hunting on the ground?
05-10-2008 | 03:10 PM
#12
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 0
From: Morgan County, IL
RE: hunting on the ground?
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.
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.
05-11-2008 | 08:58 AM
#15
Typical Buck
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
RE: hunting on the ground?
95+% of the time I hunt from a ladderstand, homemade treestand, or box stand for whitetails. However, I took my first archery whitetail (doe) from a pop-up ground at 15 yards and she had no idea.
I get busted by significantly more deer when in my ground blind, I beleive this is because I do not leave the blind up long enough and they are spooked by it. I exclusively hunt turkey from my pop-up and have had numerous deer nail me, but I don't go scent-free for turkey.
If I have the opportunity I always hunt up high with archery (and gun for that matter).
I get busted by significantly more deer when in my ground blind, I beleive this is because I do not leave the blind up long enough and they are spooked by it. I exclusively hunt turkey from my pop-up and have had numerous deer nail me, but I don't go scent-free for turkey.
If I have the opportunity I always hunt up high with archery (and gun for that matter).
05-11-2008 | 02:22 PM
#16
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Navarre, Ohio
RE: hunting on the ground?
I only hunt on the ground... Doing this provides me with a unique way of archery hunting... i rely on wind patterns and intense scent control to be successful... this past season, i just sat down in a thorn bush on a fallen log... I had a young 6-point come within 15 feet while i was doing a grunt call... harvested an old 10 point the same evening at less than 10 yards... This type of hunting is very exciting!
05-12-2008 | 08:02 AM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
RE: hunting on the ground?
ORIGINAL: shamlin
A deer stand does very little to keep the deer from smelling you, it gives you a better vantage point and it keeps you from being eye level with the deer. I hunt from the ground with a rifle and have had alot of success.
I dont necessarily think you have to have a scent lok suit to successfully mask your scent. A shower and good cover scent have always worked for me, and to be mindful of the wind.
Buy the stand and some no-scent soap, maybe some earth scent waffers, youll be good to go.
A deer stand does very little to keep the deer from smelling you, it gives you a better vantage point and it keeps you from being eye level with the deer. I hunt from the ground with a rifle and have had alot of success.
I dont necessarily think you have to have a scent lok suit to successfully mask your scent. A shower and good cover scent have always worked for me, and to be mindful of the wind.
Buy the stand and some no-scent soap, maybe some earth scent waffers, youll be good to go.
