Ground Hunting Whitetails

[calgarychef]

Ground hunting doesn't always have to include movement (stalking etc.)  I used to use a brush blind I made and sit in it but I had to rise over teh top to shoot.  I got incredibly close like that but never got off a sucessful shot.  As you rise up all hell breaks loose!  

Now I sit in front of cover and just stay nice and quiet.  I've shot three from the ground like that.  it doesn't hurt to dig a hole and sit on the side of it like a chair, it really gets you down low and animals aren't spooky when you only look like you're 3 feet tall.

the chef

[guspup]

I learned to use natural barred fletching on all 3 feathers. The natural fletching helps make the arrow more invisible in flight. Hunting the ground, the deer tend to always be looking somewhat in your direction. the deer I shot this year was looking straight at me at 21 paces and never even flinched. I was wearing a leafy suit in the open woods.

[2-BIG]

This year I killed my first deer ever...from a treestand.   :eek:   For over 30 years, every deer I have killed has been from the ground. I have to say that I seem to have a problem setting up and getting the deer too close, cause I get busted a lot while drawing.
Set up in areas that allows the terrain to force the deer past you. Like using blow downs to your advantage or like keeping a river or steep bank at your back.
I also have killed a lot of deer by sitting in cornfields and shooting unsuspecting deer that are walking by along the outside of the cornfield. A cornfield that has a fence row along one edge that goes from woodlot to woodlot is awesome!  

[sweet old bill]

hunting the ground is a lot harder than in the tree stand. The key is the wind, and when to get that bow up for the shot. I use a 25 ft rope, and tie them around several trees and then tie on my blind material, cut several pines or maple to add to the blind. I also like finding a downed tree from the wind, then I find a spot for my chair and alos cut some brush to help keep me out of sight. I may have to take my house cat next year based on that hunt story.

[Trab]

All good stuff....I appreciate all this great advice....the ground seems more fun to me.....I'm not ruling out the tree on some days, but I will be trying it the  hardway for the most part.....maybe Ive been watchin a little to much Barta !

[Jerry Jeffer]

I use a torges style seat and try to set up so my shot is after the deer pass me. This allows me to draw with less chance of being seen. Of course try to hunt the wind. My buddy and I are getting more and more into sitting in the thick stuff. Limited shot opportunities, but when you get one, it is close.

 

[jojotater]

I've taken quite a few deer from the ground (not with a stickbow). I nestle up tight against something to break up my outline. I believe that is the most important thing.

I hunted with my ghillie suit in January. I had 3 bucks come to me. The biggest got within 12yrds. He busted me when I started drawing my longbow. He had his head behind a small tree, but he cleared it before I came to full draw and he exploded out of there.

I'm wanting to take my daughter next season, and am trying to figure if a ground blind is for me. I hunt public land so it will be taken out everytime I leave.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

I hunt a creek with very steep secondary banks.. I have started to hang a tree stand on the down side of the trees growing out of the bank.. Basically at ground level.. Amazingly I see several advantages.. one being the nice platform and not having to deal with uneven ground, sticks leaves etc.. In this particular creek I ma 20 feet off the bottom and about 10 feet below the rim.. It's amazing the deer don't look there for danger.. However I haven't shot anything yet on a set up like that.. I don't know if I did, would you call it ground hunting or tree stand???

[Hojo]

I've been an avid ground hunter for the past few years. I simply set up a blind in natural cover such as downed trees or thick patches adjacent to a travel route.  I carry a small pruner and hand saw with me so I can supplement existing cover with branches and ferns from the area.

Since switching, I've had quite a few deer within spitting distance of me and shot a couple.  Sitting in the middle of a fencerow this past year, I shot a little 7 point as he came along the edge of the field and popped out from behind the thick patch I was next to. Hadn't seen him until that moment and the practice of keeping my hand on my bow as much as possible paid off.

Another thing I've been trying is using a good sized branch, dead logs, etc. laid across a trail at and angle to force them to go around it in a desired direction. I do this when the available cover makes me set up further away than I want to shoot.  I couple this blockade material with existing trees, brush, or terrain to make it more effective.  I've had it work to a tee and have also had it backfire.  All part of the fun.

I often hunt with my brother who insists on being up in a tree.  I always tell him that he's no earthly good up there....

[Plumber]

I started ground hunting some this year .I was at the base of a downed tree the root ball was still attached. I was in the hole where the ball was the deer would come out of the woods at the other end of the tree about 40ft sometimes they would just pop-out they would walk right at me.I just had to lay my head down an let them pass. they came with in 10ft of me more then once. I never wanted to give-up the root hole but next year I have to reposition my self in the same area everytime they would come out they would bang a hard right an get on top of me too quick.I think its funny how we ponder our season every year an you say to yourself why dident I do this or that? an the next year you adjust an it works.Iguess thats learnin

[Deadsmple]

Plenty of good advise has been given. All I'll add is remember to practice your shots from kneeling and sitting positions. You really need to be used to shooting from those awkward positions if you hunt from the ground.

[jack benson]

Update on Muffy, the hunting cat.

We were missing her for a couple of weeks and feared she had met with a coyote or something. I found her crawling up the fence line. She had been trapped in a leg hold trap and perhaps attacked by an owl or hawk before escaping and coming home.

We retired her to a house cat where she immediately took up new responsibilities--she became nurse maid and baby sitter to our newborn son, Smith. She'd lay in his crib and tell us if he turned over or needed a diaper change. He was HER responsibility!

While having to give up hunting, she showed more new talents. She became a retreiver--chasing and returning toys.

Muff lived to a ripe old age of 18 and now resides in the sunny area under the bedroom window where she spent her last days remembering the hunt.

We had another cat who would accompany us out back, but never showed interest in large game.

Thanks to my experiences with Muffy, I have enjoyed many special ground moments. Several years ago, I watched a group of does come across the hay field towards me in the woodlot. Headed to the path next to me.

I set up behind an old oak and prepared for a close shot...probably 5 feet and waited. And waited.

A small twig breaking made me turn my head and the lead doe was right next to me. Instead of taking the path, she had entered the woodlot through a small gap in the brush.

Not having a shot...nor being able to reposition myself, I did the only thing left--I put my hand on the doe's rump.

She exploded and almost broke her neck on the tree in front of her...bouncing off the trunk. Funniest and neatest thing I ever saw.

Every time I hunt, I give thanks for being able to share and learn from that special animal that  me the opportunity to learn that life is more fun and fulfilling hunting on my feet than sitting in a tree.

[Patjoe]

I have had a lot of success from the ground the last couple of years while sitting in a corn field about four rows in from edge of a hay field.  Ideally, the hay field should be encompassed by two corn strips and should only be approximated thirty yards across (to the other corn strip.)  This creates a natural funnel for the deer, making most shots under twenty yards.  I have been lucky enough to kill two under 4 yards.  I will use a natural corn barrier, or blind, by cutting a number of stalks to shield my outline from the direction the deer will most likely approach.  The wind direction is obviously very important.  A person can also use the setting or rising sun to their advantage by keeping it at their back.
     Another great ambush scenario is using "water runs", or places a farmer will leave unplanted so the water can drain from the field and not erode precious topsoil.  If you can find a water run leading from the edge of the woods through a corn field to a hay field you have a great and exciting way to hunt deer without having to climb a tree!

[woodchucker]

Hidy-Ho Neighbor!!!!!

Not much to it Mark, I've been doin it for years!!!!!

Dutchess Co. deer are dumb,all you have to do is sit still!!!!!

Just kidding actualy LOL!!!!! However, I've been doing it a long time. I just climbed into a tree stand for the first time in almost 30 years last fall. We'll have to get together and hunt a few times this coming season.

I can't wait to meet ya!!!!!

[Trab]

Hey Chuck,  

I sent you an email....check it out..........and Joe, from across the Hudson, if your out there, I sent you an email too....I'll be calling you eventually....great to hear from a couple of local guys for sure.......

Trab
Stormville
[email protected]
(914)980-6476

[John McCreary]

Google, Dr. Ken Norberg or The Whitetail Almanacs. The good Doc has written several books on ground hunting doing what he calls "Portable Stump Hunting". Excellent books with lots of info. The books are paper bound and a worthwhile investment to any hunter's library. They made a big diffrence to my approach on the groud.

John

[woodchucker]

Mark,

Since your a "newbe" LOL the "private message" feature is the 2 guys shaking hands up top with the envelope.

Whoever you want to send a "PM" click on the icon with the 2 guys/envelope,then you type your message and hit send. The "PM" will be sent to them hear on TradGang,and also to their email address.

[Aeronut]

I usually still hunt through the timber and have had deer close enough to touch every season for the last five years.  Even had a doe blow snot on my leg when she realized what she was standing next to.

I love being eyeball level with the animals when I hunt.

Dennis

[GMMAT]

Killing a whitetail deer off the ground has been a goal of mine for a couple years, now.  The problem???  I'v ebeen too caught up in the "How big and how many" (footnote to Orion for helping me see that), so I haven't devoted enough time and effort to it.  

In the last couple weeks, I've built two ground blinds in areas that I know deer trvel.  While at a show this week, I also found a really cool seat (Millennium) that'll change HOW I hunt these ground blinds.  I'm going to go back and incorporate a tree in the middle of them and utilize this seat.  It's comfy and very light.

I've also had a goal to take my first deer with trad tackle.  if all works out this fall, hopefully I'll fulfill both these goals.

[Montauks]

This brings up a heartache this past fall, I had to give this 6ptr a pass (no buck tag) In the 1st pic I'm sitting on the log to the far right...no camo and the wind blowing in my face at about 45 degrees
   
   
       
By the way, it was very cold that day, I was wearing a plaid brown jacket, solid olive green wool pants,hat with a black balaclava...ya gotta sit still...very still..I'm hoping the muzzle loaders did'nt get him.