Transition from tree to ground..

[MPaul]

I ground hut almost exclusively. The key is don't move sit still I can't sit still if uncomfortable. I have a folding stool I carry with me. Set up in good cover and don't move or draw until deer are looking away. I cut out around set up with hand clippers and clear ground of leaves and sticks. I find ground hunting gives me more flexibility and I can hunt were the deer are. Not look around for a suitable tree that is a less than prim spot. More versatility at working the wind.

[michaelschwister]

Buy two things: 1 Rancho safari longcoat with hat/mask, and 2 a Waldrup packseat.  That is pretty much it.................

[76Aggie]

Michael, I totally agree with those two items.

[rraming]

I bought a ASAT Leafy suit this year and had success the first day out  - bottoms are super long so you can hem them up

[76Aggie]

I have read several posts about ghillie suits being heavy, hot and prone to have your bowstring hang up on it.  If you are interested, you may look at a video on the Waldrop pack seat website.  There are four short videos on the seat and in video number 4 Mr. Waldrop talks about issues with a ghillie suit and how he has overcome them.  He has cut out a lot of the heavy burlap, cut off the arms and made several slits in the suit.  I know it may seem rediculous to take a scissors to a garment you spent dollars on, but I am going to give it a try.  The "stock" ghillie suit may be fine for shooting a gun but for a bow I think the modifications are well in order.

[lifeandlongbows]

As others have stated, I think cover is your most important consideration. And you don't have to go crazy with it. I like a tree stump, trunk, criss-crossing sticks or brush at my back to break up my outline. I like to lean a stick or two 4-5 feet in front of me against a tree for the same purpose. I've found that deer have a hard time with depth perception and you can get away with a lot if you have something in front to mess with their vision.

As far as leafy suit or ghillie - I've never used one - but would like to try it. I've found patterned wool to work the best. Its dull, its quiet, and it works well. Your feet will get colder. Wear warm socks.

Overall, picking when you draw is paramount. Its a chess game. Good luck!

[outbackbob48]

76Aggie, one of the best thinks that I did was cut off both sleeves of ghille suit. Bob

[fujimo]

each to their own i guess, but i bought an ASAT leafy suit about 10 years ago- i wear it hard every year- our season is a 9 month season.
i have used it in South africa ground hunting, had a duiker so close i couldve touched him, Kudu at 6 yards, impala at less than that.
i used it in alberta on the prairies and the coulee bottoms in the willow scrub and snow, and now i live in a coastal rain forest- thats green all year.

it really works everywhere, even when the colours "dont match".
it breaks the body shape up so well.
 they are light and dont soak up water, as our hunting season is during the rainy season- thats key!

i had a small hawk land on my head and sit there for at least a minute maybe two- i could feel his talons through my wool cap

our average distance for shooting here is between 5 and 12 yards ( the roads are about 5 yards wide)
and never had an issue with the close range.
just soooo many close encounters over the years with a leafy suit.
when i used to guide in south africa, i never had that many close encounters with normal gear.

[old_goat2]

A couple thousand acres of public land here will find hunters on the ground that thought they were going to be up.  I have been working with the game warden locating illegal stands.  dozens of illegal stands.  I sometime use a Big Jim 'bush in a bag' when I know that I will be sitting fairly exposed on my Huntmor chair.   I had a fork horn get a little close,  I wanted him to move along, but I didn't want him to make a big scene, so I poked him with my bow.  Don't ever do that, what a fuss he made.

I'd love to do this if I lived closer to where I hunt, constantly seeing stands that look abandoned or aren't tagged properly.

[bswear]

I have the rancho safari ultralight mini.  Basically is a shaggy suit vest. No string interfererance and coupled with the hat you are still invisible.  I tried the coat first but it is a pain.  Check it out although you may have to call to order it.

[Terry Green]

Big Jim has a bush in a bag that looks really good. Actually I've been meaning to get one of those. I have used a Ghillie many times with success, however it's really hot down here in September....

However I've had great success with My Predator green Western shirt, cargo khakis, and using my bow and bow quiver as a blind to the point where it's hard to believe how much I got away with just that.

[J. Holden]

I've only hunted off the ground a handful of times.  Only have had the opportunity to shoot once.  And I made a bad shot.  Learn from my mistake please!  Watch your limb tips.  I didn't and the bottom limb tip smacked a tree next to me making the arrow fly horribly off course resulting in a wounded animal I couldn't find the next day.  Please, learn form me.

-Jeremy

[76Aggie]

Terry,

I don't think Big Jim has the Bush in a Bag anymore.  I called a couple of months ago and I do not think they carry them anymore.

[Chain2]

I set up where I can with my back towards the avenue of approach. Hoping they don’t come on the wrong side. I hope they are past when I draw. It’s kind of like setting up a defensive position and you maintain your interlocking fire responsibility. You only shoot one way. If you turn game over usually.

[RJonesRCRV]

As others have said, just sitting against a tree in the middle of the day will result in some good naps, especially as the day warms up around noon.  Make sure you have plenty of clearance for your bottom limb tip; I sometimes end up digging a hole into the ground to make sure I have enough room in the case I fail to cant my bow enough.  I got some good tips from a youtube guy called DeerNinja or something like that.  He is a compound hunter, but he hunts on the ground and just has deer almost on top of him (a bear was sniffing his back one time), using a leaf suit, good scent control, and nearly no movement while waiting.  One video, he took his son ground hunting and recorded him the entire time.  The son thought he was doing a good job of staying still until he saw the video and how much he was actually moving, and getting busted by a few deer, I think because he didn't realize there were deer around.  Sitting that still is one of the hardest aspects, but I seems to work well for him.

[anchorman]

Will have to say haven't got out as much as I wanted but I have a 4 pointer at 12 steps downwind of me and he kept looking at me or in my direction and after 6 min just walked off..have had couple of does come from behind me and never spooked...they were a little farther 18 steps...so far its been fun and a whole lot different look....maybe I will get a shot soon...

[Tim Mullins]

Hi everyone .I had my 1st ground hunting trip a few weeks ago in Mo..
I was not successful in getting a deer ,but like how my set-up went. I used a Guilly long coat and a Hammock seat.I had  very comfortable sets with great maneuverability .I really like the hammock seat and with my set up was able to blend in to a cedar tree.
Tim Mullins
 Acadian Woods Custom Bows :-)

[Bobtulowiecki]

Long overdue post here. Great thread with lots of helpful info.  First full fall bow hunting on the ground and a lot of lessons learned. No harvest but the 4 point who snuck up on me to about 10 yards was the highlight of my season. Already looking forward to next fall!

[Slickhead]

I am far from an expert but have hunted the ground game for a while.
Ive made some mistakes and learned a few things.
Here are some golden rules IMO

1. Be careful how and when you move
2. Dont shoot at an alert deer
3. hands and face need to be covered or camo'd.
4. Best shots are after the deer passes and is qtring away.
5. scent stops are helpful (a curiosty scent in a place you want the deer to stop and smell the roses) anise or vanilla or a combination
6. Ive had deer so close i couldnt draw (keep that in mind when setting up)
7. A comfortable seat lessons movement
8. Hunt light as you may need to move at times.

Things are funner on the ground.

[FlintNSteel]

I have the Rancho long coat with the hat as well as a lightweight "leafy" suit.

The good thing about the Rancho is that its very well made and I suspect that with any amount of care will last longer than I will be around to hunt.  In colder weather, it helps keep you warm, but as already mentioned, in warmer weather, it will plain cook you out.  It has built in straps so you can just roll it up tight, snap strap it in the roll, then use the attached shoulder belt to easily carry it around. If you get one, practice with it on.  I had to trim off some of the "stuff" on my bow arm and off the brim of the hat or I couldn't even see to shoot.

I use the lightweight leafy suit in warm weather.  It's very cheap.

Frankly, I don't use either very much and have had many critters right on top of me sitting on the ground in NON-camo gear.  A few weeks ago, in late muzzleloader, I had a fawn two feet from the end of my flintlock barrel and the doe just 8 feet of so away.  I was sitting there on a turkey chair (low to the ground) in my orange capote and an orange voyagers hat!  Both looked right at me and just blew me off (wind right in my face).  They must have wondered who threw that big orange halloween pumpkin out in the woods!

I've used NO camo now for two years and don't notice any real difference with deer.  Being still and having something behind you to blend into is the key, IMO. Now, for turkeys on the ground without a blind....the Rancho is top notch.