Congrats on your first eye level deer. I have never used a treestand, and can barely sit still long enogh for a blind. If you are really into the ground thing, I highly reccommend Asbell's stalking and stillhunting book. Just learning "how" to walk will make a huge difference. The fun of stalking on the ground is to see how close you can get, when you can watch them blink with your bare eyes, and nearly smell their breath, it is an unparalled rush. My closest shot has been 8 feet, my first black bear was around 8 yards, and my furthest shot was around 13 yards. Again congrats on your deer, stalking them is like nothing else on Earth!