Tree or ground?

[Rob W.]

I told myself early in the year I was going to devote the whole year to the ground. I've been in a tree the better part of 20 years. As season got closer I thought " Well I will just hang some stands for my wife". Now that season is Saturday my climber is in my truck and my saftey harness is in my pack.

Sure would be nice dragging a deer out without a climber on my back or freezing my butt off when that north wind blows 20 feet up.

Let me hear something to put me over the top or tell me to grab my harness and go kill something. Thanks in advance guys!


Rob

[Red Tailed Hawk]

I find it more challenging on the ground. You really have to be aware of your movement and keep a keen eye out for approaching game.

See them before they see you.

But all in all there's nothing like taking them from the ground!!

[djanko]

I'm 61, I'm avid...I don't use any climbers or hangon's anymore.  I only use ladder stands 16ft or ground blinds.  I have had great success with both.  I think the ground blinds are considerably more exciting...they just need to be really brushed in good.  The picture you see is a deer killed in a ground blind at 15 yards!

About forty or fifty deer ago, I was told that no one has ever gotten a whitetail deer that was not in a tree. I have spent plenty of time of time watching deer from a tree stand. I have yet to shoot one from a tree stand. Rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, partridge, quail, fox, coyotes, a turkey, an old Schmidt beer can and a half eaten apple, yes, but not one deer.

[Hoyt]

I use to still hunt in my younger yrs. and did good at it, but the way I still hunt is just too strenuous for me now. I have been telling myself that I'm going to come down from the trees some and do a little afternoon ground hunting using good natural blinds and chair.

I know some very good spots with a bunch of downfalls with new growth sprouting out that I could get in with very good concealment and deer walk right by these spots.

[Boester19]

I love hunting from the ground..last 2 years have killed all my deer from the ground.  It's also nice having the option to move if I have an opportunity to beat deer to where they are headed when they aren't  moving in my direction.

[T Folts]

I had a great experience during our early doe season that has me wanting to change my style some. I had three does come to about 20 yards with no blind or tree stand I stood behind a tree or on my knees keeping the tree between us and as they moved I moved, I could have shot one of them but didnt have my bow in my hand (oops).
So I'm thinking of some ground hunting without the blind my be in my plans this year.

[KodiakMag]

2 years ago I made a vow saying I will hunt the ground the whole year or even the following until I get a deer on the ground with my bow. I can't count how many misses and spooked deer I had in the first 2 weeks of season but, then one quiet, warm friday night this 4 point stepped out and started walking around the edge of the woods and was gonna pass right by me. In the fading seoncds of sunlight I drew, anchored, released and then watched this buck I knowingly mortally wounded circle around to where he came from. It was a goal I had set for myself and I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment after holding to my game plan even though the first part was so bad. I learned, and I adjusted. I had no actual blind. I just stood in a little grove of trees in waist high weeds and my patience paid off. Now, I have no doubt in my mind that if for some reason I don't want to hunt in the stand or can't I KNOW I can shoot a deer on the ground with natural cover.

[Terry Lightle]

I do both,according to my mood that day

[Trad-Man]

Both...I take every advantage possible.

Two years ago I saw deer moving in and out of a bean field 75 yards from where my tree stand was located.  It was opening weekend..the ground was green.  I got down and put the sneak on them.  Within 20 yards of the field they started feeding my way.  After a 15 yard shot I put a tag on a doe.  All I had for cover was knee high grass and an 18" oak tree between the two of us.

[SuperK]

Hey Rob, why not do both?  I hunt some spots from a ladder stand but if the wind isn't right for that spot I use a treesaddle or natural ground blind.  Since hurricane Irene, I have lots of blown-down trees I can use.  Both work.. both are fun.... be flexible and use whats available.

[Jayb]

I'm going all ground too this year. Very excited about it, while new world. The option of going after them (offensive) then sitting and hoping they come down the right trail..etc

[Lone Ranger]

I am sitting indianstyle on the ground as I type this on my phone- use the stand if the wind is not cooperating!!!

[woodchucker]

Anything higher than a barstool... I get a nosebleed!!!!!  

[Carbonkiller]

never killed a single deer from a treestand. i fell out of a climber when i was 15 and i have never desired to do it again:) plus i like being eye level with the game.

[DuffyRP]

I started hunting from treestands.  I would sit up there all day long and just as luck would have it the first five or six deer I killed I was always on the ground going to or coming from my stands so I just stopped using them.

[bolo7735]

Originally posted by woodchucker:
Anything higher than a barstool... I get a nosebleed!!!!!    

:D

I had one lucky tree stand, a climber that helped me get 5 deer. After the first two I stopped climbing the tree. I would sneak to it and there way past sun up and then sneak back to my car about 10 a.m.  all of those deer were shot going to and from that tree stand.  It did give a nice place to sit and drink my morning tea and eat my breakfast.

[FightingCelt]

The Ground!