Ground pounders

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

Fred Azbell has an excellent article on how to walk properly in the woods in the Traditional Bowhunter Magazine that is out right now.

[Deadsmple]

A lot of good advise and you got the two most important in my opinion right off the bat from Vermonster13 and S2 Bowstrings.
1. When you think you can't go any slower, slow down.
2.  Know the lay of the land like the back of your hand.

I can't stress that second point more. I believe you really need to know every inch of the area you are in. Every hump, bump, blowdown, game trail, etc. Knowing where everything is makes it easier to plan your stalk. You'll know where you need to get down and belly crawl because that's the only way to get through without being seen. And when you do connect if you know your area well you will have a better idea where to look if you loose your blood trail.

Good luck.

[tradtusker]

yip love hunting on the ground

[centaur]

Haven't hunted from a tree in over 30 years. Yesterday, I got to stalk within 40 yards or less of 10 different whitetails, but got no shot because of brush, deer moving too quickly, etc. The point of that is that hunting from the ground is a lot more exciting, even if the shots don't come. There is also the frustration factor when that deer that you didn't see spooks from heavy cover 10 yards from you. I have realized that, as others here have said, you can't move too slowly while hunting from the ground if a bow is your weapon of choice. Deer can see stuff that will amaze you; they can smell like crazy, and can hear like nothing else. Hunting with traditional equipment from the ground is about as challenging and good as hunting gets; it is worth the frustration and the often unfilled freezer. Further, a doe taken from stalking on the ground equals a mature buck from the trees, in my opinion.

[LongBow'erman]

Thanks again for all the good info.

[mcgroundstalker]

I LOVE hunting and stalking from the ground! Seems I can't stay in one spot too long anyway. All of the above advice is right on target. One thing was left out. DON'T SPOOK THE TREE RATS! If you have them around you at your feet you are doing something right. Big plus is it's just fun that way.

Gotta know your area well. Move in the shade. Mix with cover. Carry a good pair of pruners to work your way through a thicket. Practice shooting from your knees. DON'T WEAR A WATCH! Use 7 or 8 power mid size binos. The best you can afford. If you wear glasses gotta shade them with a hat brim. Paint your face and hands if you have light skin.

I know it's alot to take on all at once but boy when you see that deer out there.... Eye To Eye! Almost as good as indoor sports.  :rolleyes:

Best Of Luck!

... mike ...

[woodslinger]

A couple of things not mentioned that I would like to add that have worked for me.

1. If still hunting is your game do it when the deer are on their feet and actively moving or feeding not when they are bedded. It is much easier to spot a moving deer. In the early season that means early morning and evening near active feeding areas for me. During the rut it is an all day affair hunting funnels, swamp edges and downwind of bedding areas.

2. Plan a route in your hunting area and make or find some good natural ground blinds and still hunt from spot to spot spending as long as you want at your blinds.

These two thing with everything already mentioned really have paid of for me.

[StickBowManMI]

Hunting solely on the ground is for me.

[J-dog]

been ground pounding this year though I do stand hunt. My stands just died as far as deer activity so I went into a in season scout/hunt situation. Found em now in an area where ground pounding makes more sense!

J