Setting up a Box Blind Over a Food Plot

What will spook a deer and what won’t? The strategy for setting up a box blind over food plots is a hot topic of debate in the hunting world. Hunting over food plots has become a very common practice in the last few decades and the use of new-age box blinds has become even more prevalent due to their effective hunting designs and features.

Call it what you will, hunting out of a box blind is nice. It’s comfortable, you don’t experience as much of the weather, and when placed correctly you can see a lot.

I will be looking to give you some insight into a couple of different strategies to successfully set up a box blind over a food plot. I will discuss the three main strategies for setting up a box blind: focusing on edges of food plots, transition points, and the center point of food plots. Each comes with its advantages and disadvantages, but each will produce in its own way if done correctly.

Food Plots and Box Blinds

Food plots have the distinct purpose of attracting deer and giving adequate food to deer populations during the season to help keep them in a certain area. Not all food plots are created or operate equally. Food plots come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, locations, and types of vegetation planted. Some warrant a box blind, and some do not.

I would not set up a box blind on a small, quarter-acre food plot in the trees as I would a larger, multi-acre food plot that is open and looks more like an ag field. Each will have their own needs for the setup. Modern box blinds offer advantages that will aid in most food plot setups. With food plots being generally open, it does allow deer to have a better idea of their surroundings. This is where box blinds really pay off.

Modern box blinds help shield the hunters’ movements and scent, which allows for better placement options without as much of a need for natural cover.

One thing I will harp on, however, is making sure that there is adequate passage to and from the box blind. It doesn’t matter where the setup is if you consistently bump deer on your way in or out of your stand. Know your entry and exit strategies for the area.

Now let’s get into the first strategy for setting up a box blind over a food plot.

Food Plot Edges

Probably the most common setup I see in the areas around me are box blinds set up on the edges of food plots or ag fields. The edges are usually an area where the food plot meets a tree line or has some type of cover that the box blind will camouflage into instead of leaving such a distinct silhouette.

Edges also give a wide range of views that allow hunters to see a majority, if not all of the food plot in front of them. This method can work well on all different sizes of food plots ranging from a one-acre hidey hole in the woods to a 40-acre food plot that is wide open.

I have used a box blind on the edge of a food plot before and I have had some experience with setting it up in good spots and in poor spots. If you are going to hunt with a rifle, try and set up the box blind away from where the deer will typically enter or exit the food plot. This will take some scouting but will really pay off.

By setting up slightly away from the entry and exit points of the food plot, it will allow deer to feel more comfortable and not as leery about entering further into the plot. Make sure that you still set up with a view of these points and are still in range.

One disadvantage that setting up on the edges may give is a limited range. Depending on the shape of the food plot and the size, it might be hard to cover the entire food plot from one box blind, especially if it is large. Make sure to take this into account.

Finally, ensure that you have good access points to get in and out of your blind. The more discrete the access is, the less likely of bumping deer that might already be in the food plot. Think about wind direction for your access as well. Avoid walking through regular bedding areas and across well-used trails. This can end your hunt before it starts.

Transition Points

Transition points are another good spot to set up a box blind that is right by a food plot. While this tactic still requires a food plot, the purpose is to try and catch deer that are transitioning in and out of the plot. This is a great idea if the food plot in question has been set up as a staging plot, meaning that deer will congregate there to feed lightly while checking the area for predators before making their way into a bigger feeding area.

This is also a great tactic for bow hunters using box blinds. The transition point should be narrow and funnel deer closer to the blind.

Look for a well-used travel corridor that funnels between the food plot and another ag field or larger food plot. These points can usually be found in a low spot between the two fields or more likely in a strip or line of trees that separates the two areas. Setting up the box blind in these trees right on the edge of the transition point can really be beneficial.

Due to the box blind and its ability to partially contain scent, the wind will not be as big of an issue. One downside is that this type of setup may not give you a great overall view of the food plot the deer are transitioning to. This setup also gives great cover to hide the silhouette of the box blind.

Middle of Plot

Setting up a box blind smack dab in the center of a food plot is somewhat controversial. This is definitely a tactic that is intended for medium to large sized food plots that don’t have significant bends in the shape of the plot.

This setup allows for a 360-degree view of the plot with the right box blind setup. This can be super beneficial for plots that see lots of deer activity on a regular basis. This gears the setup more for gun hunters with longer range.

The argument against this setup is that the blind is out in the open and will spook deer easily. To negate this, I suggest setting up this box blind extremely early, like when planting the food plot, so that deer have time to get used to it and get comfortable with it not being an immediate threat to them. Additionally, black out one side of the blind so you do not get skylined while moving. It’s easy to do, and when done right you will still have the ability to peek out the back for full viewing.

Scent and visibility for the hunter is taken care of by the box blind itself, so it comes down to the hunter controlling scent and visibility when entering the box blind or spending time around it. That might be the biggest obstacle to overcome with this setup. There is an inherent risk of bumping deer while being in the open plot upon entry or, maybe even more likely, while leaving the blind in the evening.

This can be a really useful tactic if the deer tend to be more reserved and like to hang out around the edges of the food plot. The 360-degree view is also beneficial if more than one person is hunting the box blind at one time.

Don’t Hesitate to Try

While having all three of these setups going at once might be outside of the realm of possibility for some hunters, don’t hesitate to try something new. Pay close attention to deer activity from year to year and adjust accordingly to what might work the best. Plan access and your exit route to conceal your activity and scent.

I can attest that each one of these will work if they are set up based on real scouted data from the food plot they are being set up on. Knowing the environment will be key to these setups just as they are to any other type of set up. Don’t overthink the situation, just use your knowledge of your hunting area and apply it. Here’s to more comfortable days and more deer sightings!

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