Don't use the blind !! Just pile up the brush you were going to brush it in with and sit behind it. Too many people get hung up on the "blind" scenario. ONLY advantage to a blind is if it rains. I have used blinds , brushed in or not EVERY deer that comes by will look right at it and pause. The smart ones will look at it once and then walk around it.

Well my actual experience was I placed a blind up two different years when my son was little and hunted within a day or three later. Both times when doe or bucks entered the area they DID NOT like the blind at all. The blinds I put up and left up for months on end never alerted a deer whatsoever. With that said I rarely hunt from blinds for deer or turkey. My experiences come from when my son was young. I guess differences in opinion and real hunting experiences differ.

Depends on what a "small patch of woods" is.

You may run the deer out of it by stirring around.

My wife does not do tree stands and finally agreed to go deer hunting with me. Set up a ground blind in fairly tight area, 40 yards. The deer shied away for a couple of days and then started coming by at night only. Had a small basket racked buck coming in a couple of nights and then I finally started to get a couple of deer going by during the day after about 5 days. Finally sat in the blind and had one of the small bucks come in, but she could not get on his vitals. The a doe walked in, saw the blind and literally freaked out. Took the buck with her when she left blowing and snorting. Wind was perfect, so she did not smell us, but you could see from her reaction it was the first time she saw the blind.

Depends upon the deer. Have had them shy away for a few days or come right in yet that same day. I say go for it.
What's the worst thing that can happen?

Eating a deer tag sandwich comes to mind.