First time viewer and poster today. Looks like a good group of guys with some helpfull info.

Here is my story, I'll try and give the short version. I hunted very briefly about 10 years ago in Connecticut. Shortly after purchasing a new bow, getting my license, and actually getting in the woods, work forced me to move back to NJ. At the time it was a 6 day a week time constraint and being an insanely harcore salt water fisherman, couldn't find the time to hunt with the little free time I had cause I was fishing. A friend of mine who isa huge bowhunter pushed me back into it this year, 5 days before opening day! LOL So I managed to get my license, get a new rest, peep site, a set of arrows, and practiced twice a day for 4 days. On the 5th day, afternoon before opening day, at full draw, the bow blows up in my face. Both cables broke and the limbs flew off, broke the arrow in half, and smacked me. So, in a panic, I drive 30 minutes to a place that can help me. I went in and was given 3 options, buy new, rebuild, or rebuild w/ better parts. Ok, this is getting long so I'll end it here, it was a 10 year old Hoyt w/ 80 pound limbs. Put different limbs on, command cams, and new cables, serving etc... This just kinda sets the theme forwhy I am discouraged...

My real issue and the reason I registered and posted is because I need help. While my buddy who pushed me back into hunting is exetremely successful, he hasn't been much help to me. I managed to get permission to hunt on two farms in that same week I got the license, rebuilt the bow, and learned how to shoot again. Obviously just days before the season scouting hard was not an option. So, quick looks and a few adjustments here is my scenario. I am hunting a ground blind over bait. Once established I had 7 does coming almost every hunt. Was a little discouraged but feeling ok knowing does were there so during the rut I would start seeing horns. About 3-4 weeks ago, the does all but stopped coming. Borrowed and put up a trail camera for a few days and saw two bucks, a small spike w/ a Y on one side and a decent 7. They were coming in the afternoon and the does were coming at night. Now, I pull the camera and start planning my sits to get there before this 7 was coming. 5 or 6 sits and I see nothing! I am pulling my hair out cause meanhwile I have to hear about how many bucks my buddy is seeing. The next day I walk in at noon to put out more bait, and what do I see 20 yards from the food, and big pile of human poo! You getting the theme here, I just can't win. I can only assume this was a big reason I wasn't seeing deer, so I grab a shovel and get rid of it. Talk to the guys working the farm and beg them to stay away from my corner. They agree and I wait a few days. Last Friday, after 8 hunts, I finally see the 7, at 20 yards broadside face down eating and I shot over his back! Ahhhhhh

So, this long drawn out story is to ask this question. Given my situation, knowing the bucks are now in full rut, aren't really eating the bait, and the does, if coming at all, are coming at night, what would you do? I don't have access to a stand, but there are some large trees in the area and I have on in mind further down the field edge where I believe the deer travel to get to the bait. I want to know what my best option is, given I don't have another stand or blind to use. I probably haven't given enough info to get a complete answer. What I am thinking is hunting from the ground w/out the blind. Using scent (buck bomb) or some other scent. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long winded story!

I hope you're not thinking about climbing up into a tree without a stand and a safety harness. No deer is worth risking life and limb.

Most times when hunting from the ground,it's best if you just take advantage of the natural cover downwind fromthe trail. Take a pair of pruning clippers with you. Find yourself a hidey-hole back in the brush and use the clippers to cut out a couple of holes to shoot through. Or, cut a few small branches and stick them in the ground to break up your outline while you sit with your back to a tree.

No Arthur, not suggesting to climb trees etc... My long winded story really didn't help describe my problem. I am basically hunting just inside a field edge which goes down hill into to woods and intermingled flood plane. I believe the area I have chosen is a dead end corner and the deer have to travel off their normal track to feed at my bait pile. While I have had a few deer come in, I have to assume there are several other deer that aren't. My hope prior to picking up everything and moving, was to do a few sits on the ground. To put the odds in my favor, I was hoping someone could suggest a method of using scent, horns, doe bleet, or grunt. I don't know what else to do, so hunting the ground is my only option for now. Actually gonna be leaving here in less then an hour, so any other tips would be great. Thanks for the reply.

Don't marry your bait pile.

While the deer detour to visit it, they sound as if they're on the way someplace else. If they're only visiting your bait at night that's a good indication that it's in area they are not comfortable with.

You need to figure out where they bed, and ideally, find the point(s)and trails where they divert away from your setup. That's where I'd wait.

Good Luck

[:-]huh?

Thanks Redneck, hard not to stay married to the pile. Hit the swamp beyond my bait today. No stand options, so I climbed up in a tree about 7 feet off the ground that had been blown over in the wind. The roots made a great backrest and blocked me from the direction the deer should have come from. Saw nothing!

NY Bowhunter, you read right! I am actually hunting a tree farm and fall is digging time. The guys must have been digging trees in the back corner near my set up when doody called.