Ground hunting tips?
 

Hi all I am planning on trying some archery hunting from the ground. I had my back operated on two weeks ago. The doctor said walking is great for me but limit what I carry to no more than 20 pounds and no bending and twisting. I can work that in slowly. So I went in and checked a teal camera out and had 2 nice bucks show up on it. So now I am planning on trying to get one of them to come in for me. I can’t climb a tree stand and lugging in a blind is not an option either. So do any of you have any tips? Thank you all..

I honestly would try to find someone to help you get a good ground blind set up. In and out and you can leave it there all season. If it were me I would also buy one to practice out of. Are you shooting traditional archery or a cross bow? Either way shooting a bow seated from a ground blind is not like shooting a rifle, you shouldn't just go out and do it, at least I wouldn't. It takes some getting used to and practice.

I currently have a ground blind and have shot out of it before while turkey hunting in town where no firearms can be used because of houses. I just no that I can’t carry it in there because of the operation that I have had. I will be shooting a bow so it’s going to be different for sure. I could wait a few more weeks for rifle season. But last year the rut was pretty well over there. So I am hopeful that I can get a jump on them first this year..

Get a gobbler turkey lounger, a crossbow and a decoy . I sit in my chair I use for turkey hunting at the edge of a bush in an opening. I put out the buck decoy and rattle with grunts also. I have had several bucks in to bow range to check out the decoy. From the end of october into the first week or two of november. I find unless I have had a blind out for a while and brushed in good the deer don't like it and skirt it .I just moved to New Brunswick and am going to try this on the edge of the woods here next to a pasture to see if it works here as good as elsewhere. Sorry to hear about your back and good luck !

Why not pull your ground blind to a spot using a sled or a piece of tarp to slide over the ground?

Thank you Timbrhuntr, A decoy might be the ticket if I can get one here in time? It would be set up in the woods though. These deer won’t be out in a field. They like the swails and old swamps. I have them coming up on a ridge using scent. So I will try a brush pile if I can get into one nearby. I would love to have one come up before they get rutting.. There’s two bruisers together right now. Both are 7 pointers but heavy weights..

Thank you and I could try it but would be noisy going in with it. They are already coming into the scenting right now. With the rut starting up in around two weeks and shortly after rifle season I want them to keep coming around..

ground blind
 

i use a popup blind . i dont think it weighs more than 10 lb. it takes some practice to learn how to fold it up. something like rolling up a bandsaw blade. you will need to brush it up for better camo and break up the outline. 86 and bad back dont walk more than a block wthout pain . my motto dont stop until you do.

I have have used a decoy in the woods but make sure you put it where they get sight of it from a bit of a distance. Couple years ago I shot a buck coming along a ridge in the woods to my grunting but he could see the decoy a good 60 yards away. I usually take the decoy out and hide it near where I am hunting so you only have to bring it out once lol Mine has a carry strap like sling so its pretty easy to carry in . The year I had hip surgery I was able to hobble in with it lol Good Luck they can be hard to find this time of year for sure.

I now own a ground shield and have previously fired from it while going south America hunting in a town where gun use is illegal due to the presence of condominiums. All I know is that I can't carry it there because of the surgery I had. We could wait until the shooting season in a few weeks. But the ruts were there last year. So, I'm hoping to be number one this year.

A couple of ideas that would be lightweight:

Somewhere along the line I remember somebody saying they'd improvised a blind by using a big umbrella they just opened up and sat behind. Maybe paint it green.

This one is based off something I do. An old bedsheet, maybe dyed green, hung/tied/thrown over saplings or brush. I use half of an old army pup tent for this and it works fine. A sheet or even some camo cloth material from the sewing section of the department store would be lighter and easy to carry.

Make sure you have something behind you so you do not stick out. Try to set up so you can see them at a distance. Trial and error with cover in front of you.

Lots of sports stores sell a canvas camo cloth used for whatever.

It's light. Throw that and a couple bungee straps into your pack and you have a ground blind.

I've shot deer from the ground with the bow. Both while sitting and still hunting. It can be done.

-Jake

Thank you everyone for the input. I have now entered into rifle season So the blind won’t be much of an issue anymore.. The last day I was bow hunting 20 minutes after I had left the area a big heavy weight 10 pointer shows up. Go figure right. So now I am trying to locate him or any of those heavy weights. So the hunt is still on..

Got a plan for getting one of those north woods fatties out of the woods?

I will go get some help and I have a deer carrier with those bicycle type wheels. That’s my plan if I can connect to one of them..

Phil
I do brush in my ground blinds for deer. I font for turkeys.

On public land here in Wisconsin and during any rifle/deer season the ground must have 144 squares inches of blaze orange or blaze pink to be easily seen in all 4 directions while on PUBLIC land.
​​​​​Private you don't.

I like using balsam bows placed against and over the top to help blnd it in.
JW

Thank you JW, I currently have brush piled up on three sides and a log to sit on for rifle hunting. It’s around 100 yards from the area I am watching. I am hoping one of those heavy weights show up. That big 10 pointer has been there the past few times only at night now though..

I'd post a picture but as of late I'm having problems uploading

For deer I fo try to blend in as much as possible

For turkeys font do a thing.

JW

im the guy with the 4 ft umbrella. it came black now has brown and green leaves camo and extra long ribs on 2 places and handle . poke it into the ground and sit behind
its light and easy to carry and sets up in a minit.

When looking for ground cover, make sure you know what you're looking for. If you don't know what you're looking at, you might not find it. Look for small patches of grasses, weeds, and shrubs that have been growing for a while. These plants tend to be less dense than newer plants, making them easier to spot.

Can you please share what camera do you have? Can anyone suggest a good one? Was thinking about stealth cam. Having checked the stealth reviews at this website. I guess I'll stick to it. But still wold like to hear any personal experience. Anyone?