Hunting from the ground opinions

[huntin_sparty]

My observations and experiences have been that

1) Pop up fully enclosed blinds have not worked when setting up the same day of the hunt.  Rarely see deer let alone get into shooting range.

2)Using 3d cover cloth and burlap stapled to wooden posts set up same day of the hunt see deer but they skirt away and avoid shooting ranges.

3) Just using natural ground blinds and good camo.  With this I saw the most deer other than treestand and harvested deer and had many shooting opportunities

From looking at my hunting journal option 3 was the most productive but least used because from years of marketing I think I need that other stuff.  I think natural blinds and a Shaggie will be my goto this year!

Anyone have any different experiences?

[David Mitchell]

My conclusions as well. I have found that it does not take a lot of cover to be effective and that cover behind you is as effective as cover in front. I have a spot where I have had deer within 12-15 yards every year for the last three years and I have NO concealment in front of me at all, but a bunch of stuff behind that breaks up my outline.  I have never understood the concept of buying commercial blinds then brushing them in so the deer can't make them out--just use the brush for a natural blind that you don't have to bother taking in and out--or somebody stealing.

[jacobsladder]

i agree with both posts 100%...... i had 2 different bucks within 5 yards last year.... no cover in front of me , but a huge rootball at my back. Of more importance is wind in the face...if the wind is wrong, they will probably wind you before getting close enough to shoot....another issue is drawing when they are at 5 yds with out getting busted............Im still learning, but patience is key....Remember! if they are that close ..they have no idea youre there ! Take your time and dont rush your shot...There is no better rush than ground pounding.

[Irish]

A Shaggie Long Coat, face and hand camo, some natural cover (make sure you have brush behind you as well as in front).  Play the wind, don't move, and there you go!!

[Irish]

And one more thing, you CAN get to close!!

[hvyhitter]

I keep a ball of hemp gardening twine in my pack so I can quickly lash extra branches were I neeed them in making a ground blind.....and if I dont make it back to that particular spot the twine rots away.....

[BigStriper]

I'm going to try a Ghillie this year it sounds like it's going to be Fun,

Kurt

I have shot a bunch of deer with just a strap on tree seat and no camo, my wife just sits on a stool against a cluster of two or more trees.  Her trick is to stare at her shoes until it is time to shoot and not look at the deer. A couple of deer back, she shot one that walked five feet behind her while she was sitting exposed on a dead fall trunk. Nothing beats a stool sitting between a triangle of small cedars, that is what we try to use most of the time.

[lpcjon2]

Terry put up a drawing of 2 trees pulled over with a rope and tent spike to make an awesome ground blind.I am going to try that this year.If you search ground blinds you may find the thread.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Tim, did You mean this pic..

 

[cahaba]

I am going to do more hunting off the ground with natural blinds this season too. It's getting harder to lug in a stand not to mention the sweating . Its hot down south. Im just going to carry my DB chair and my shears and some twine if needed and a fanny pack with water and such. One advantage is that I can get futher away from some of the other hunters by going light on the equipment.

[huntin_sparty]

Being my first year trying just a Shaggie.  

How much movement do you feel you can get away with in a Shaggie with some natural cover around.  I am not looking to impress wild life with my dance moves but looking through the binoculars level of movement?  If you cant do that maybe the binos stay in the SUV.  

I had used basicaly ground forts my 8 year old son likes to build with me almost split rail style from deadfalls.  Looking to go more minimalist this year with the shaggie.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I hunt from the ground and some times I'm pretty wide open. Shot a deer from this set up right after taking the pic. The deer came in from the left side of the picture.
 

[ron w]

Just put some ground blinds in with some friends last weekend. It's 5 or six weeks till the season opens so they should be all ready to go. One has 4 shooting lanes out to 22 yards. The other you can shoot just about 360 degrees out to 25 yards in a couple of spots. Runways near on both blinds just hope the wind is good. In the big woods it changes constantly. May have a crack at turkey and bear also!

[LimbLover]

Natural cover is my favorite but its not always easy to find. I'm thinking about bringing a tent stake and some rope, maybe even some burlap with me this year.

With public land, you can't always hunt in the same spot.

[Arkansaslongbow]

I have full confidence in my ghillie suit; I have had deer less than 12 STEPS away from me and never knew I was there; quit hunting from tree stands several years ago; love going in with just a backpack and my hunting stool and hunt; I am in the process of learning to still hunt more and more; killed 2 deer still hunting last year and what a feeling it was;  what was funny, while using my ghillie suit on public land, ran into 2 different hunters who never saw me; both walked by me and never knew anyone else was around them; I knew then that the ghille suit trully works......  

[buckeye_hunter]

You can always put out a few straw bales and jam sticks into them until it gives good enough cover. The straw bales are comfortable to sit on as well!

[lpcjon2]

Sal thats the one.Was it Terry or you that put it up on the other thread.

[Bill Turner]

Have to agree with "Irish" "There is such a thing as too close". Be ready to take the first available good shot.

[twitchstick]

I use natural ground blinds all the time. I know this saturday I my plan is to sit in a brush blind that I have had a bunch of bucks feeding by it. I have had same day success with the ground blinds if I use a quick "ground nest" with good back ground or just set up in cover that is already there,deadfall,thick stands of trees,ect... I don't like to make big brush blinds if I plan on same day hunts,most I still try to build blinds in advanced. I have seen plenty of big old mulies/elk that will advoid anything that is new in the area. Most of the time I do as Jerry did in the pic above.