I started out hunting from the ground, much of the time still hunting. Still hunting is not easy.. and I scared off many more deer than I got a shot at. I mostly hunt public land, and most of the time I use my climbing stand. With a gunI prefer to get as high as possible. I got a buck this year from about 45 feet up. Of course with a bow I dont go as high because of the angle of the shot. Basically, the higher you are the more movement you can get away with. Also even if they smell you they might think you are farther away and might come right under you.
That being said, there is a spot I plan to hunt from a hillside.. so I am going to set up a natural blind.