Jumping blinds

[adirondack46r]

I wondered if you all could educate me on something basic about blind jumping. Is there any "universal" method used for the occupants of a blind to let you know from a distance that the blind is occupied? In the interest of not boating right up to an occupied blind, or wading to it, to find out if it is occupied is there something that is common? Thanks!

 

[AppalachianHollers]

Headlamps, I’d say.

 

[Holesinthesky]

most will turn a headlamp on when they hear a boat approaching.

 

[adirondack46r]

I was thinking daytime. Sorry, I should have been more clear. I have tried jumping early afternoon several times and had to back out once at the blind.

 

[A5B]

I was thinking daytime. Sorry, I should have been more clear. I have tried jumping early afternoon several times and had to back out once at the blind.

The decoys in the water. Didnt clue in that someone was in the blind?

Maybe try doing a 5 or 6 note calling string and see if they answer back.

Just spitballing really. We dont have public land/blinds down here, so I have never had the issue your describing.

 

[widgeon]

Smoke signals?

 

[Holesinthesky]

I was thinking daytime. Sorry, I should have been more clear. I have tried jumping early afternoon several times and had to back out once at the blind.

The best practice… is for you to use binos and watch blind from a distance. I know sometimes that is not always possible.
If we are in our blind and hear a boat approaching.. we stand up in the shooting holes, so we can be seen.
Another trick is to use binos to check the decoy spread to see if there are any spinners going, pulsators on the water. If so… occupied.

The decoys in the water. Didnt clue in that someone was in the blind?

That comment does not apply here. As public draw blinds, we are required to leave decoys out for the entire season.

 

[adirondack46r]

Yes, I was talking about jumping season long blinds which have dekes all season long. Thanks for clarifying that Holesinthesky. Good point about the binos. I just want to avoid disrupting someone’s hunt if I don’t have to. Thought there might be something universal I was missing. Appreciate the responses.

 

[A5B]

The best practice… is for you to use binos and watch blind from a distance. I know sometimes that is not always possible.
If we are in our blind and hear a boat approaching.. we stand up in the shooting holes, so we can be seen.
Another trick is to use binos to check the decoy spread to see if there are any spinners going, pulsators on the water. If so… occupied.



That comment does not apply here. As public draw blinds, we are required to leave decoys out for the entire season.

Wait wait wait. So the state puts out decoys? Hunters?

The heck with leaving my decoys for someone else to hunt over.

 

[adirondack46r]

When you draw a yearly blind it’s yours for the season. You brush it, set your decoys and it’s yours for the season. If you or your card holder(s) are not in it, others can “jump “ it.