Ditto. I hunt from the ground 95% of the time. I don't own a portable tree stand or ground blind. Around here we got a lot of cedar trees and hedgeapples and stuff like that. Not too much mature hardwood timber except for the ocassional cottonwood. I use the cedar trees most often. I find a good trail with a lot of sign. Then I look downwind for and locate a mature cedar tree with the first set of limbs about 3 feet off the ground. I slide in under the limbs and clip off whatever small branches I need to clear a SMALL shooting lane. I carry a pair of gardening shears in my backpack, which also serves as a pretty good backrest. I then break up the fresh cedar branches around me. The scent of fresh cedar helps cover my scent. I've had deer come within 5 feet of me doing that. Be careful of your movements though. One turn of your head at the wrong time and it's over.

PS: I'm in southwestern Iowa so I imagine the terrain I have is somewhat similar to what your hunting in northern MO

KEEP IT LEGAL. KEEP IT SAFE. OR WE MAY NOT GET TO KEEP IT AT ALL.

Edited by - budbowhunter on 12/09/2002 19:11:30