During archery season, the only way I hunt is from up above.

BUT, 9 times out of 10 during gun season I'm on the ground. I do it for several reasons:

1. During bow season, you pick up on minor pattern changes or behavior tendancies of deer during the last few days/weeks of bow season, and me, not wanting to risk spooking anything by putting up a stand during a crucial time, will just plop my butt on the ground in an area I want to be in.

2. Mobility. Things get pretty wacky during the IL gun season, Deer can come from anywhere at any time. I shot a large deer a few years ago that had been jumped from a neighboring property. I spotted him running in the distance and cut him off after a 100 yd. sprint.

3. You are much quieter when entering your location. How many times have you made a quiet approach to you stand only to bonk your bow/gun off of your stand/climbing stick while pulling it up with a rope?

4. Ive found that in the area of IL that I gun hunt the deer seem to get real flighty by the end of opening weekend, and it helps to be able to just go and sit wherever you want, secluded trails, thickets, etc. I guess this just ties into #2.