Focus

[buckeye_hunter]

Fellas,

I'm loking for tips on staying alert and sitting still in the stand.  With trad tackle I have to allow the deer to get closer (as we all do), but I have a hard time sitting still.  I get picked off way too often, but just can't stay still.  Any ideas?

-Charlie

[buckeye_hunter]

I figure there has to be someone else that has a hard time sittin' still.  I was thinking maybe I should make a better blind to ambush from?

[vermonster13]

Hunting from the ground?

[buckeye_hunter]

yup

[buckeye_hunter]

Vermonster,

I make about as much noise as an elephant gettin' in the woods with a climber, arows, bow and accessories.  So this year I went back to the beginnings, when things were fun.  Huntin' on the ground with just my bow and some wood arrows from 3 rivers.  

In a stand you can get really high in some of those tall straight oaks, but it does no good if you scare every deer for 3 miles!

I just want to slip in and sit down, but I know in the past I was busted fairly often.  I thought I might look for some tips while still keeping it simple.

Thanks,
Charlie

[vermonster13]

Cover behind you is as important as cover in front of you when hunting from ground blinds. Also folks tend to wear clothes that are much to dark and don't break up their outline enough. Many popular camos are this way.

[Molson]

Here's a few tips to get you started.  Use the terrain and deer movement to your advantage when setting up your ground blind.  Place yourself in a location where the deer are less likely to be looking at you on their approach.  

When looking around, lead your head with your eyes.  In other words, look with the eyes first, then turn your head, slow.  

Build your ground cover up to at least eye level when seated and make it extra thick on the sides and directly in front of you.

These suggestions won't help you keep still, but they will give you more of an advantage when you can't.

[Tom Leemans]

Clear the ground underneath you really well. Make sure your seat (whatever you sit on) is very quiet as well. Maybe do some stretches before you head into the woods, so you're no so restless.

[Talondale]

Read a book or take a nap,  when you wake up the deer will be right in front of you.      Try to keep your mind busy by creating different scenarios and deciding what you will do.  Example:  If the deer appears over there coming from that direction what are my shooting lanes and where will I draw?   Or imagine there is a deer behind you, or to one side, and practice slowly turning and raising your bow just as if there was a deer there.  You don't have to stay absolutely still if you are moving as slow as you would if a deer was actually within sight.  Do these things for a while and then relax and close your eyes and try to tune in to your sense of hearing.  Try to identify each sound without looking.  Unless you've got a physical reason most fidgeting is a result of an unoccupied mind, keep it occupied and you'll be still.

[Minuteman]

Sit still!

[buckeye_hunter]

Thanks Talon

Nice...minuteman...I wouldn't a' thought it.  

You guys remember the post about how some of us are cats when we hunt (sit still) or like wolves and like to chase.  I love the chase!  It is darn near impossible for me to sit totally still!  I guess I better commence to building a #@$% of a ground blind.

-Charlie

[draco]

Tent blind

[Mike Brown]

A comfortable seat,  ghillie suit, tent blind.

[Slasher]

I'm like talon... I like to doze... in addition when you deprive the mind of sight the hearing seems enhanced and I usually hear em a lil farther off...

I too like a ghillie... but its too hot here in GA heat( for another month or so...),    so I walk in wearing shorts/T-shirt... spray down and then slip on a leafy suit the last 100 yds stalk to my area and use the powder windchecker (actually corn starch- is that considered baiting???) to ensure the set-up is right!!! If thats wrong, its all wrong ... I do better choosing slopes going down into a bottom so I not silhoutted... I love having two trees about 5 ft apart, one to lean against the other to use as cover for standing and drawing...

but they are deer... just souped up billy goats... hear well, have outstanding sense of smell and catch sudden movements all to well... I think they tend to forget looking on the sround since so many people hunt from trees now...

The Other thing I do...and I credit to all my success is that I spend time in deep thought and prayer...      but hey, it works for me...

[ChuckC]

Try closing your eyes.  don't fall asleep, but listen and feel.  It is more difficult to do and takes concentration.  Lean back against a tree and listen.  Practice responding to noise by slowly opening your eyes, and only slowly turning to see.
ChuckC

[SouthMDShooter]

yes i agree with what everyone is saying but i wouldnt take a nap. Because one time your going to wake up and that monster is going to be walking away and you cant do anything about

[Slasher]

Originally posted by SouthMDShooter:
yes i agree with what everyone is saying but i wouldnt take a nap. Because one time your going to wake up and that monster is going to be walking away and you cant do anything about

Down here where I hunt... you'll hear em unless its windy... no freeze, six inches of leaves, the ability to hear squirrells, deer, and armadillos from way off is amazing... I've say on hillsides thinking a deer was coming up out of a draw to finally bring up he binos... and just a darn dillo, 80 yds away, rooting around for grubs...

  I don't really sleep... just light dozing... The instincts haven't really failed me yet... Well, I think...