Ground cover??

[3Feathers]

To the ground hunters, do you need front cover when in a natural blind or in front of a tree??I know back cover is needed.Just seems like your out in the open without it.Trying to get my first harvest on the ground.Used to the treestand.

I like just enough front cover to help break me up/hide me, but it has to be out in front of you a little bit so it does not get in the way of you drawing. Back cover is of utmost importance though.

Bisch

[Fletcher]

Pretty much what Bisch said, but I like it thick down low so I can shift my leg position.  When you hear something coming in, resist the urge to turn your head, or odds are good it will bust you.  Just wait it out until it moves into your field of view.  If it never comes in, let it go and enjoy the mystery.

[bunyan]

Standing in front of a tree or other background definitely works as others have shown. But something a little different that I like to do is find a tree that forks around waist height into a double trunk, forming a V. You want it to have a wide diameter, a sapling is too skinny. I actually like to stand behind it when watching a deer trail. I peek through the opening of the V and wait for the deer to go past enough for a quartering away shot. It doesn't hurt to put a little brush behind you with cause you will feel like your back is exposed!

Originally posted by Fletcher:
[ If it never comes in, let it go and enjoy the mystery.

[Cavscout9753]

I'm with Bisch, if I'm up on a slope and expect the deer to be towards the bottom I'll place some break up scrub about 5 to 6 feet in front of me down the slope. It doesn't hinder me at all but from the bottom looking up the angle covers me very well. If its level ground I'll bring it in a little closer but keep it low. At shooting range it does nothing, but from a distance it can help conceal any foot or leg movement. I'm ditching the stool this year and sitting all the way down on the ground so leg movement is minimal, but it only takes 30 seconds to do and has no downside so I'll still do it.

Originally posted by Cavscout9753:
I'm ditching the stool this year and sitting all the way down on the ground so leg movement is minimal, but it only takes 30 seconds to do and has no downside so I'll still do it.

It has a downside! It is uncomfortable as all get out. I could not sit still for 3 minutes if I did not have a comfortable chair to sit in.

Bisch

[Cavscout9753]

I hear you Bisch, thankfully I'm rather young and in reasonable, serviceable shape. My whole hunting life on "public" land seems to be a struggle with what/how much to carry afield. I try to minimize as much as possible, otherwise a torgue seat would be on my lost. The 3 legged stool is just too rough after long. Plus I move my legs too much and being low helps with that. On the plus side, if I ever go to a 3D shoot where you sit on your butt and shoot a 68" ASL I'm a lock. Been getting deadly with it.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Here are some of my examples. Deer were shot from each.

 

 

 

[Sam McMichael]

I generally agree with Bisch in that front cover is needed. I don't agree with him about sitting on the ground. My butt is just too old for that. I need a seat with back support just to be able to sit reasonably still. No matter how well the ground blind is built, lack of movement and hunting the wind are still paramount.

[Covey]

Back cover is a must! Front cover is optional my opinion. I've had deer so close I could hear them chewing (no joke) with no cover in the front. A good chair is super important for long sets. The Waldrop pac seat is the best option I've found for comfort. My advice, set 15 to 18 yards off trail, take the time to prepare your hidey spot ( good back cover) try to hunt the wind as best you can and enjoy the experience. Honestly, the old does have busted me quite often, but like has been said, try to wait till their head is turned or quartering away and with a little good fortune, it'll all come together.

[ChuckC]

A very important, but not talked about aspect is to try to arrange for several objects to be in the deer's path.  Trees, stumps, bushes, tall grass, don't matter, but something to get between the deer and you so it covers your bow related movements, makes life a lot easier.

ChuckC