Tips for hunting from the ground.....

[southernarcher]

All I can add is be still, even when you're moving, move slowly, be still. Movement is the biggest in my opinion.I like to still hunt, and I go by this, if I think I'm going too fast I slow down alot, if I think I'm moving at a good pace,I slow down alot, if I think I'm going too slow I slow down.

[Joeabowhunter]

Originally posted by KodaChuck:
Determine heavily used deer trails and sit downwind. Keep it simple. Use the biggest trees as a background and trees with 2 or 3 trunks are superb ambush spots. Some of these trees will allow a shot between the trunks. Don't move. Use a small stool if that works for you. Kick away all the leaves around your ambush spot so you can work around the tree if necessary. I enjoy thick brush areas with a few machete shooting lanes. The thick brush is both a blessing and a curse but the challenge is movement and I find I can get away with more movement in the brush. Expect to have only 3 or 4 shooting lanes upwind. Draw when the deer
moves behind a tree and be ready to shoot on the deer's next step from behind the tree. The worst situation is when the deer walks directly towards your position. Consider a leafy suit. Had 4 different deer within 8 yards this morning. Sometimes they get too close but I find that this method is the most intense bow hunting for me and the close encounters are always memorable.

Agree with the above.  I'll add... don't touch anything on your way to stand and try not to walk on the deer trails you're hunting.  This morning was my first ground hunt of the year and it was great.  Passed a six point at first light that walked by 5 yards away.  15 mins later had 2 does pass by under 15 yards.  Still hunted my way out and caught movement 100 yards ahead in the timber.  It was the six point chasing one of 3 does.  He dogged her while I snuck in closer.  She brought him past me and he stopped to catch his breath well in range.  I drew back and settled in but decided to let down.  Not ready to end my season so soon on this young guy.  Hunting from the ground is a challenge but so much fun!

[Friend]

No ground hunting extraordinaire….just passionate and have the luxury to freely prepare fueled by anever burning desire, the gift to hunt a hi quality deer herd and roll the dice quite often.

Attempt to setup downwind of no less than three heavily used trails. Often work diligently to
divert trails January thru March that I may have up to five trail possibilities to permit shots from 8 to 15 yards…


Utilize multiple groundset  types:

My most simplistic setup --Popups….account for 1/3rd of my setups…

...Back blind into natural back drop
   
...Lay cedars trees around popup base…have often covered  top with pin oaks
               
...Drive six 5’ rebarr rods into ground around blind perimeter and zip tie attach approx. 8 ft cedars to obscure roof….don’t want cedar wt      on blind and alleviates blind collapse and/or damage and permits blind rotation if required

...Cut shooting ports thru cedars from outside….use shoot thru mesh…the deer’s attention are drawn to black holes...limit ports to well under 180 degrees… the more ports  and diverse shot angle opportunities have cost me far more than they have ever assisted me…blind positioning is paramount...

Ground is meticulously freed of debree each and every hunt

Often setup in wet ground areas...utilize large plastic re-enforced plastic pallet covered with a stall mat.

Dress inside the blind… apply scent eliminator more effectively while in the blind.

***The objective is to have the deer remain totally at ease at all times when even just a couple of yards from the blind.

Note: Sanitation saves me disposed-of artificial Christmas trees throughout the year.…my buds loved to harass me until seeing the extreme effectiveness and durability… have been getting tired of cutting 100’s of cedars and hauling them to the farm.…also, don’t have to cut the artificial Christmas tree ports…just bend them
to clear…they are less effective if I activate the lights over course my buds threaten to activate them while I am hunting.

There are many paths up the mountain.