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Author Topic: Ground tactics for Whitetails  (Read 1279 times)

Offline pktm

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Ground tactics for Whitetails
« on: July 01, 2009, 03:00:00 PM »
This will be my first serious attempt at Whitetail deer hunting with a trad bow on the ground here in NY. Ever since I had a near spill off a stand, you can say I've become tree shy. Any "best" way about it. I'm leaning towards simple ground stand vs stalking. What y'all think.
Fundamentally the marksman aims at himself

Offline geno

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2009, 03:12:00 PM »
I bought an ameristep ground blind last week. it is 42" x 126". wally word had them left over from turkey season. got it 70% off.throw it in the air and it opens up. Doesn't close that easy though  :) .  It is what I will use most of next season.
"Learning how to shoot a bow is easy if you learn the right way"..Howard Hill

Offline The Vanilla Gorilla

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2009, 03:28:00 PM »
If ya got the time and energy, make you a pit blind. Just make sure you can find it in the dark.

I dug one for the first time last year and it worked great. Was able to shoot standing up, and only be about 2 foot above the ground. Deer had no idea I was there. Just have to make sure you clear your shooting lanes if you got a lot of brush in the area.

Offline rraming

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2009, 03:33:00 PM »
Funny I just came to that chapter last night in a book - I would suggest finding some books from people who do ground hunting - the one I have is an old thing I found on my book shelf from the NRA in 1988. Bottom line for me is I move to much. SLOOOOOOW 2 or 3 steps, stop and wait - they suggest moving no more than 100 yards in 20 minutes or LESS. That is hard for me to do - I tried it last year and had a doe get within 20 feet of me (she saw me I did not se her until she ran). Picking a well used trail and waiting down wind is about as good as it gets. Ground blinds are great if you can put them out and leave them for a few months prior to using them (someone would steal mine though)

Offline pktm

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2009, 03:37:00 PM »
I like that pit blind idea, sweet.
Fundamentally the marksman aims at himself

Offline longarrow

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2009, 03:45:00 PM »
toelkeman, I've hunted whitetails for about 10 years now from ground blinds, ones I've mad with natural cover and popups. I love the popups, as I can't seem to sit still like I use to in tree a stand!! Popups take some gettin' use too, limited vision, shootin' lanes est. If you choose a popup, keep in mind your bow length and your height. Also look for one with good TIGHT shoot thur mesh. If you take the time to adjust to the blind, and TUNE your bow and arrow flight for the mesh....your love them!! Good Luck!!!
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Offline jimmerc

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2009, 03:45:00 PM »
Great Thread, I'm always a student of archery and bowhunting and I too have become somewhat tree shy! Last year was my first season with time spent at eye level! But I have always hunted from the ground a some point in the past 35 years as i love still hunting and spot and stalk more than sitting in trees, each  has it time and place!! This past late winter i made up a gilli siut out of a old leafy suit and tested it during turkey season, these things work great as long as you still break up and blend with the areas veg.! I got so close to turkeys that I couldn't draw my bow as i was afraid of getting busted, they came in right to my lap at 5 yards, never new I was there! I just couldn't pull it off!! next year I'll use a pop up ground blind for turkeys, With all that said, I had deer also pass me at shooting range and not know i was there!! so this fall i'll be hunting from a pop up and or whearing my gilli suit and hopefully I can pull this off!! Still lots to learn when it comes to hunting from the ground but man what a rush!!!! Jim
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Offline Dave Thaxton

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2009, 04:03:00 PM »
I don't have a ground blind (maybe this is the year) even though I have cozied up in a few blowdowns over the years but my FAVORITE ground tactic is to still hunt along the edge of this large swamp on my property. However, the timing must be exactly perfect. It must be on the backside of a nasty coldfront, the ground wet, with a decent steady wind, cold (well, 30ish for GA)with the date being somewhere around November 10-14. The bucks are foolish and driven to breed. Move SLOWLY and then become a BUSH and he'll never know I'm here. Sorry, reliving a few past hunts there for a moment. Had lots of luck with this scenario when it all comes together.

Hope this helps in your quest.

David in GA
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Offline bohuntr

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2009, 04:29:00 PM »
3 out of the 6 deer I shot last year were taken from natural ground blinds. Where I hunt there are quite a few bushy cedars and I like to use them to break up my human form. The 1st picture shows the natural ground blind where I shot 2 of the 3 deer last year. I was just to the right of the tree trunk that is leaning to the right on the left side of the picture.

 

This second picture was taken from that ground blind looking West. The white you see is the belly hair of the doe that expired about 25 to 30 yds from my blind.

 
To me, the ultimate challenge in bowhunting is not how far away you can succesfully make a killing shot but rather how close you can get to the animal before shooting.

Offline Covey

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2009, 04:37:00 PM »
I hunted on the ground last year and had a doe so close I could hear her chewing! she knew somthing was not right but could not figure it out. I didnt get a shot but it was cool! gonna give it a whirl again this year and see what happens!! I have noticed that it matters more the cover behind you than it does in front! I havent used a ground blind but I have set in alot of tops with cover in front and got busted! however you do it stay concealed and dont move around alot and have fun because that's what matters most!! Jason

Offline Mike Gerardi

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2009, 05:28:00 PM »
I hunted ground blinds for the last two years on and off. I do not like the limited view from the blind.  Last year I had two encounters on the ground while on foot . I would keep the wind in my face and slowly move from cover to cover. I limited my movement and planned my next move before leaving my cover. To my suprise I got within 20 yds of a doe that was feeding and slowly moving to me.  Too much movement with my bow and she was gone. I was excited to get that close and feel confident I can  pull it off in the future.  The other time I had a cyote pass by a big old oak tree I was using as cover. He was 45 to 50 yds away. Again the wind was in my face and he was up wind from me just walking and nose to the ground. Two really cool memories.

Offline Justin Falon

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2009, 05:47:00 PM »
Dan Fox,

I am shocked that you can "conceal" yourself on the ground man!!!!!!!!!!!  Aren't you like 7 feet tall??
Hill

Offline bohuntr

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2009, 05:53:00 PM »
Thats funny Justin!!! The only time I am 7 feet tall is when I am drinking Tequilla and it comes in combination with being bulletproof! :^)
 My concern is that if I don't start working out more it may be possible for me to reach 7 feet wide.  :biglaugh:
To me, the ultimate challenge in bowhunting is not how far away you can succesfully make a killing shot but rather how close you can get to the animal before shooting.

Offline Oliverstacy

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2009, 06:12:00 PM »
I’ve recently read some writings from a person that hunts a lot in Michigan’s pressured areas…Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails by John Eberhart.  He has some great ground ideas that revolve around hunting cornfields…I tried this last year with traditional equipment without success but it was a learning experience for me and I will adapt and learn from what I did wrong.  I have friends that have cleaned up walking cornfields and setting up shop in and around them, many areas don’t have trees and ground blinds are key.

Growing up on a large farm I’ve often harvested corn in the second weekend of gun season (chase deer with 700,000+ hunters for a couple weeks and deer learn to hide well) and literally chased deer down the last 4 rows of corn…they didn’t want to leave the safety of the corn.  I’ve walked through the fields when the corn is wet or the wind is blowing and I’ve come very close on several occasions…all learning experiences.  It’s funny when you enter a 140 acre cornfield and just weave your way across the field into the wind, looking into empty row after row and then you look into one and there they are.  The key is to have a light breeze or a wet field…if there is grass in one area of the field they tend to bed in the grassy areas or if the planter swings wide during a direction and the row is wider…they love that also.  I’ve seen them travel the pivot irrigation tire tracks and bed just off them in a row.

Eberhart writes that during some of the heaviest hunted times deer will still move all day in a cornfield, they feel that safe.  If you find an area that has been flooded out early in the year and the corn is gone and weeds have grown up, this area can be great, bucks will cruise these areas in the rut looking for bedded does.

If you have corn up against a swamp (if it’s in the middle of the field) set up shop there.  Getting to know the area over 35 years has helped, remembering where the low areas are and if they get flooded out will go a long way, finding them when the corn is tall is not fun.  We’ve planted grass in sloped areas that always washout, this is another great area as they are in the middle of a massive natural food plot, they never have to leave.

Just some thoughts…

Here are some pictures from my DB Matrix hunts last year in the corn, after I looked at the pictures I could tell I need to cover the roof line better and did going forward.  This is the "recurve" addition.

 

   


Josh
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Kanati 60" 57@29"
AP Cumberland 66" 58@29"
WhisperStik KajikaStik 56" Recurve with Canebrakes...57@28"
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Offline John3

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2009, 06:48:00 PM »
Ground hunting is DEADLY.. If done correctly you do not need a blind. I wear either my Shaggie or when warmer ASAT Ultimate camo.. I make natural debris "pile/blind" and sit INFRONT of it. As long as the "pile" is high enough to breakup your seated outline,, your in business!! Even in a plaid jacket if your stone still a deer will not bust you. I always wait for the deer to walk PAST me then kill them in a quartering shot. This is a deadly technique. No one will ever be able to find your stands or your "honeyhole"... LOL
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Offline Robhood23

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #15 on: July 02, 2009, 01:40:00 AM »
My father in law only still hunts and is very succesfull at it. JDS3 is right on!
The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can't are both right!!!

Offline GingivitisKahn

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #16 on: July 02, 2009, 09:44:00 AM »
Don't learn it the way I did (year after year of trial and error).  

Pick up a copy of _Stalking & Stillhunting: The Ground Hunter's Bible_ by the worthy G. Fred Asbell (available from 3Rivers, etc.) and read it.  Then practice what you've learned and maybe re-read it.

Fred's the man.

Offline maineac

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #17 on: July 02, 2009, 10:03:00 AM »
I too am planning on trying to hunt from the ground more this year.  I have been doing a lot of walking in areas I hunt and setting up ground blinds with natural materials in areas I think are good deer ambush locations.  Whenever I leave the truck i have a small fanny pack with a folding saw and pruning shears.  When I find a good spot I move dead limbs and such to create a little pocket.  I try to make sure I have good back cover and in front.  By the end of summer I hoe to have a couple dozen set up to fit my mood and weather conditions.  I am not giving up on the treestand, but I am looking forward to trying from the gwound.
The season gave him perfect mornings, hunter's moons and fields of freedom found only by walking them with a predator's stride.
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Offline buckeye_hunter

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #18 on: July 02, 2009, 12:27:00 PM »
Just make sure you build some brush blinds in advance. Even if it means dealing with mosquitoes. Most people don't ground hunt bow season and won't bother your set-up.

Make sure to have tons of back cover to conceal any movement.

Keep the ground inside your blind clear to eliminate noise by your feet.

Finally, draw your bow from multiple positions while in the blind to see where you can and can't shoot.

If you do those three things you will be a lot closer to bagging a deer from the ground. Put in the preseason time, it will be worth it. This is all coming from a guy that is seriously mistake prone!

-Charlie

Offline Oliverstacy

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Re: Ground tactics for Whitetails
« Reply #19 on: July 02, 2009, 05:25:00 PM »
If you really think about it there are many more opportunities for a good ground blind ambush than there are from a tree…I understand there are great funnels that have optimal trees but if the pressure is on the deer will find the least visited place and stay, most of these areas don’t have trees from what I’ve seen.  I watch two really nice bucks walk out of the tip of a swamp and clear the one good tree in the area without walking within shooting distance, a ground blind would have been perfect.  I was in the tree by the way.

I’m going to build some good ground blinds this summer and hunt them when I have the correct wind this fall…like someone else mentioned build them early even if you have to fight the mosquitoes.

Josh
Custom Flemish Strings by Oliverstacy!  
Kanati 60" 57@29"
AP Cumberland 66" 58@29"
WhisperStik KajikaStik 56" Recurve with Canebrakes...57@28"
WhisperStik KajikaStik aka "Wormy" RC & LB,both 55@29"
Martin Savannah 50@28"
Kota Kill-um 55@28"

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