First ground hunt experience

[EHK]

Thanks to all those who have posted about their ground hunting experiences lately. It's something I've always wanted to try but always viewed is being much more difficult than stand hunting.  Today I headed out with my nif-t-seat and settled in amongst one of the many new blowdowns courtesy of hurricane sandy.  At about 3 o'clock I saw a group of 8 does slowly feeding their way toward me. I was set up along side of a ravine so I lost sight of them as they hit bottom but I could hear them making their way closer.  Unfortunately, the blowdowns  I was hoping would funnel them towards me worked against me and the exited the ravine about 25 yards away from me which is beyond my comfort zone.  But all 8 of them quietly fed away from me unalarmed. A couple of them looked right at me but paid no attention.  The leafy suit blended right into the natural surroundings amazingly.  No meat in the freezer but a very cool experience.  I imagine that i will be grounded  much more often for the rest of the season. Thanks again to all who have shared their experiences and inspired me to give the ground a try.

[macbow]

Something about being close on the ground makes the hunt in itself.

[moleman]

Fun, aint it! Hunting from the ground and getting close, as well as the ability to adapt to a situation makes hunting from the ground a great and fun choice.
Not only that, but the simplicity of just grabbing my bow, arrows and a simple stool have made my hunts much more enjoyable.

[eddings220]

I agree. I have been doing alot of ground hunting this year and it is a blast. I too have had deer look right at me and kept on feeding on acorns. Passed on a 3 point at about 8 yds, amazing memory.

It is a neat thing to get it done on the ground! Those experiencs you mentioned are a big reason why I hunt. There is nothing like seeing some of the stuff Mother Nature has to offer up!

Good luck in your ground pursuit!

Bisch

[John146]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Does that get your heart rate up or what? First year I hunted, I got near the root ball of a fallen oak tree not really knowing what I was doing and had a forkhorn walk by at 8 yards. That was it for me! I LOVE HUNTING ON THE GROUND!

[mcgroundstalker]

I Dig Being Eye-To-Eye With Deer!

... mike ...

[1screagle]

I made a ghillie suit last January after the season. I've been so anxious to put it to the test, as well as myself. My first time in Iowa this year I had only 2 hours to hunt before the end of the day. I showered and grabbed my stuff and headed to my land. I slipped down a bluff till I found several converging trails. The bottleneck went under a large blowdown. I nestled in after cutting and trimming a couple shooting lanes and within 20 minutes I had 2 does within 18 yds. They new that bush was new but couldnt identify me as danger and kept right on thru. As the light started to fade, many deer were starting to make their way from the bottoms to the fields above. I ended up with a buck less than 10 yds to my right and back to my left a doe about 5yds. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her blinking, breathing and simply not care I was almost able to grab her. They finally moved away but never smelled me or saw me as danger. Was so cool! I watched as 3-4 more bucks worked up the hill with many more does till they were out of sight. A few minutes go by and I heard something coming. I look to my left just to see 3 coyotes coming down the trail. I missed the first one. Shot a little low. They never saw me, just heard the arrow hit and looked around, then gone. I've had many more stories since. Great for blood pumping excitement! That close and no scent lock clothing.

[Altiman94]

I hunt from the ground when I dont have time to get a treestand set up for the spot I'd like to be.  Or sometimes if I'm going to a new spot and unsure if I'll find a suitable tree, I'll end up on the ground.

I used to hunt exclusively from the ground in my younger days....my dad would drop me off in the woods where Id hunt and I'd walk in and find a blow down to sit in.  Killed a few deer that way but like many of us learned the positives of a treestand.  Later in the season when the cover starts to fall off the trees I'll find myself back on the ground.

[Tater John]

Once you've experience it, it adds that other dimension to hunting the whitetail for sure. Hopefully soon enough you'll have an encounter of so close you know if you move your busted, as in 'I can't believe I could reach out and touch em close and I'm not at a petting zoo.
Good luck this year with it

Rusty

[ti-guy]

[KentuckyTJ]

Yep nothing like it. It's a confidence thing. If you know when to move and when not to move it is a very highly successful way to hunt.

[BOWMARKS]

Had to start ground hunting a few years ago and have always felt the rush of being that close to the outdoors.          

[Covey]

I prefer the ground over a tree any day. Maybe not as many opportunities down there, but a heck of a lot more fun...and comfortable!

Jason

[TxAg]

I've been hunting from the ground lately. Just sitting at the intersection of a few trails. No bait, no treestand, no blind at all....just a ghillie top and a natural back drop.  It has been a blast....Much tougher, but it will be so much more rewarding when it happens!

[Terry Lightle]

Aint nuthin else like it!

[Butchie]

Saw the biggest buck of my life hunting from the ground in Ohio last week.  No shot but a rush nonetheless. I will be doing much more hunting in my Ghillie jacket.  I'd forgotten how much fun it can be!

[njloco]

[njloco]

That's exactly the set up I have been using, 3-D clothes ,  with a nifty-seat,  If I'm not stalking , I'm still hunting, with. My nifty seat.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Once you experience the thrill of these animals we hunt at eye level, it makes sitting in a tree stand seem like cheating.....

Everything you do on the ground has to be in slow motion.... if you move slow enough you can nock an arrow with them looking right at you.... shooting them while they looking at you is a different story....

when setting up a ground ambush spot, pay attention to what's behind yo more than hiding behind something and you'll have the best luck not getting busted.... movement is your worst enemy.... finding a spot where the trail you are watching takes the animals out of sight for a moment so you can draw your bow before they step into your shooting lane is excellent.... if there isn't any cover... just go in slow motion....

Nothing like getting up close and personal with these critters.     THAT is what i call hunting....