hunted whitetail bucks for last 45 years or so here in pa..i had to think which is better.i would say that ground hunting is better in archery when deer are not pressured as much. i saw many bucks out of my stand that i know i could have got on ground.if you watch wind and know where buck is coming /going, ground is best as you can MOVE . the biggest bucks i got over years were always takenon ground.they walked right by me at 10 to 20 yards.in rut you cant pattern a buck.i see hunters in treestands and hear same comments, buck went here, he never stopped and went there and there.when i am on ground i can dog that big buck while he has doe on his mind.trust me, a lot of times that big buck does not care if i am following him .so, i hunt both tree and ground but my best bucks were always on ground because i could MOVE. take care. p.s, i hunt no higher than 12 to 14 ft above ground.i have yet to have deer smell me, so, getting up 20 ft 25 ft 30 ft ,well, ha, do i have to answer that,take care.