Question for ground hunters?

[Bob B.]

Well, I have just been day dreaming today and was wondering how long the average shot at deer is for those that hunt on the ground.  I do not mean using a blind, jsut hunkering down on a log or hidding in the CRP, etc.

Bob.

[reddogge]

After dozens of archery deer kills from a tree stands I shot one from a ground blind made out of pine boughs propped up against a pine tree.  I shot a doe at 17 yards and hit the exact little tiny spot I picked out.

I practiced all shots from the blind with a judo from point blank to the longest which would have been about 25 yards.

[frassettor]

OOOHHH Im gonna watch this thread..I will be gettin on the ground this year in my Ghillie..Is this a Wisconsin fad this year Bob  :confused:    

[BDann]

I am looking forward to ground hunting this year as well.  Just ordered a Shaggy Long Coat from Rancho Safari.  Even if I don't kill a deer I'm going to scare the snot out of my brother.

[whitebuffalo]

For me its been from 5 yrds to 25 yrds on deer a turkey,,JB

[Renaissance Man]

Been luck enough to have had some good luck and dozens of close encounters on the ground still hunting for most of my life.
Most shots have been in the 12 to 20 yard range. I love ground blinds too as some areas or other hunters make still hunting not practical or safe. For the same reasons I use tree stands too.
still hunting to me is the heaven on earth and has actually been the most productive for game, Elk, deer, small game. The longbow is the preferred tool but recurves have played a mojor part of it also.
For quality time in the glade and glen it is the best.
Believe it or not I have done everything just right a few times and have five to eight yard shots, you know the ones when you see the deers eyes go wide eyed and their legs go into hyper speed.
also I rarely wear anything more than just wool, the older and more faded the better, usually plaid or solid grey of some type. often I would take a well burnt stick from the fire and do some custom markings to break up larger areas of any solid color.
You know, high tech!!

[SouthMDShooter]

I hunt 90% of the time on the ground with no blind, just natural cover. Id say about 15 yards is my average but ive killed them at 6 and 25.

[unclewhit]

I'm a still hunter / spot and stalk guy, not the most productive method, but I did manage to arrow a cow elk at 12+ yards.

[Irish]

from 3 to 17 yards (shots taken).  Using a Shaggy Long Coat or natural blinds.

[ron w]

An elk at 12 yds. on the ground, thats what I'm talk'n about....excellent!!!

[Bob B.]

Wow, I really love hearing the responses!!  I hunt from the ground about 90 + % of the time.  Spot and stalk a little, mostly I look for a place deer are likely to frequent and then look to find an ambush spot.  Watch the wind and do not move, things have worked out for me, hiding in plain site has worked well, even with my long bow, my weapon of choice.  I did not think many would respond to this posting, I don't know any others who hunt this way.  Glad to hear some folks do!!  Reading the woods and watching deer eye to eye is just so darn rewarding!!

Bob.

[Hawkeye]

I've had at least a dozen deer within 15 yards of me on the ground over the past few years... four at less than 10 yards, and two at less than FIVE yards (closest was 3!)!!  They were ALL a thrill to be near, even though only two allowed shot opportunities.  It is so amazing to have such a close encounters with such beautiful creatures, and when you see dew drops on eyelashes or hear the crunch of an acorn, it is a RUSH!

I was blessed to take four deer this season from ladder stands, but my BEST hunts were close calls on the ground where I never had a chance to draw.  Sitting on a Niff-T-Seat with ASAT 3-D camo, I had some stories to tell!  I won't take the room on this thread to do the blow-by-blow, but it was a wonderful year.

I am adding a ghillie to my bag of tricks this year, but have done amazingly well with the ASAT Vanish Pro.  Just hope the ghillie will add some versatility.

Ground hunting is wonderful and fulfilling.  The disadvantages are that you will not see many farther-off deer as you can from a stand, and MANY times you will be unable to draw because of the position or proximity of the deer.  The advanage is that you will be "involved" with game in the most intimate fashion.

I had a fork horn buck at 3 yards this Fall that had no clue I was in his world, and a coyote at 2 1/2 that may be the neatest experience I've ever had in the outdoors.  I didn't "get" either, but I was SO glad to be there!!!

Daryl

[michiganbowguy]

ive shot my largest bow killed buck at about 2 arrowlengths!
i sat under a tree that a buck started a scrape under!!!
it was a heavy wide antlered 9 point and i had a green flannel shirt and camo pants.
when i shot it was like shooting a 3-d target at an arrowlength away!!!
the buck did not know what hit him.

as for the rest of my hunting the last 15 or so years has all been from the ground,and i just started to get up in a 10 ft ladderstand that i sit on the platform of.
people think its stupid as im at deers eye height but dont tell the other 2 does and 6 point non typical i shot that.....they may not believe you.

the trick is stay still.dont move unless you actually hear something and dont draw until you are ready to loose an arrow.try to keep the wind in your face.
stillhunting whitetail on the ground is awesome.
jamie

[Arwin]

This year will be more ground pounding for me. I have taken one deer off the ground and that was my first traditional bow harvest.
 Tree stands have their advantages, but your stuck in one spot. I can't think of how many times I wanted to get down and stalk my way in front of the critters. It will be a learning year for me and I may not get as many deer as usuall, but I think it's worth the sacrifice in the long run.

[BobT]

I hunt from the ground with only natural cover and sometimes not very much of that. I didn't kill a deer last year but I didn't get to hunt too much either. The year before I shot an old doe at about 18 yards I was hunting a field edge that the deer were using heavily. She had been at about 8 yards but there was a young doe with twin fawns at less than 10 yards and I had to wait for all the eyes to be looking else where before I could draw. Then I had to wait for a decent shot. the interesting thing was that the other deer did not spook at the shot. They did all jerk their heads up, looked at the arrow when it went past them but did not actually spook until the arrow hit a rock on the other side of the target and made a loud pop. They then trotted off while the doe I shot trotted in the opposite direction, she stopped to look back at the other deer then walked back out and started to feed again at about 30 yards. I knew I had hit her but started to second guess my placement, I was getting ready to shoot again when she fell over! That was probably the most intense deer encounter I have ever had and I have had my share. had I been in a tree I could have taken the first shot offered, I'm glad I was on the ground!

Besides I'm scared of heights!

[foxchef]

I still hunted elk last fall in basic camo with cover scents and had a blast. 3 cows at 17 paces. Couldn't get a shot with three sets of eyes staring at me that close. Had a nice mulie buck at about 3 yards couldn't get a clear shot at the vitals, played hide and seek with a fat doe for about 30 minutes and had a really nice black bear broadside at 20ft with no bear tag! I'm in the process of making a Ghillie suit to see if that will make a difference next fall.

[elkslayer]

Less than 20 yards every time. I live in the North west and ya cant see much more than twenty yards. Its pretty thick and to be honest I would say closer to like 17 yards and under. One time I was afraid to be trampled after a shot.

[longbowman]

I've kept detailed records of all my hunts since 1967 and my average treestand bowkill has been 14 yds.  My average ground has been 8 yds.  Basically, when you see them their already close.  It's hard for me not to use a treestand since I enjoy seeing deer at any range but I started hunting before treestands were being used so I learned a lot from ground hunting.

[44charlie]

this year 15 feet! most shots well under 20 yards! FUN!

[Stringslap16]

Hunting on the ground is the most exciting and fullfilling way to go.  It is awesome how many guys on here do it.