Ground Hunting

[carlr2s]

I would like to here from some of you that hunt whitetails at ground level. What is your technic and success rate? I'm gearing up for it. I'll give her a go but I think I'll be eating my tag by winter. Carl

[hormoan]

Think positive Carl, but most of all put the thought into it. Stay downwind of bedding areas, keep your nose into the wind. Conceal your movements whenever\\however possible. Be a shadow and always in them. Put yourself in the RIGHT spot and opportunity will come. As long as you sense the prey, before it does you.

       

[carlr2s]

Thanks hormoan. I found a thread on this subject in the archives. Is that picture of you with a deer you shot off the ground?

[Doug in MI]

I have taken all but one of my deer from the ground. Learn to listen more for sounds of deer comming in and move your eyes instead of your head if you can. Keep movement to a minimum. Also a good comfortable tree seat is a must for me and a foam pad to kneel or sit on is nice also. I often think of it as playing a game of hide and seek with the deer just make sure the hiding spot gives you enough freedom of movement to shoot and keeping the wind in your favor.
I also camo up my face and hands and have had good luck with Ghilie and leafy suits breaking up my outline.

[The Baron]

Don't go into the woods with a defeated attitude!  Lots of guys kill deer from the ground... and plenty of them.  I will be doing it that was this year (my first year with a bow).  I don't like heights, so I'm going to set up a couple of roomy groundblinds for use in different wind directions, and spend a little time looking for my first archery deer!  I can't relate much for deer hunting (not much experience) but I do a lot of turkey hunting.  I can tell you there is a lot to be said for a positive attitude.    A positive attitude keeps you in the woods longer and that equates to success.  Have faith!

[buckeye_hunter]

Hopefully this works.  I did a search for ground hunting tips and found this post.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=051649#000000

There are some good ideas there.

-Charlie

[J-dog]

I likethe ground, my success rate?? killed a few, for the opportunities presented? I think you have to be super carefull of you face and hands, keep em covered. I try to spend all day in the woods, time on the ground is the only way to kll em from the ground (if thaty makes sense?).

J

[buckeye_hunter]

I would add a couple things;

First, If you are sitting still and hunting from a brush blind, make sure you scrape all the leaves away from your feet.

Second, if possible, try to have at least one or two medium to big size trees between you and where you epect the deer to show up.  That way you can draw while their head is on the other side of the tree and they can't see you.

Third, If you can find a place where a field cuts squarely (like a block) into a stand of woods.  The back corners of those fields are excellent places to set up ambush points.  Often deer won't go through the middle of a field in daylight, they will skirt the back edges and walk right in front of you. I have seen dozens of deer with this particular technique.

Fourth, if you are sitting near a creek or ditch that the deer have to cross, listen carefully.  I have heard the deer jump from one side to the other before seeing them.

Finally, it is flat out the simplest way to hunt because there is next to no set-up, you can move if the wind changes, you make less noise, easier to go to the bathroom and if one spot isn't producing you just move without all the hasle of having to move a stand.

You will get busted sometimes, but I bet you get more close encounters than you would expect. I think you will fill your tag. Even if you just get some "close encounters" it will be so addicting you won't want to go back up in the trees.

Good luck,
Charlie

[SouthMDShooter]

Heres the link to the story and picture of a nice buck I got last year off the ground  if your intrested.    Story

[hormoan]

No Carl that one was shot from a tree stand. But a lot of others, I have taken from the ground. So you can do it. Putting yourself in the RIGHT spot is the biggest key, be it on the ground or in a tree stand. Gillie suits are awesome for hunting on the ground. And are a very good investment for the ground hunter. And most often less money than a quality tree stand.

[Can Hahaka]

Carl,

Last year was my first really concentrated effort at ground hunting - my tag tasted good - BUT even better was the experiences that I came away with. I should have had deer on two separate occasions. Both were botched by me at less than 8 yards.
You will come away with a new experience when you get within 8 yards of a buck and play the stare down game.

[john1271]

i hunt from a hub style blind with shoot through nets ,i can shoot a longbow or recurve out of it an its big enough 3 people can get into it, keeps your sent down and the deer cant see in ,i sit in a camping chair have my bow ready for anything that comes out,keeps the cold wind off of you and keeps you dry..

[john1271]

hey can hahaka ,i know what you mean ,i started about 6 years ago and i had some deer 10 yards from me ( just siiting on ground with a camo net strung out ) i started shakeing so bad that the deer heard my teeth and the doe blew 10 feet from me scared me to death    and i loved it!!!    ,now thats all i do is hunt from the ground.

[longbawl]

Gillie suits are nice but shoot with one on. You will need to trim them. A good comfortable light seat is nice.I dont like to hunt food sources or staging areas. If your on the ground close to deer for very long you will get busted. Back off these places on the trails. Look for a ditch, log, fence or something on the trail that  will take the deers attention. A lot of times they will pause just before they cross.It is also important how you set up. If your right handed set up so the trail is on your left side.Also i like to face in the direction i think they will come. And you need to play the wind. And most important dont give up and stay in the woods. Hunt the thick stuff

[Jerry Jeffer]

I hunt big woods along the Appalachian trail. It is a lot of hard wood forest, beaver swamps, oak flats and steep terrain as well. You have to put in some time to locate deer, where they move, feed etc.  I like setting up so deer will pass by and then I can draw with less chance of getting busted and usually get a nice broadside or 1/4ing away shot. You don't always need a lot of cover or camo, just enough to break up your form. I shot a deer from this set up only shortly after I took this pic.
 

[carlr2s]

Great story Curtis, and great picture Jerry. Thanks to all for your tips and encouragement.Hey, I like this tradgang.

[John Nail]

It's just hunting. No special mystery to it.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=051860

[carlr2s]

Great story John. All I'd be thinking is,"I can't believe this."

[Larry247]

I've killed several from the ground rather than a tree stand. To me its easier to play the wind on the ground. When your in a stand and the wind shifts, you hunt whats coming the other way.  

[3blades]

Well I am ether lucky or good because last year was my first year hunting anything and I ground hunted. After two months of perfecting my stalking and sneaking around I harvested my first deer with an old bear white tail hunter of the mid eighties variety. I for one can't stand to wait around for something to come to me as I feel the need to go after it.But the biggest reason to be honest is that the wify wouldn't support me buying a tree stand and sitting up high in it. Yeah wipped husband but when mommas not happy no body is happy.    :cool: