Have you had success from a hunting seat/stool? (Update PG 2)

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Last 2 deer have been from the ground with natural cover. One at 15 yards and the other at 6 yards.

[BowHunterGA]

From the 2012 season, both taken with a 70" Northern Mist Classic longbow -
 
Fat litte 8 point, taken at 8 yards, using a ground hunters seat from Big Jims.

Also from 2012 first opportunity I had on this buck was at about 10 yards but he turned before I could loose an arrow, second opportunity was at 23 yards. Also using the Big Jim's seat!
 
This year I will be using a Hammock Seat and a Huntmore

[Wannabe1]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I am glad to see that it can be done, especially with a longer bow. I went out on a limb and bought the Barronett TreeLax Strap - on Tree Seat for $24.98 shipped from Sportsmans Guide. Excited to give it a try!

 

[Wannabe1]

Obviously, I will need to take it to the woods, strap it on, plant my seat and practice shooting from it. That escapade will follow as soon as my bow arrives.

[KSdan]

I really enjoy hunting this way.  The stool is typically very low for me- even digging holes for the legs.  I want to be able to slip to my left knee and shoot off of it(right hand shooter).  I also like deer to come from behind or off my left shoulder.  I like just little holes so I can glimpse the deer coming and slowly get positioned as he walks into a small shooting lane.  

This buck was shot at 6-7 yards in marsh grass- or a slough as they call them up in ND.  He came in at 11 o'clock position rubbing a tree straight in front of me.  I always carry pruners and had made a small ground blind with cover in front of me too.  As he was distracted I hunkered down behind the blind "wall."  Imagine me with both knees on the ground and bent right down with my bow in front me in a vertical position.  As soon as he stepped away from the tree and turned his head to watch a doe behind him- I rose up and drew in one motion.  Zip!  

I really think ASAT and Predator Brown are killing equipment.  I rarely have deer even look at me twice.

[Wannabe1]

Dan that's an impressive buck! So, having the deer come from behind would be better than having them come in from the front?

[KSdan]

I like to sit with my back to a tree looking over my left shoulder.  I wait for the deer to come from my rear left or left and walk by me. In the case of this photo the deer came almost in front of me.  I usually do not like that. . . my saving moment was that the deer was so fixated on making a rub.  If he would have had his head up looking, he would have looked right into my eyes. . . at 6 yds.  Yikes.

[BigJim]

We have been out of the tree seat for some time, but I have spoke with the builder and he assured me that we will have some soon.

I used mine extensively in Kansas this past week as we did the run and gun...run and bow rather.

It was sweet! I don't do so well sitting straight on the ground as my legs tend to go to sleep. This allowed me to be off the ground and able to rotate as necessary. Combined with the Bush-N-A-Bag, this seat allowed me several opportunities on Birds.
I have tried a bunch of seats and this one is a winner. Priced right too.
bigjim

[b.glass]

Forgot to say, my shot was at 7 yds.

I can't count the number of pigs I've shot sitting on a chair in the brush. You just have to have good camo, good back cover, and be real patient.

Bisch

[Wannabe1]

Bisch: I'm assuming that a good tree bark camo would be the way to go? Or more of a green to blend in with the surrounding brush?

[centaur]

I have taken a few critters from one of those tripod stools, but I bought a chair with a back for next season. My old bones get stiff without a backrest, so the chair will be a plus. I got the Double Bull; portable and much more comfortable than a backless stool.

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Wannabe1:
Bisch: I'm assuming that a good tree bark camo would be the way to go? Or more of a green to blend in with the surrounding brush?

Personally I would say not to worry too much about a specific pattern, so long as it breaks up your outline. To be honest you don't really need "camo", plaid works well as does anything with a varying pattern or shades of color. You could also make your own ghillie suit which is the ultimate garment for a ground hunter IMHO.

[Wannabe1]

Steve, once again I thank you for the knowledge. I was thinking of looking into the ghillie suit. Most likely would only use the upper part to help break up my form. Where does one get the netting to make something like that?

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Wannabe1:
Steve, once again I thank you for the knowledge. I was thinking of looking into the ghillie suit. Most likely would only use the upper part to help break up my form. Where does one get the netting to make something like that?

I am currently making my own using an old leafy suit I picked up several years ago on closeout. There are several decent articles online about making your own. Do a google search for "make your own ghillie suit" and you should find several good articles and even a video.

[RC]

A cheap quick hot weather ghillie for sitting would be about a 3'x3' piece of fish net with strips of cotton  old camo shirts tied in. Not thick but have them long with the knots on top to make it look un even. cut a hole in the middle and to arm slits in it once you figure out where they need to be for a shot. I believe deer pick out you head. Never asked one but when I don`t have something under my hat to shoulder I seem to get busted more.RC

[Wannabe1]

Thanks RC. I'm looking into that right now as my early season is quite warm.  

[wingnut]

Yep Jason and I have taken a bunch of pigs with our stools, ghillies and curves.

Mike

[Jerry Jeffer]

All of the deer I have harvested in the past 15 years have been from a set up similar to this, with a 70" longbow.

   

   

[eddings220]

I have been hunting from the ground the majority of the time the past two years.  Success or not, there is just something about hunting from the ground that I truly enjoy. This fall I plan on doing a little more work on establishing some natural ground blind setups as well as wearing my ghille suit.