I hunt from stands and the ground depending on the circumstances. To date I have taken 2 Pope & Young class bucks from the ground.....one at 8 yrds. Wow was that exciting! I think limiting yourself to either way exclusively if able is a mistake.

Cyclone - Have you ever thought of using a stalking stick. It is used to make a two legged person sound like a four legged animal.

Instead of sounding like: crunch crunch crunch (sound of a person walking), you can sound like crunch crunch crunch crunch (sound of a deer walking). I do this by using a 5 or 6 foot long walking/stalking stick. I generally move it straight up and down while walking slowly, letting it hit the ground just after the sound is made with my foot. Sometimes I will kick it a little forward to make it produce the same sound as my foot.

Have you ever watched deer in a field. They will turn and look in a certain direction. Their ears will turn and listen, yet they do not spook. Then, another deer will enter the field from the direction they were looking. That is how deer react when using a stalking stick. They want to see "who" (other deer) is coming, but will not spook until they see or smell you. If you sound like a human walking, you will spook the deer before you even get close. If you are patient and move slowly, you can get close to deer without spooking them, even in the dryest conditions.

I always use a stalking stick to and from my stand or when still hunting. I have had deer come in to investigate me (along with a pair of coyotes one time).

Anyway, I think this is a little known trick that can be quite effective.

I would never shy away from a good area due to having to hunt on the ground. I would say the majority of my deer taken have come from the ground. I love stand hunting as well, it does let you see better, farther and lets you get away with more movement, etc. But for sheer thrill the ground is much better, being on their level and knowing your movements have to be concealed and calculated...well that's hunting in a nut shell.

So go for it, get in that area that no man wants to venture and be prepared to have some fun. Don't forget wind direction is an absolute key on the ground!!!!!

I love to hunt from the ground, especially in a stick 'n move fashion. I prefer to hunt light, taking only what fits in my pockets or can be stuffed under my jacket. All of the blinds I use are natural blinds, either pre-existing like blowdowns, brushpiles, or drainage ditches, or put together in advance by tying a framework of branches together and filling in with brush. Sometimes I augment them with a small piece of leafy military netting that I can stuff under my jacket.

In the mornings, I like to sit a couple of hours in a brush blind, then stillhunt through the thick Pennsylvania woodlot(s). If it's wet or windy I always bag the blinds to take advantage of such perfect stillhunting conditions. I usually carry a small pair of hand pruning shears in my right pocket to quietly trim thorny limbs out of my path instead of noisily battling my way through them. If I'm not seeing action in one spot, I often move to where I think the deer might be.

My most exciting hunts are the times when I spot deer making their way across or along a field. I'll drop everything but my quiver and bow to sprint the long route around a field or through a woodlot to try to intercept them. Depending on the situation, I might have no time to spare (or cover to hide in) and literally have to dive behind the tallest weeds I can find to lay in wait. Time permitting, I prefer to quickly and quietly finding a more suitable spot, or even stalk them if our paths will converge at the same time. I've killed three of my last four deer in two years doing this. I can honestly say that no other type of hunting gets my heart beating faster than sprinting a 1/4 mile with mear seconds to spare before releasing an arrow at an approaching whitetail. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I even practice shooting while laying on my belly, but as of yet, I haven't had an opportunity to take a shot at a deer like that.

I don't have a stand so all I can do is hunt from the grownd.
Shot many animals, most under 20 yards. The thing about grownd hunting or still-hunting is that it takes alot more skill. Besides. I don't think I have the patience to sit in a stand. I'ld have to bring a bunch of food to keep myself busy. Although I don't see how I manage walk around the same speed as a slug either.

Nic

love it wouldn't do it any other way it is a rush.

I bow hunt on the ground till the snow then i hang my stand when the deer are in groups.

Why work when you can hunt???? Heck why work at all!!

I love to hunt from the ground, Ive had a 150 class buck come to ten yards without me getting a shot, I also had a forkhorn walk to 5 yards. I do all my hunting from natural blinds, mostly behind trees....I still have not gotten my stalking down yet, but I will