Ground Game

[quail]

Last couple of years I have been having thoughts of how cool it would be to take a mature buck from the ground. Hunting time was limited last year, but this season I have been able to squeeze in some time towards that goal. Yesterday I was able to rattle in a nice 2 1/2 yr old 8 point, that I passed on along with a spike. That deer's life was in my hands, as I had multiple shot opportunities at under 20 yards. Even though he did not fit my personal parameters for a "shooter"...OH MY STARS, what a rush! Being whisker to whisker with a whitetail of any size that you have called in is a rush like I haven't had in a while. When the timing is right, this is going to likely be my favorite tactic for quite a while!

[Bob B.]

Quail,

The only way I hunt anymore, be it with trad equipment or during rifle season, it is on the ground. Last year I shot a 6 year old 9 point with my Osage Royale ... man it is incredible.  I have had does at 7 yards this year, eye-to -eye and shot a little buck at 10 yards quartering to me ... these are the experiences that keep me going to the woods.  Good luck hunting, the ground game is sure is awesome.

Bob.

[ron w]

Buck or doe.....it don't matter on the ground. It's exciting and will test your skills every time. Have fun........

[quail]

Bob,

Any tips you can share? Do you use a natural or pop-up blind. Ghillie suit?? What is your scent control system?

[Bob B.]

I stalk or use my pac seat ... or both.  I have a ghillie, but prefer my Cabella's hoodie, coat - like a ghillie I can walk around in.  I just sit very still, and my movements are V-E-R-Y slow. I try to play the wind and cut the deer off when I see them, or sit is obvious transition zones where they feel pretty safe.  As to sent control, I shower in unscented soap, and my hunting clothes are on my porch all season.  I put ever calm on my boots when I near a place I want to sit a while.

Playing the wind is the best scent control I have found.  Occasionally I do use vanilla "cover up " scent as I feel the vanilla is a calming/curiosity scent ... but mostly I just try to be upwind.  

I think the best thing is to breath out of your nose - not your mouth.  I also use Listerine before I go out every hunt. Others my flame me, but I firmly believe our breath odor is more of a danger scent than our body odor.

Keep the wind in your face or quartering your face, be quiet and slow - keep your outline broken up by your surroundings.  

Good luck to you,

Bob.

[DeCurry]

It's definitely addicting; sounds like you had a great time even if you didn't arrow anything.

Ground hunting can be incredibly frustrating sometimes, but it is so worth it.