Ground hunting....do you?
 

How many guys out there hunt on the ground, in or out of blinds. Personally last year as most of you guys know I broke my leg/ankle blah blah and hunted off the ground quite a bit. Actually I kinda got hooked on this site so you guys could lift my spirits when I was stuck at home. Anyways, I hunted off the ground all of last season and took a few deer. How many of you guys hunt of the ground with regularity? If you do hunt off the ground do you prefer it to hunting out of the stand?

I'm just trying to get a convo going.

Personally I like changing it up and hunting on the ground every once and a while, only if the wind is perfect and I've washed up with scent killing products.

If you are interested in hunting in the ground and have never done it, I'd def. recommend Fred Asbell's book "the ground hunter's bible" it's a good read. Shoot, it's good to read even if you're not going to hunt off the ground, helpful tips and tactics not just for traditional hunters, but stuff that can be applied to guys who hunt 30' off the ground.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I only stalk or ambush on the ground. In my mind, is the most challenging and rewarding.:D

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

Although I mostly hunt from a treestand, under certain circumstances I do hunt on the ground. That in large part depends on where I am hunting, terrain, etc. I've taken two P&Y bucks from the ground. I've also found that in the very late season ground hunting can be very productive because many of the deer are looking up. Crouching beside a tree or in brush aside from a trail works well.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

Took the words right outta my mouth.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I always hunt off the ground i find it to be very rewarding. It is pretty hard though you're movement and scent have to both be pretty muchnon exhistant it seems.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

What the heck is a tree stand??? Never heard of such a thing! :D:D:D

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I absolutely love hunting from the ground! The thing I like most about ground hunting is being on the animals level, I arrowed one of my first archerywhitetail bucks from the ground, I had never even heard of a treestand back then in Idaho and he the buckhad no idea as to my whereabouts when the arrow went screaming though both of his lungs at 12 yards. His nose wasstuck in a does rump, he jumped out of the big scrape he was standing in, spun and then almost ran me over in my makeshift naturalground blind. I waved my hand in reflexthinkinghe was going topummel me. At the last second he made likeole #20 rb from theDetroitLions stopped on a dime, juked and thenbolted straight away 40-50 yards on a dead run before tumbling arse over tea-kettle and was done, I got to watch it all! It was wicked!His neck was swollenup like he was on 'roidsand he dressed over 200lbs, Yeah, I love hunting 'em on the ground ever since that drizzly day, still do it today. I get a whole different "high" out of shooting a critter at eye level. I probably bowhunt about 40/60 ground versus stands, and I like both methodsfordifferent reasons. Bulls and bears on the ground with abow in hand..just as exciting if not better than deer!

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

Ground hunting!! All Spot and Stalk, except for the Rut, thenI make a ground blind.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I always hunt out of a tree stand, I find it the most rewarding, this just boils down to personal preference. The only time I hunt from the ground is walking to and from my stands. Ive hunted from the ground many times, but I can get a better view of whats happening around me from an elevated position. I have better success from a standbecause I getbetter shot placement, better shot opportunities and angles, better blood trails on pass throughs, better success on recovering the animals, that to me is more rewarding then shooting a deer from the ground and in some areas its the ONLY option. Some people find shooting a traditional bow more rewarding than shooting a compound, a compound gives me a higher chance of recovering an animal so I'll stick with compounds even though I own and shoot a recurve pretty good.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I hunt both in a treestand and in a ground blind. I tend to do more of the former because of the areas I find to be most productive. However, I really do enjoy hunting out of a ground blind as well. It seems as if every year I hunt out of them a bit more often. I just bought a new one and hope to try it out for turkey here in a few weeks.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

Whitetails from the air, everything else from the ground. However I did set up a treestand for brown bear last fall and saw quite a few blacktails out of it. Hmmm... something to think about for next year.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

100% from the trees.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

all ground hunting here for the last 10 yrs i dont like hieghts .

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I started hunting with an old recurve and wooden arrows. now I hunt with a modern Mathews with sights micro adjustable rest carben arrows string' limnb and what have ya scilencers etc. etc. In other words I have changed with the times and I have used treestands since the Baker Brothers built the first portable stand. I will be the first one to admit that hunting from a tree stand is more productive and yes easier. But I take advantage of everything I can in the deer woods. Now with a gun I do sometimes use a ground stand but still perfer a tree stand. Mike

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I like the ground better. I read so many responses to posts like this saying you'll get way more deer from a treestand but I think both methods have their advantages. And I don't buy the arguement that you conceal scent or movement better from a treestand - if you're taking the right precautions on the ground. Both can be just as effective from my limited experience bow hunting.

I'll also agree with the terrain factor. I got spotted a few times in a treestand this year by deer cruising a ridge a hundred yards off that was only a few feet lower than my stand. So I learned really quickly that a ground blind wasa much better setup in a situation like this. A trip to the farm store and $50 spent on a cheap pop-up and I was seeing a lot more deer within 25 yards of the same spot.

Hey PA Bowhunter, mind shooting me an e-mail or PM about what kind of blind you got? Looking to upgrade this year to something more roomy.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I do both. I let the terrain dictate which method I should use.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

When I'm in a new area, I want to be in a tree so I can see more of whats happening. Sort of on-the-job-scouting.

I'll hunt on the ground if the wind is goign to make a major switch during the day, if I want to hunt more than one location in a day, or if there is snow on the ground and not too many hunters are about.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I do almost all bowhunting out of a tree.I tried a blind [cheap one] it
seemed to spoke the deer,although I did shoot a young doe out of it.
I found a old abanded house with a shed that on the out skirt of a
suburbon area:)This old shed makes the best ground blind I have
ever seen,shot alot of deer out of it in the last two years.;)

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I am an avid ground hunter.. and very aggressive at that. I love the stand when conditions are right and you really need to observe more. When it has been time for the kill, I've been known to hunt from the ground.

I've taken several deer and several coyotes from the ground and enjoy the up close attitude from a ground position.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

good posts boys. Keep 'em coming.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I love hunting off of the ground with my bow. I have always seen many more deer out of the air and had more shot opportunities but i love to be on eye level with them. You have limited movement you can make and you look into his eyes before you shoot and to me there is no other experience like that.


The only down side is that during bow season i hunt bya ditch an you have never seen this many misquitos in you life and i thank god for a bug tamer jacket.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I am on the ground or in a treestand about an equal amount of time. My favorite ground hunting is in the early season. Set yourself back 4 or 5 rows in a corn field and wait as the deer work the edge of the corn, very productive.

AlthoughI use them, I think treestands (mainly portables, not climbers)can be the downfall of many people. Too many times I see people who put up 5-10 portables a year and when deciding which stand to hunt, theymentally become limited to hunting in one of those locations. Its like because they have 5 treestands up, they only have 5 choicesof where to hunt and forget about the rest of the property. It doesnt take long for deerto catch on to stand locations and those stands to burn out. Hunting from the ground allows more mobility and keeps the deer guessing, IMO. Get to a spot half hour earlier in the evening, throw together a quick ground blind and hunt!

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I can't remember a bigger thrill than being on the ground quietly still-hunting along, and hearing the steps of a deer just out of sight.
Did he hear me?
Which way is he moving?
Will I see him before he senses me?
When do I draw?
Why am I always on the wrong foot when I have to freeze?!!

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

Shot two deer from the ground this year, no blind. Still hunting. I shot one deer from a tree stand. I shot lots of hogs from the ground simply stalking them.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

-You got it. I guess us Minnesotans got the same ideas.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

For the longest time I almost always hunting from a perch. Couple years back a had some really cool experiences on the ground, and time constraints that made getting up into a stand not as important. This past fall I took my first archery deer from the ground. It's a rush. I will continue to phase more ground hunting into my arsenal.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

HI die Hard

I have a nice ground blind I use when I turkey hunt & sometimes while deer hunting.
I like to use a treestand too, but with my blind I can move all over if I need to

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

screw the treestand, it's just easier. ground hunting is basically more rewarding where i go. besides, if u hunt in a treestand u have to scout all the animal routine crap out. too much work=too much scouting=mature bucksprobably willknow there's too many humans. spot and stalk is the best tactic ever. besides, if u see a Pope & Young buck 100 yards away and ur in a treestand, ur screwed. but if ur ground hunting and youare goodat it... he's basically yours

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

Personally I enjoy getting higher. I like the POV. Plus I've heard myriad of reasons from better blood trails to reduced scent and movement detection.I would like to get a few tripods to put out at the ranch this year.

HOWEVER. Due to the fact that my wife wants to go with me this year(my first bow season in 10 years-WOHOO!) to photograph and video for me, I may try a DblBull matrix, IF I can save up enough to afford one. If not I may just go to old stand by and get some camo mesh/netting/burlap stuff and stretch it between a hand full of trees. I did this many times as kid and had some success. Well, at seeing deer anyways. I never got a shot off, but had a few deer come so close I would be better off with a lance, a broadsword or a dad-gum old baseball bat!

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I use both. Mainly hunt out of a tree but I have a Matrix and am not afraid to use it. If the situation calls for ground hunting I will definately do it.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

I hunt on the ground at times, when I do I use a ground blind unless I am still hunting or stalking. I honestly prefer a tree stand over a ground blind for most of my deer hunting, I like the view of being up in the tree and being able to see better.

RE: Ground hunting....do you?
 

i spend a little more time in a tree stand than on the ground, i like to still/stalk hunt when conditions are right but im the type of person that cant sit, even in my tree stands i stand up 90% of the time. so using a ground blind makes me feel trapped and id just rather not. im not against using a blind by any means, they just arent ideal for me.