anybody hunt from the ground?

[jamesdegitz]

Hello to all! I live in N.E. Indiana and hunt mostly from tree stands. But recently I've tried to apply a "walk and stalk" method and I have really been seeing more deer. Just wondering if anyone else uses this method and how often.

[ilikepie82015]

Hello to all! I live in N.E. Indiana and hunt mostly from tree stands. But recently I've tried to apply a "walk and stalk" method and I have really been seeing more deer. Just wondering if anyone else uses this method and how often.

Yea i hunt the ground but not by choice
i prefer a climber or shooting house or just plain old tree stand
but when im hunting a wma and im goin in blind early in the morning i tend to find a tree and take a seat

[RenoOffRoad]

Of course, but then again - In NV. most hunters are taking 200 - 600 yrd shots

[DerHntr4Lyf]

i would love to get into it as well. to get a kill from the ground with a bow show tremendous skill and patience. deer see everything, and to beat them at their eye level would be a great accomplishment. i used to hunt bow from the ground when i first started archery hunting. it wasn't until i got up in the treestand when i got my first two bucks in one season!!(second year in a stand) the challenge of ground hunting is incredible. i would like to try it more next season

[96ekhatch]

i would love to try it just being eye level with a deer should make everything alot more exciting the woods are kind of think here tho so it would be pretty hard cause i wouldn't notice a deer till it got right up on me

[Tenpoint]

We should all be hunting from the ground at some point or another. Even if you prefer stand hunting, you should always be ready, and hunting to and from our stand. When I walk to my stand, I still hunt all the way. Several times I have shot deer on the way to my stand. Granted, this would be more dificult with a bow for sure.

Tenpoint

[BuckO]

I always hunt from the ground... never got into the whole tree stand thing. Not that I'm anti tree stand, I've tried them... just that I like to travel light in the woods. I've taken quite a few deer with the bow from eye level. True, it's hard not to be seen when they get close. But if you use your camo to it's full advantage, pay attention to the wind and watch your scent, you'll be amazed at how close you can get. Key is to set up so that the deer have to look into the sun to see you. Don't silhouette yourself against the sky or a ridge line. Also, you need to be able to remain stock still and draw when the deer's head is behind a tree. I've had bucks practically in my lap... and I've dropped some big boys with short bow shots of 5-15 yards. Give it a try.

[stealthhunter11]

I like to hunt either way although I have had more success while on the ground but I have noticed that i see bigger deer while in a stand. One of my older friends walks all the time and doesnt worry about being quiet, he's got 3 very nice trophy's on his wall, one thats 14 points.

[crosscountry2]

When I hunt all day, I dont like being bunched up in a blind or stand, so i'll take an hour or two to apply the walk and stalk method.

[seancasey]

I have hunted on the ground and in a stand. I prefer to be in a stand because of scent and vision. i have had luck in both positions. I plan to try stalking later in the season this year. Maybe it will turn out for the good!!!

[hunted]

I definitely hunt from the ground, especially when an area isn't fit for tree stand hunting. I have a tent blind, but in my opinion, it's spooked deer because it is still an oddity in the woods. Usually I make my own ground blind out of mostly what I find on the ground in the area where I plan to hunt. This has been a 100% natural solution for not having to always use my tent blind. The great thing about the tent blind is that is a fast set-up and it's portable.

Try to leave your tent blind out in the woods for at least a week before you hunt from it so that the deer have a chance to get used to it. Spray it down with a scent-blocking spray to cover your human odor. And never stay in one spot longer than 3 days.

One last thing I'd like to mention about hunting from the ground is that I hunt mostly in farm country and the one thing I found useful when hunting on the ground is using abandoned farm equipment and hay bales as a means of cover. I shot a nice eight pointer from behind an old combine that's been sitting in the farmer's woods for years. That was an adrenaline rush of hunt!

[WTAILHUNTER]

This is a very interesting thread....

Mainly because this year I am going to hunt from the ground with my bow for the first time...and it was interesting to here what others say. I can always tell who more then likely harvest deer every year, nice deer not sh*% a*@ does. There the ones who are doing things right. And yes location has some to do with it as far as oportunity and antler development.

I'm not trying to toot my own horn but I do consider myself to be a very good hunter and my brother to be one of the best ever...why? well I don't know anyone else who has stalked up on 4 deer nice big bucks in hardwood oaks and killed them in there beds with a bow on public land. I don't care who you are...that's impressive. 4 deer with a bow on the ground in there beds..Wow I have an awsome story about this buck that walked up to him feeding, but it's one of those you have to be there animated stories ya know, maybe another time.

You have to do everything right for that to happen.

I swear my brother is always thinking of ways to make hunting whitetails more challenging because the way we do things really makes it unfair for the deer...

[BuckO]

Mind sharing some tips on your brother's stalking abilities with us???...
Are we talking deer bedded in the snow? Does he follow up tracks... Or is it more of a "spot & stalk" technique?

[WTAILHUNTER]

Mind sharing some tips on your brother's stalking abilities with us???...
Are we talking deer bedded in the snow? Does he follow up tracks... Or is it more of a "spot & stalk" technique?

It is a spot and stalk... move one small step not even the lenght of your foot and very slowly glass the woods.(this is the patients part because it is so easy to miss an antler sticking up because it looks like a branch or an ear twitch that looks like a squirrel on a stump) He has 4 kills with bow this way and 2 with a gun...
I don't think any were in snow all fall hardwoods. I asked him the same question he said it takes more patients then most anyone is capable of. It can take him 3 hours to go 50 yards maybe more, any little snap of a stick under your feet you have to stand still for 20 minutes before continuing. If anyone has actully tried this it is sooooo hard to do. The actual patients it takes is mind boggaling. I will start into the woods and been hunting for two hours look back and still be able to see where I started(it plays mind games with your head big time) You know how it is when you can see nothing and step 12 inches forward and see all kinds of things you couldn't 12 inches before...it's amazing.

This is what sets some apart from the others and is also how you become more successful in our opinion...

[BuckO]

For someone who doesn't want to toot his own horn your pretty good at it dude.
I've been hunting since before you where squirtin' mustard probably, just asked a simple question, don't appreciate the vainty in your tagline at the end.

By the way, "Patience" is a virtue... "Patients" are for doctors.
Try a bit less time stalking and a few hours reading a book maybe.

oh yeah... BTW it's "mind boggling" too.

[WTAILHUNTER]

For someone who doesn't want to toot his own horn your pretty good at it dude.
I've been hunting since before you where squirtin' mustard probably, just asked a simple question, don't appreciate the vainty in your tagline at the end.

By the way, "Patience" is a virtue... "Patients" are for doctors.
Try a bit less time stalking and a few hours reading a book maybe.

oh yeah... BTW it's "mind boggling" too.

I was giving kudos to my brother not myself DUDE!

I didn't mean to offend you BuckO, you ask a question and I have a habit of going into detail must be my engineering back ground. (I like details)

Lets see I'm almost 40 and you may have been hunting before I was squirtin but if you knew you wouldn't have asked..Right dude

And I obviously have a habit of misspelling words when doing the two finger shuffle. We can't all be like you BuckO...

Oops it's vanity not vainty...I guess you are human like the rest of us. If your going to take the time to bash someone else on the board about there spelling at least cover your own arse...

[Tenpoint]

Hi Boys...Tenpoint here....Let's keep in mind what the tread topic is....Still Hunting. Let's stay on topic. This is not the place to continue this argument. Please, let's try to get along.

Tenpoint

[WTAILHUNTER]

Let's keep in mind what the tread topic is....Still Hunting

I agree...

[BuckO]

Agreed... I re-read the thread and I apologize for getting surly with you WTAILHUNTER. Let's talk hunting._BuckO

[WTAILHUNTER]

Agreed... I re-read the thread and I apologize for getting surly with you WTAILHUNTER. Let's talk hunting._BuckO

No problem! at first I was like what the hell is he talking about then I read the bottom of what I wrote..

This is what sets some apart from the others and is also how you become more successful in our opinion...

And I can see how that could be taken as condescending but that was not my intention I was trying to compliment everyone on the forum that is a serious hunter...

[BuckO]

Did you get that wall hanger in your avatar that way?

[WTAILHUNTER]

No! I got him with the smoke pole while hunting with a buddy of mine about 3 years ago.

[Tenpoint]

Thanks guys.....If only it were that easy to solve all the world's problems.

Cheers,
Tenpoint

[WIDeerSlayer]

I hunt from the ground, more because it gets too expensive to buy our whole family treestands, and if you find a nice, high spot to place a ground blind it's just as effective as a treestand

[WTAILHUNTER]

This is going to be my bow/camera set up for ground hunting this year...



Man I can't wait...

[rackoholic]

it doesnt seem like there is anyone on this sight anymore. ground hunting i find to be a little funner because of the amount of deer i see. but the amount of deer ive harvested on the groudn is the same as in a tree at this time. last night i had a buck under me for the second day in a row and cant shoot it. i shot my bucks already and need to take a doe with my extra permit in n.h.

[MIBuckSlayer65]

Mind sharing some tips on your brother's stalking abilities with us???...
Are we talking deer bedded in the snow? Does he follow up tracks... Or is it more of a "spot & stalk" technique?

It is a spot and stalk... move one small step not even the lenght of your foot and very slowly glass the woods.(this is the patients part because it is so easy to miss an antler sticking up because it looks like a branch or an ear twitch that looks like a squirrel on a stump) He has 4 kills with bow this way and 2 with a gun...
I don't think any were in snow all fall hardwoods. I asked him the same question he said it takes more patients then most anyone is capable of. It can take him 3 hours to go 50 yards maybe more, any little snap of a stick under your feet you have to stand still for 20 minutes before continuing. If anyone has actully tried this it is sooooo hard to do. The actual patients it takes is mind boggaling. I will start into the woods and been hunting for two hours look back and still be able to see where I started(it plays mind games with your head big time) You know how it is when you can see nothing and step 12 inches forward and see all kinds of things you couldn't 12 inches before...it's amazing.

This is what sets some apart from the others and is also how you become more successful in our opinion...

And for those of us with ADHD? (Like Me) I've tried this and failed many times...I love to do this after we've just gotten a couple of inches of Fresh powder or it's been rainy...(the woods are so much more quiet) It's really hard to do when you get freezing rain, or the sun has melted the top layer of snow and it refroze at night...crunch... crunch... crunch or those extremely dried days when the leaves have dropped. Still hunting is a great test of a persons patience, skill and self discipline...I suck at all three.

It's still fun to try...trying to be all "Ninja" in the woods.

Good luck,

Mike

Mason, MI

[VABigBucks]

I like to hunt from the ground. I set up a ground blind usually in early Sept. This way the deer become accustomed to seeing it there. I usually like to make them out of Cedar trees which I chop down with my machete. Also like to take a few Oak limbs as well and build it up with leaves around the base to hide my feet movements. I've taking quite a few deer from sitting behind it. Works so well I was hunting the other day and a doe ran up to about 10 yards from me and wouldn't have stopped if I hadn't turned around to see what was charging me. I couldn't figure out why she was running so hard at me until about 20 mins later here comes some hounds tracking her. I also bagged a 8 pointer this year sitting on a bucket behind a small oak which had some limbs that covered my upper half, had the oppurtunity to raise my rifle, click off the saftey and take the shot without him seeing the first movement.

[rackoholic]

ground blinds are always a good idea and quite frankly i would rather be in that then in a tree. even bow hunting i would rather be on the ground. i harvested a 5 pointer last year on the last day of firearm season sitting on a milkcrate i found and just like u i had plenty of time to pull off the shot. thismorning my family and i went to a peice of woods where my uncle had shot a 4 pointer with his bow this year(on the ground) nad today he got a 125 pound doe and my mother got a 100 pound spike both from the ground

[MIBuckSlayer65]

Well today 11/30...is the last day of firearm deer season in Michigan...also the same day that we're having a "Winter Storm Warning" FREAKING AWESOME!. Anyways I know that they are going to be moving...I was right as I pull into the parking area (yeah, I"m stuck with State Land) there's a dude pulling out a "3 1/2 point"...{it's state land and there is NO QDM...'if it's brown it's down', sad but true, I took my first deer with a bow on the 9th 6 days from the opener of Gun Season...only a 3pt but...I figured he was going to be dead in a week so better in my Freezer than some "Ahole" from Detroit} anyways I was an hour late; 12noon go figure...so anyways I'm 'gearing up' the the dude with the deer is 'stuck' in the parking lot...good karma I give him a push and get him going....anyways back to deer hunting...almost 'perfect' NINJA Deer hunter conditions...cept the snow is kind of wet & creaky (sounds like a fart when you step down)...so I go to my 'spot' set up my treestand...start climbing and I"m glad I did...it was the only way to see anything in the swamp...all the snow made all the limbs droop...didn't see any deer and heard very little shooting...so I"m thinking all the City Boys packed it in and went home when the freezing rain started (I love Michigan's Weather). Got myself one of those Tree Stand Umbrellas by Gorilla Tree Stand Co...only $11 at "Wally World" aka Walmart...the dude that thought that one up was a freaking Einstein...best $11 bucks I spent all season. Like I said...I didn't see a deer tonight...but watching the snow pile up was pretty cool and to see how the forest/swamp transformed under 6" of snow was amazing! I also found out how "waterproof" my stuff was with all the wet snow going sideways...I think I just dried out.

Oh well, the woods will "cool down" for 5 days and then it's muzzle-loader season...the pressure won't be as great so I'm thinking that the hunting will get better...who knows.

[ironhead]

Go gettem!

[Hound]

I have harvested three deer from trees and 14 from the ground. Twice multiple deer from the same spot within minutes .When rattling I find it more effective to be on the ground kicking leaves and breaking twigs with my feet as I am rattling.this guy was shot off a chair beside a tree. The three deer in five min were also from a chair
I shot the doe the buck came in so I shot him and then the fawn came in and vennison veal is too good to leave to the coyotes.

hound

[Gamehog]

Cool pictures hound. Looks like your hunting Ontario by the looks of your hat ? I do a lot of bow hunting from the ground and have had good success with it. I bring a chair and slowly creep in as close to there bedding as I can get with the wind in my face and set up in blow downs and sit back and wait. Hunting from the ground in different locations keeps the bucks from patterning you. It's a good feeling of accomplishment when it all comes together.