Ground pounders

[LongBow'erman]

Who all on here hunts exclusively from the ground? I started hunting with a longbow last season and I do it exclusively from the ground. I will say that I started hunting a different area last season that I'm trying to learn and EHD hit it hard last year, but my confidence on hunting from the ground is down right now. I try to watch my scent and the wind as I did when I used a compound hunting from a treestand with success, but my deer sightings with the longbow and ground hunting have come to an end. What do you folks that have had success from the ground do that might help me build some confidence.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Me.

Walk slowly. Always play the wind. Hunt pigs or goats to build-up confidence.

[George Tsoukalas]

I don't think I'll be setting up my ladder stand this year. Didn't use it at all this year. So far I've stayed on the ground. Jawge

[vermonster13]

Location. Location. Location.

Movement is even more critical on the ground.

When you think you can't go any slower, slow down.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Besides the great suggestions above. I have few.  Good Binos are key.  Always glass 360 degrees before walking. You must see the animals before they see you. Look for ears, tails, horns, antler tips.  Don't skyline yourself.  Watch your shadow when its late or early. Try not to stand in the open too much.  Use objects to break up your outline. Know the lay of the land like the back of your hand.  Try not to rush the stalk.  
It may sound silly but when stalking any animal stalk them like your life depends on it!  If they see you they wont run they will kill you!
Ryan

[GingivitisKahn]

Ground for me too - unless something startles me, in which case I'll be in the air for a bit and then back down to the ground.

[monkeyball]

This is all good advice,but always make sure the wind is blowing in your face,or at the very least a cross wind.Have a seat that is comfortable for you to remain as still as possible for as long as you can,and try to use natures landscape to break up your outline.
  Fred Asbell has a good book out on hunting from the ground.
                  Good luck and Good Shooting,
                                        Craig

[fowlarcher]

It's all Blacktails and Muledeer out here, different species, but the first thing I look for is fresh sign. If deer aren't currently using the area...

[TradPaul]

All Good advice. Let me add, that if making a blind, make it from the materials in the area you plan to hunt, it doesnt take much to build a good blind with little materials. Also like they said, Wind Wind Wind. I use ATAT camo and they seem to look right through me. Hunt funnel's, areas that force them to move in a confined area. Think "Slow"... move like the setting sun. Hunt where they are and hunt often if you can. Good luck and happy hunting.


P.

[Longrifleman]

Gave up the compound and treestand in '95. That was the last time I shot a buck. Since staying on the ground, I've become much more picky in what I want to take.(I always seem to get my doe during the flintlock season.) I use a Badlands backpack with an All-terrain seat and leafy ASAT suit in it, plus all my other junk.  Also, get a pair of kneepads from Lowe's or HD- When glassing, if I see one, the first thing I do is drop to my knees to get rid of my profile. It's nice not worrying about cracking a knee into a rock, or kneeling on a stick or in wet ground. Buy the best binocs you can afford- NO SUBCOMPACTS!!-you'll be looking thru them for hours in a day of still hunting if you're doing it right. Cheap binocs will stress your eyes & give you headaches. If you fly fish, or know someone who does, get some antron yarn & tie a piece on each end of your bow. It catches the faintest breeze & lets you know where the wind is going. Now, remember-no buck in 13 years, so maybe this is the WRONG way to do it!!!  

[3blades]

I go that route too and at first out of necessity but now have no desire to sit in a tree. Got my first deer on my first year hunting and on the ground so I must be doing something right or just lucky. Just to give you some encouragement as if I can do it so can you or anybody. I just move like deer do if you catch my draft.    

[bbairborne]

I use ATAT camo and they seem to look right through me. [/QB]

Used both ASAT and Sitka on my Elk Hunt with same results.

All ground for me too.
------------------
Trad Rag | com | Giveaways
Stick & String or Cap & Ball
Longbow: ACS-CX 58#@28. Arrow: GT5575 Traditional, 100gr. Brass insert, 125 gr. Magnus 2-blade: 530 gr. total.

[LongBow'erman]

Thanks for the replies, keep'em coming.

[sweet old bill]

the wind and make blinds out of natural materials.

I did  add one ladder stand this year, as a way to hunt this ridge line going into a hay / corn field. I will onlky use this blind with a west wind. I have two other ground blinds in the same area that can be used almost daily. The blinds were built using pine and maple branches.

[Bonebuster]

Vermonster nailed it. When you are on the ground,
you must even blink slowly.

We pay attention to the wind, find a good place to hide, and give away our location by the small movements we THINK they will not see.

[Clay Hayes]

Read Tom Brown's guid to Nature Observation and Tracking.  It helped me.  

While stalking white tails in the Mississippi bottomlands, I would just sneak very slowly, stopping offen through a good area with lots of sighn.  When I spotted a deer feeding toward me, I would just kneel down and let them come to me.  Some times they do, sometimes they meander off somewhere else.  That is what's worked for me.  I'm just not good enough to activly stalk a white tail on a calm day.

ch

[3blades]

Clay is right on in that the deer will come to you to get a closer look and those are the ones that get in the freezer. That is what happened to me last year with the doe I harvested. She saw me all the way and stomped and snorted but still came ever closer for a look see and then she turned sidways at 20yars and the rest you all know.  

[Slasher]

I leave the binocs at home.. If its warm.. ASAT Leafy.. if its cool ghillie suit... Even blinking slowly is the key...

The wind is most important, other than that when I find a area with lots of sign, I look for:

1.)I seek out a big tree to break up my silhouette
2.) a decent tree about 2-3 yds in front to give me cover to stand and draw...
3.) in the shadows helps too...
4.)A comfy chair would be nice as you move less..

I have been killing about one deer a year from the ground. Usually they are younger deer. But perfect for the almost empty freezer of the hot early bow season here in GA. The wiser larger deer make less mistakes and catch you faster than the 4.5+y.o. deer I have had some decent deer in range, but to be honest... I think my setting up in travel corridors in between permanent stands that get hammerred on my lease has a l lot to do with it...

[Adirondackman]

I like to still hunt parallel to well used deer trails. It makes it easy to play the wind hunting like this. I also move a few feet very slowly and then stop and scan the area completly before I move a few feet again. I like to spend more time when I come across a natural blind(anything that helps to break up your outline) like a blowdown or group of small Hemlocks.It usually takes me an hour or more to move about 80 - 100 yards. I see alot of deer hunting like this and usually get a few good shots every year. The reasons that I enjoy hunting on the ground so much.
 1. You see so much more sign and wildlife if you move slowly through a good area then just sitting in one spot. Every hunting trip also becomes a scouting trip.
 2. I also feel that it is more exciting to be close to the animal you hunt at eye level.
 3. I like the angle of my shot better also. You normally can get a straight through double lung shot and dont' have to worry about the angle of the shot.
 I have hunted from the ground for the past 12 seasons now and I'am hooked. Stay with it and I think that you will find it to increase your enjoyment of the total hunting experiance. Good Luck.

[nutmeg]

Gave up trees about seven years ago. Love it. Wind, movement. Good binocs.(nut)