How to...Ground hunt

[freedomhunter]

So got out of my stand the other day and decided to scout some more.  I am starting to have more fun scouting than waiting for critters.  

Anyways, I came across the place way back in the thick where a local creek runs through.  A tree had fallen over the creek, which built up sand in the front of it.  In this area it also widens and has a mushy island in the middle.  You can really see the path the deer are taking because of how shallow the sand build up makes it.  Looks like a cow trail to be honest with deer prints.  

Now I found this spot, but the problem is it's way to far back through a lot of thick brush to take a climber.  I have been getting further and further away from using the climber, but very uncomfortable in my skill set to shoot a deer from the ground without being busted.

So if I build a blind like in my last spot I am afraid the deer will be forced onto different paths from the commotion and messing with their environment.  Do you guys build blinds or just sit next to a tree or two?  I am thinking a couple of palmettos stuck in the mud in front of me and that's about it. Then again how the heck do you draw without being seen?  I had that doe notice me when I was 15 feet above ground.  She didn't spook but new something wasn't right.

[Crittergetter]

There was a thread on here a few days ago about Fred Asbell's book "stalking and still-hunting, the groung hunters bible"  It's an excellent read and covers all aspects of hunting from the ground. I highly recommend it!!

[nineworlds9]

This is super exciting that you're getting down on the ground!  It's an adventure man!!  You'll figure out a lot of things the more you do it, a lot of it is common sense and you have to try and think like an animal would.  Definitely read lots of the archived threads on here and get into as many books on the subject as you can.  And more than anything, just get out there, get busted even!  It has certainly taught me a alot about those deers' senses and what I can and can't do.

A little over two years ago I tried the tree thing and then gave it up and went to ground, haven't regretted it since.  This past July I put my first real stalk on a mature deer, and while it was out of season of course and I did not shoot, it was excellent practice and now I know it can be done!  

Keep sharing your progress and I hope to do the same.

[freedomhunter]

Yeah every time I use my climber I feel like it's making so much noise and hurting my chances.  I can't get as deep into the woods as I want, even at 20 lbs it's heavy to walk a mile with, I get hung up and trip on everything, and I had another close call this year with a short trip to the ground.  There was a post on here about a guy not wearing his harness or something and the next day I decided to wear my because of that post and I could not believe I lost the bottom half of my climber.  Happy I was wearing a harness, but then that is just another hassle to deal with.  

Doe season starts tomorrow, so I told the wife I wont be available for the week.  LOL keep the fingers crosses.

[ISP 5353]

Ghillie suits can get you some really close encounters on the ground.  Getting drawn and getting a good shot is tough, but fun!

[ChuckC]

Ghillie or not, I would not make a big fuss.

Back up to 12-15 yards if you are confidant at that range.  

Have some stuff in front of you and more stuff behind you.  Doesn't need to be thick and it doesn't need to "hide" you,  just blend in.

Make sure you are down wind of the trail or don't hunt it. Make sure your approach is from downwind or cross wind.

Pick a location where you can have "stuff" eclipse (big word for block) the deer's view momentarily.  This can be a big tree, a bush, tall grass, a small chunk of wood with deer scent on it tossed to the other side of the trail. .  something.  

Be ready to take advantage of the eclipse.

SHoot straight.
ChuckC

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
Ghillie or not, I would not make a big fuss.

Back up to 12-15 yards if you are confidant at that range.  

Have some stuff in front of you and more stuff behind you.  Doesn't need to be thick and it doesn't need to "hide" you,  just blend in.

Make sure you are down wind of the trail or don't hunt it. Make sure your approach is from downwind or cross wind.

Pick a location where you can have "stuff" eclipse (big word for block) the deer's view momentarily.  This can be a big tree, a bush, tall grass, a small chunk of wood with deer scent on it tossed to the other side of the trail. .  something.  

Be ready to take advantage of the eclipse.

SHoot straight.
ChuckC

ChuckC nailed it freedom',

There are LOADS of threads with this kind of wisdom if you use the 'search' function creatively on Pow Wow and sift through old threads, literally thousands of pages of info from times past.

[njloco]

I hunt from the ground, but carry a loc on light fixed stand ( 7lbs ) and 2 lone wolf climbing sticks. If I find a good ambush spot while stalking around, I set the trap.

Your going to be amazed at how close you can get to the deer when ground stalking.

Good luck

[sheepdogreno]

biggest thing i have found on the ground is havin plenty of cover behind you so that you are shadowed within. always being ready and staying alert. the second you hang your bow and pick your nose is always when stuff seems to happen!

[German Dog]

Last year I tried about 3 or 4 ground hunts. Got busted on one that was within shooting range. Other sits were either out of range or no deer.With these sits I used my lonewolf climber seat attached to the base of the tree and grabbed what dead fall I could to add some back cover and little front cover.

So......... This year I bought a ghillie suit(rancho safari) and also a shappel 360 swivel chair. Also bought a pair of fiskars pruning snips.  This year was the most comfortable, easily to set up, and also very fun. Unfortunatly I didn't hunt much this year but I did have a couple close encounters. I drew down on a spike at 10 yards and then let him walk. Had one deer at 8 yards but I had rested my eyes and my head bob waking up spooked it so never had a chance at a ashot. seen a few other at non shooting range.

The thing I found with the ghillie is it kind of forced me to sit much more still. Normally I rubber neck like crazy. In other words it felt like I was hidding under cover and I found it much more comfortable and I felt alot more confident.

Get a ghillie if you can cause I think you'll really like it.

[Sam McMichael]

I think the essence of ground hunting is learning to be still. Hunting the wind is primarily a matter of paying attention to it in relation to blind location. Building a ground blind does not require a degree in architecture, and making a workable screen with cover both fore and aft is reasonably simple. But being still requires cold hard discipline. Movement, and its accompanying noise, has busted me on the ground far more often than smell or poor cover.

[Cavscout9753]

Everyone covered it pretty darn well. If you're brushing up in the middle of the season, change very little. Work with whats there for the most part, maybe adding/trimming/moving some things here and there. Then, if you like the spot quite a bit, come back in the mid-summer and build a roomier, denser brush blind. A larger blind will give you a little more cover and allow you to move a little bit more but when done in the off season the deer will get used to it. For now, I would alter very little, sit very still, and mind the breeze.

[Russ Clagett]

Try to set up so you can draw your bow as the deer passes by you which also sets up a good shot angle.... or find a way to momentarily stop them... but this is easier said than done if there are more than one deer...

[Russ Clagett]

Try to set up so you can draw your bow as the deer passes by you which also sets up a good shot angle.... or find a way to momentarily stop them... but this is easier said than done if there are more than one deer...

[Al Dente]

A comfortable seat is the more important than anything.  It will be your best friend in the woods. Trying to sit for long periods of time just sucks on a bad seat.  You get fidgety and will draw attention to yourself.  Once you get a seat that you can sit in comfortably for long periods, get or make a Ghillie suit and CarboMask face paint.  Get ready for some REALLY up close and personal encounters.  Enjoy your new found FREDOM.

[Bobaru]

ChuckC nailed it.

I would like to add one thing from my observations.  Look for places that are "focus changers" for the deer,  and try to construct your shooting lane for this spot.

For a deer, the creek is a natural "focus changer."  Regardless of the deer's concerns, say being slightly on alert because of a little noise or movement, the deer will change his focus when he decides to think about how to cross the creek.  At that point, the deer's alertness leaves and he's relaxed with new Priorities.

Actively getting busted is one thing. Having a deer jump your arrow is also "getting busted."  And, I'm convinced they need these "focus changers."  

I had a red fox dart in front of a buck this year:  focus changer.  I had a doe, very nervous about me in the golden rod, become completely relaxed when she put her front feet in the bean field and look at a yearling. She stopped and changed her focus to "feeding time."  On the other hand, I had a buck jump my arrow even though he was looking away and didn't really know I was there (but, he was obviously on alert about me tucked against a rock pile).