GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

YOU KNOW AFTER READING THE RESPONSES FROM THIS MORNINGS POST (HOLY @#$T)I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT. WELL HERE GOES- I THINK THAT TO CONSIDER YOURSELF A REALLY GOOD BOWMAN YOU SHOULD HUNT(OR LEARN TO) FROM A GROUND BLIND - NOW LET ME SUPPORT THIS STATEMENT BEFORE EVERYONE GETS THEIR PARTY HORNS ALL STANDING UP.

I HAVE BEEN BOW HUNTING SINCE I WAS 12 (45 NOW) AND THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST YEAR I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY TIME ON THE GROUND. WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT I HAVE REALLY HAD TO HONE ALL OF MY ABILITIES TO THE BEST THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR ESPECIALLY AT CRITICAL TIMES. YOU MUST SIT STILL, YOU CANNNOT MAKE FAST MOVEMENTS, YOU MUST BE SCENT FREE, AND YOU PERCEPTION OF YOUR SURRONDINGS MUST BE IN TOP FORM. NOW ANY OF YOU GROUND HUNTERS TELL ME IF I AM WRONG.


I FOR ONE HAVE A NEW FOUNDNESS FOR THE SPORT THAT I ALREADY LIVE FOR. I BELEIVE THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD A GREAT HUNT OR BEEN INVOLVED IN A GREAT GROUND HUNT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

HUNT ON HUNT HARD EAT WELL

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

chef...DON"T YELL ! !

All kidding aside. I haven't had much of an opportunity to hunt from a tree. Most of my hunting has been done from the ground. I really don't know any other way.

I love being "Close" to the action. This year I got my first deer ever. A really nice buck taken after a decent stalk. Man what satisfaction.



&quot;It's not the kill, it's the adventure and challenge! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>&quot;

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

<img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle>

Protect your hunting rights, &quot;Spay or neuter a liberal.&quot;

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I agree, use to hunt 50/50, now the only time I'm in a tree is bear season. Ground hunting gives me more freedom to move with deer and wind. Well you mentioned all the other stuff.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I just called in and killed my first coyote with my bow last weekend, on the ground, no blind, caught on film. I've called and killed many yotes in the past years, but this one was the most exciting by far. You can read my story on the small game, predator forum. It's definatley more challenging, but what a rush.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

This is my second year bowhunting. Last year I only hunted my treestand, however after not being within range of any deer I decided to hunt on the ground this year. Season has only been open a month and I have been able to get within range of several deer just by sitting behind bushes off trails. Just last weekend I was sitting in my new spot behind a bush off a field and a deer came up behind me and was only 2 yards from me, the night before I had 3 bucks within 10 yards. They all came in from awkward angles, behind to the right and as I'm right handed I have to turn to shoot. Although I've got busted every time on my draw I learned an important lesson.

When a deer comes in undetected and you have to move to get a shot always draw and then move, preferably in one motion. Although they are alerted to movement all the deer I've seen pause for a second giving just enought time for a shot before running off. Alot of the deer that busted me only ran like 30 yards before stopping and trying to figure what happened. When I moved then tried to draw I get busted every time.

Is this what everyone else does? Hopefully I'll be able to prove my theory this upcomming weekend with my first bow kill.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I have to mostly hunt from the ground this year! ON the count of when i was climbing up my K-mart brand climbing stick (i prefer to call it spaghetti string climber because of its unstable feeling) snapped off ay 12 feet. Just broke off clean when i was climbing it, all 220lbs 6'3 of my gump a$$ went stumbling with it and landed on the only jagged tree stump around the whole area! That kinda hurt badly god thing my bow and broadheads werent with me as i was scouting...Havn't got a deer with a bow on the ground yet this year, but did get a 170lb doe with my .06 during the youth firearm season (despite my size im still only 16). What a rush it is hunting on the ground! I will probably get one of those Gucci climbing stands though! once i can get the money...The summit goliath looks pretty darn comfy, matter fact im agettin tired at the thought!
-Jon

&quot; My Name is Bocephus&quot;

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

chef#1,you are 100 percent right.ground hunting white tails is a whole lotta fun.i love the fact that you measure deer in feet,rather then in yards.i have been ground hunting deer for many years,although i generaly will have at least one tree stand set up most of my time is spent on the ground.you give the deer a big advantage huntin from the ground(like the deer needs any more advantage,lol) and your camo must work in the surroundings.but when a nice buck is ten feet away(wheather you can shoot or not)you know you have done somthing right.its a feeling you just can't get being 15 feet up a tree.i think the one thing thats most benificial about ground huntin is &quot;mobility&quot; being mobile is an important key to sticking a nice buck.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

Beware....
Ground blind hunting could lead to still hunting. Still hunting could test your career and marriage!

Ain't nothin' like being at eye level with a deer.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

This past weekend I left the climber at home. I had a doe and a spike feeding 10 yds in front of me for 15 minutes. No blind, just real good camo. On this particular WMA, you can't shoot does or spikes with less than 5&quot; visible(this one was 4&quot;). But man how awesome it was to be that close at ground level. I'm stoked to get back in there this weekend.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

chef I hunt both ways, ground and tree stand, both are exciting, but you are so right, there is no adreniline rush or test of skills higher than being eye level with a deer. The only thing that is a bigger rush is stalking.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I agree wiht FredBearFan,
Tree stands serve a purpose, Ground blinds do also but an improved ground blind built of branches and stuff, A bush and just plain still hunting are a real test of your woodsmanship!
Add to it the range we need to be with a bow and it makes it all the more of a challange.
Good Luck


Greg

&quot;Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus.&quot;

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I ground hunt 100%%%%%%

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

Chef,

I agree and I don't. You are half right. Yes on the ground. No on the blind. If you really want to &quot;HONE ALL OF MY ABILITIES TO THE BEST THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR ESPECIALLY AT CRITICAL TIMES&quot; try it with a good camo set without the blind.

Hey man just giving you a hard time. This is the first year I have been able to try the approach. They don't have many good trees for climbers or ladders in this part of Oklahoma. Actually its quite liberating and waiting in the 5 to 20 yard range going one on one &quot;mano a deero&quot; for a couple of hours till you get the shot is good for an adrenaline rush to leave you week for a little while.

Congratulations on the liberation and life is FINE!

&quot;Size may not matter but it sho IS nice!&quot; [/quote]

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

Been there done that this year. Check it out these pictures of successfull hunt. http://www.whitetailcentral.com/DanCs.htm

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I don't like sitting in tree stands. I just got back tonight from my elk hunt(no I didn't score) Saw over 30 bull elk and only three cows and I had a cow tag. Chased a sharptail grouse into a thicket and sat down on a stump when a 6x6 bull stood up from his bed at 31 yards! I froze and he stayed by me for over 10 minutes. Guess the scent lok or camo pattern works plus I didn't move a hair. Ilove getting close on the ground. Also saw a bear and a mountain lion at close range and they didn't spook. At my age just happy to be out there creepin' around.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I hunt both way's but what you said about you had to hone all your ability's for ground hunting it kinda make's it sound like tree stand hunting is easy,all the thing's you stated go with both and if your not then you really have no place out there we as hunter's owe the animal that to be our best,If I have miss understood your comment then I apologize

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

Each type of hunting offers it's own unique challenges. Ground hunting allows the deer to scent you much easier, but it also allows movement to conceal yourself when a deer comes into sight and you can easily switch the direction of your attention, according to how the wind is blowing. I ground hunted for 12 years and took just as many animals as I do now in my tree stand. In fact, when I ground hunted, it was with a recurve, so maybe it was even easier.

In a treestand, my scent is harder for the deer to detect, but once I'm up there, I'm at the mercy of circumstances. The wind can change, the deer can come from unexpected directions. It's more difficult getting into position for a shot, and many animals walk by with no good shot that I could have taken from the ground with the ability to move into position.

Neither method is better or more difficult. Your preparedness will make or break you with each.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

ya'll talked me into it, I'm trying it this afternoon.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I have hunted for 38 year and have taken 50 to 60 deer but, 98% have been taken from a tree stand. I have taken them on the ground before staking are in a blind. I like to hunt from a blind because you can move around more in it, set on a nice chair and here in Iowa you can get out of the cold wind but, they call them blind for a reason you can't see very far out of them. I have been hunting with may 11 year old grandson out of blind and it's nice but, he is going to a tree stand so, he can see more deer and maybe get one. I will stay with a tree stand and set in the cold wind freezing my butt off, my leg hurting because I can't move around and having to set real still so they don't see me but, I can see them coming and get ready for a shot are I can see there movment and set up for them on the next trip out. I have taken a lot of P&Yer by seeing them coming out at a point and move on them and killing on the first time set.

Bowdon

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

I have a neat ground blind that I &quot;trick up&quot; with existing twigs, branches, and other stuff. It's one of those pop-up umbrella looking things that you use in a tree stand (has a &quot;bite&quot; taken out of it, so it form fits around a tree). It looks really cool and has enough room for me to crouch down behind.

I want to get a tree stand for next season, but then, I've never been up in a tree stand! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> I might need to hook up with Tazman and have him show me how it's done. Kind of like, &quot;hey, if he can do it, then I can do it&quot;! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> hehehehe....

Butch

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

Butch so far I have only hunted from a hanging tree stand twice in over 35 years, all my other treestands are home made from wood and fairly comfortable and you can turn and shoot from them almost all the way and in some cases a full 360 degrees. I will be honest the two times I hunted from hang on stands and I was not really comfortable in them, too confining and the constant feel of just hanging there ready to fall at any time even though I wear a safety belt.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

Okay, now I get the picture, Taz.... Sorry. I thought you used climbers and hang-ons on and so forth. Permanent wooden tree stands are excellent. I found one that somebody made down at Powhatan WMA. It was a small 2x4 framed stand that looked to be only 10 feet or so in the air. It was built inbetween 3 big branches of a big oak tree, and for some odd reason, was covered in roof shingles. No name, no ownership tag, no anything on it, and no way to climb up to it (the person must bring a sectional climbing stick or something).

Another question: Do you hunt right after work during the week? I'd like to do that too, but don't know about leaving my bow in my truck or having to change into my camo pullovers or whatever. I get out of work at 5:00pm and could easily be at the two nearby WMA's (Amelia and Powhatan) by 5:30 or so. Is that a good time to hunt?

Butch

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

ButchA, don't leave your bow in a vehicle on a hot or warm day. You'll be cracking limbs.
I love to hunt on the ground. I've had just as much success as with a climber but I still hunt both ways, depending on the situation.

RE: GROUND BLIND BOW HUNTING ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?
 

CHEF,

You think you need nerves of steel you should dive in and read Ausie guy's story from this morning.

His was check your shorts time.