Busted!

[Fleatrap1]

Been a slow start to the season with warm weather here in Illinois.  We finally have a little bit of a cold snap going on.  I left the confines of my homemade ground blind and ventured out to where I have seen a few bucks in the past.  Threw a chair next to tree mixed in with thistles and small shrubs.  3d camo on, figured I would give it a go.  9 am rolls around and a beautiful young 6-pointer tops the hill walks almost into my shooting lane and locks eyes on me!!  My bow was partway lifted in anticipation of the shot.  Frozen for at least two minutes we wait for one another to flinch.  He was smart!  To careful steps backward and he disappeared into the woods, and my blood pressure returned to normal!  To me THAT is hunting!

Though I have since improved my position with some better natural cover....

[LB_hntr]

Those moments have all kinds of different emotions all wrapped in to a few seconds.

[mcgroundstalker]

I get busted sooo many times... Wouldn't have it any other way! Gotta Love It  :D

... mike ...

[Fleatrap1]

I know so many other guy's who try to convince me to use a treestand.  I really enjoy hunting from the ground and being that close to a deer!  It gives me less shot opportunity than a tree but I just enjoy it even when I get busted like that.  I will say I will be glad to get a deer with a trad bow from the ground! Hopefully this season....

[monsterchelli]

[monsterchelli]

[Tajue17]

I got busted last week, got caught trying to stand but the same deal he starred at me for 5 minutes then started walking again and I reached for my bow and that was it he started stomping his hoof then leaped and blew..  

I actually find those scenarios kind of funny, its a super blood rush and then a OMG I need to sit down..

[Fleatrap1]

Originally posted by Tajue17:
I got busted last week, got caught trying to stand but the same deal he starred at me for 5 minutes then started walking again and I reached for my bow and that was it he started stomping his hoof then leaped and blew..  

I actually find those scenarios kind of funny, its a super blood rush and then a OMG I need to sit down..

I agree on the super blood rush!!

[Medic85]

It's awesome to be that close to them on the ground, I was recently busted myself.

[huntnmuleys]

that sounds like a ton of fun to me!!

[daveycrockett]

Had a really nice Buck at 8 yds. yesterday. Sitting in a brushpile. Thought for sure it was gonna happen as He looked away from me broadside. As I started my draw arrow just fell off the string! Musta have come partially un nocked somehow. Never had that happen before, I got busted! But I loved every second of it!

[rwbowman]

Makes no difference to me either! Even being busted for me is exciting!

[John146]

You are reading my mail brother! I love hunting deer on the ground. Nothing like it!!!

[Boomerang]

Ya, it's tough hunting from the ground. I'm doing it more this year and they pick up any movement you make. Which makes it tough to draw your bow without getting busted.

[Fleatrap1]

I am not new to ground hunting, I did it with my old compound.  The real challenge is drawing back to make the shot.  Before I would draw and hold as they looked away or passed behind cover.  Now things are a little more difficult!! I wouldn't trade it though!!!

[ChuckC]

Well, this is the perfect thread for me tonight.  On the ground, ghillie suited up, sturdy wind.  Got busted by a deer less than 30 yards UP wind.  I blend in perfectly in that marsh and I wasn't moving, so I am guessing that she traveled behind me, downwind, and I couldn't see her, then she circled to catch where I "wasn't" and busted me.

I know I blend because the birds.   blue jays, robins, thrushes, chickadees, were all over me (within 5-6 feet at times) all afternoon and none busted me.

After about ten snorts, I packed it up.  It kept shorting while I was walking out.

At least I broke my "no deer" spell.
ChuckC

[Tajue17]

Chuck I know this will sound strange but an old fellow once told me they can see your eyes. he said don't stare at their eyes and they won't see you.  is it true who knows but when they are close I avoid makign eye contact.

[ChuckC]

Ted, I think you may be right about that.  My eyes were the ONLY thing not covered, but where she was located, I don't think she saw them either.  I don't know what went wrong, but BUSTED I was.

CHuckC

[Tajue17]

I hear ya but we may never know how they do it sometimes,  I've been busted a bunch of times and I leave scratching my head.. what about when they don't really explode out of there but you can tell they are casually avoiding you,,, I've had deer that I seen coming from a long way get near me and then circle around me while looking in my direction.... I used to think it was because of how I walked in or maybe I was spotted moving in the tree but soon figured out thats not always the case.

[John146]

Have a last weekend testimony about that eye thing. 15 yards staring right at me and me at her but I practically closed my eyes and she calmed down. I was just looking through squinted eyes. I think Tajue 17 has a good point.