Trad Gang

Okay, I know there are lots of you guys and gals who keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. I'd like to give it a try, but could certainly use some advice...something beyond "walk little/look much" if possible. Natural blinds, what to look for, what to sit on, etc. Pictures of your set-ups would be awesome too.

I hunt whitetails and turkeys, so that's my main concern. Do any of you get away with natural blinds for turkeys? I've always used pop-ups (a Hidden Hunter at present), but hate the lack of mobility. They are nice in crappy weather, but lots of times turkey season brings hot weather then it's like being in a toaster oven.

Shotgun season is on here, so we can't bow hunt now. Can you tell I'm getting bored already?   :banghead:

Obviously he wind is a big issue. Beyond that I have found that clothing - mainly quiet clothing - is of the utmost importance. Stopping "for awhile" at a spot means making sure you have the right cover around you. Best bet is to read G. Fred Asbell's book on ground hunting.

Sorry I'm not going to be much help because "walk little/look much" is what I do most of the time. If I find a hot spot I'll set up in a natural blind or behind a tree & stay in the shadows.

If I can do it, it isn't brain surgery. Obviously, using the wind to advantage is a given. And stealth is a must. If you are in very dry conditions, or the leaves make every step sound like you are stepping on corn flakes, you must pick every movement with care.  When I am in milder weather or milder country, I like wearing moccasins, where you can get a better feel for the ground than with stiffer soles. The quieter you can move, the better, but even then animals will spot movement, so those moves must be very slow. I use binoculars a lot when still hunting, searching what is ahead for any sign of an animal before making the next move.
I try to position myself when possible with some kind of cover so that my movement will be covered to some extent, and when the sun in low in the sky, I love to use it as a backlight if the wind is cooperative.  If you are in hilly country, stay away from the skyline if at all possible.
I personally think that quiet clothing is more important than camo, but I wear camo as well as wool plaid. It amazes me how well animals can hear, and on quiet days, your smallest sound carries remarkably far. You can get away with more when it is windy, but usually the animals are spookier then, so maybe that is a wash.
Stay in the shadows when you can; it is easier to not be seen. When your movement has been spotted, freeze and see if you can wait the animal out; it works a fair amount of the time.
After you take all these factors in, then you will still be busted regularly. It is all part of the fun of hunting from the ground.
Here is a picture of me in a typical 'ground blind'. I basically just get in the shadows and try to remain still. It works fairly often.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/94f61af3.jpg)

I like to scout a lot before the season.  Finding a hot area is important, but since you need to be so close with trad gear you really have to pinpoint the most well-worn trails and plan your ambush.  Of course the plan usually goes to hell once the season starts.    :dunno:

Believe it can happen!!! The way I've come to think is that if I'm in the woods there's deer not far away. My bow never leaves my hand, except for you know what. Even then my eyes don't stop hunting nor my ears. I always move as quiet as possible even if not stillhunting, but just scouting. I want to see as many deer as possible anytime I'm in the woods, summer winter spring or fall.
Anytime while scouting I see deer/turkey I put the stalk on them carrying my imaginary bow, don't you know I always get a good shot too!
As for blinds i keep it simple and try to use natural "hides", mainly large trunk trees. I try to set up so the deer is blinded by the tree as it approaches and the shot is after they pass but they don't always read the script so be ready. Lastly you need to see them first. Deer that see you often offer shots but they are risky at best as they will be "cocked" and ready to bolt.
oh one last thing. If you see one deer plan on there being others.
and one last last thing! Don't force it, but let it happen. Many of my best hunts are the "almost ones"!!
GOOD Luck and have FUN!

First thing I do...is to get any and all maps of the area I am going into. Satellite images are great if they are current...and very useful..even if they aren't...it will give you a idea of how the area looks...so you can plan how you are going to hunt it..

I watch the weather reports...and make a note of the wind directions for the day I am planning to hunt...laying out the maps..and my most likely entrances and exits..

You do want to learn how to walk in leaf litter and sticks quietly...and this takes practice..Slow is always the word used...but there is more to it than just slow...it is the cadence of your steps that will alert animals..A steady walk...is just a damaging as not being stealthy...than any thing else..Learn how to not sound like a person walking through the woods..

Plan on getting several different types of clothing...to match what you are hunting around...while deer are color blind...having soft muted patterns that blend well and don't make noise when brushing up against things is a must..You can lay out in the open and be concealed with the right patterns...It's the movement and noise that will give you away...as well as your scent..Use a scent blocker spray...It works better than not using it....

Use natural blow downs..bushes..depressions to your advantage when ever you can..Why drag something around and have it out of place...The deer know the area better than you do...and being on their level gives them the advantage...Stay off of ridge tops where you can skyline your self..

One thing to remember...don't over dress...it's better not to be sweating...Layering is the best approach..and you can always take along extra to keep warm when you stop.

Mac

Everyone else seems to have given any advice I would have. X2 on G. Fred Asbells Ground Hunting book. Lots of great info. Only thing to add is that I like using L.L. Bean Maine Hunting boot. Very quiet and you can feel the ground remarkably well. Great boot and they last a long time. Good luck!
Charley

Here are the  mistakes I have made on the ground!

1.  Not staying put long enough

2.  Moving too much

3.  Not clearing enough around my feet to prevent noise

4.  Not clearing enough to allow free movement of the bow

5.  Not setting up a holder to place my bow in with arrow nocked

6.  Hunting with other guys who don't stay put long enough and having them walk up from one direction while the deer is coming from the other

7.  Not dressing warm enough

8.  Not slathering on enough bug repellent

9.  Shooting at some low priority animal (squirrel) just as an unseen deer is approaching

10.  Not getting to the blind early enough

11.  Getting to the blind too early

12.  Planning the perfect set up for the prevailing winds and then finding them not "prevailing" upon arrival

13.  Whittling on a piece of wood and not paying close enough attention to surroundings

14.  Setting up too close to the bedding area

15.  Setting up too close to the feeding area

16.  Being on the wrong beat-down trail while watching deer move by way out of range

17.  Being too close to the trail that they do use that day

18.  Using a noisey wrapper to pack lunch

19.  Misjudging how much the ground drops off in some of the travel lanes leaving a perfect view of the deers back or ears

20.  Not having something comfortable to sit on

As you can see, if you do things the opposite of my way, you will be well on your way to being successful!  ;)

QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
Here are the  mistakes I have made on the ground!

1.  Not staying put long enough

2.  Moving too much

3.  Not clearing enough around my feet to prevent noise

4.  Not clearing enough to allow free movement of the bow

5.  Not setting up a holder to place my bow in with arrow nocked

6.  Hunting with other guys who don't stay put long enough and having them walk up from one direction while the deer is coming from the other

7.  Not dressing warm enough

8.  Not slathering on enough bug repellent

9.  Shooting at some low priority animal (squirrel) just as an unseen deer is approaching

10.  Not getting to the blind early enough

11.  Getting to the blind too early

12.  Planning the perfect set up for the prevailing winds and then finding them not "prevailing" upon arrival

13.  Whittling on a piece of wood and not paying close enough attention to surroundings

14.  Setting up too close to the bedding area

15.  Setting up too close to the feeding area

16.  Being on the wrong beat-down trail while watching deer move by way out of range

17.  Being too close to the trail that they do use that day

18.  Using a noisey wrapper to pack lunch

19.  Misjudging how much the ground drops off in some of the travel lanes leaving a perfect view of the deers back or ears

20.  Not having something comfortable to sit on

As you can see, if you do things the opposite of my way, you will be well on your way to being successful!   ;)  

Amazing! I've made most of these from a tree stand...plus a few more.

  :knothead:

I carry a light weight portable stool that is comfortable. You need to  be comfortable to stay still.

Pack along some clippers/small saw to clear brush for shooting lanes and  a small garden hand rake to clear the ground for your feet.

Bring along a light weight leafy suit...works wonders.

Bring a couple of hangers for your bow or other items you need to keep in reach if you take a stand near some standing timber.

Use a grunt call periodically as you clip shooting lanes and clear the ground. Do these things slowly and try to sound like a deer or turkey working the woods.I called in a nice big buck once with the grunt call and he was on me before I even got my camo on. A whole different story. I didn't get him.

If I can get into some thick brush and have an idea where the deer will be traveling I try to get deep enough into it so they can't see me until I'm ready to shoot. Other than that sitting with my back to a tree or two works very well as long as I can remain still.

ALWAYS wear a face mask and cover your hands even if you are not a camo user.

Milkweed pods make it easy to see how the wind and thermals are working.

Most importantly....get to where the deer are going to be before they get there and make the first shot count.

Lots of excellent advice already posted. I've had good luck seeing deer and turkeys from the ground by sneaking around areas that I keep an eye on for minimal hunter pressure, finding freshly used trails and making quick natural blinds under White pines or natural blowdowns on the downwind side near edges of differing habitat (thick stuff/old cuts/mature timber)...
I've had nice bucks come to these set-ups within 5 minutes of sawing/pruning on brush and hanging a scent near the trail quartering upwind of my position several times. Good luck! Nothing like it!

No sense me putting in my 2 cents,exellent info here.Stools a must,Centaur and monteray got her down pat.Only thing I could add is if your hunting out west in wide open spaces using a spotting scope .Stalking,wind,cover and sun really come into play,best of luck.

Good stuff, Bill! Keep them coming guys. That's what I'm talking about.   :thumbsup:

Think like a deer.  #1 fault movement.  Most all other faults cause #1.  Well and there is that wind thing.    :D

Have any of you tried the Deer Dander stuff that the Fitzgeralds hawk on their show? I see Cabelas carries it, but it's kind of pricey. I don't want to spend $20 plus shipping for a pig in a poke.

So far you have received some great tips. Here are a few more: Save your money, don't waste it on gimmicks like "Deer Gander" when corn will do the same thing and is a lot less expensive. Practice getting the bow into shooting position and releasing the arrow quickly with accuracy (your hunting not shooting 3-D). Get into shooting position and make your body outline as small as possible (drop to a knee; turn sideways, etc.)with a limited amount of movement. I love depressions and natural contours where most of my lower body is below ground level. Build your natural blinds well before the season so the animals can get use to them. Scout your hunting territory in the winter after the hunting season has ended(trails will be more easily seen).

QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Turner:
So far you have received some great tips. Here are a few more: Save your money, don't waste it on gimmicks like "Deer Gander" when corn will do the same thing and is a lot less expensive. Practice getting the bow into shooting position and releasing the arrow quickly with accuracy (your hunting not shooting 3-D). Get into shooting position and make your body outline as small as possible (drop to a knee; turn sideways, etc.)with a limited amount of movement. I love depressions and natural contours where most of my lower body is below ground level. Build your natural blinds well before the season so the animals can get use to them. Scout your hunting territory in the winter after the hunting season has ended(trails will be more easily seen).

Good tips! I suspected the Deer Dander was more hype than help. I usually combine turkey hunting with deer scouting. In the spring when stuff is just starting to grow, the trails really stand out.

We can only offer suggestions.  The deer will teach you.

QuoteOriginally posted by Ground Hunter:
We can only offer suggestions.  The deer will teach you.

....so true!!!!

Lots of great advice above!!!
I'll be heading out shortly to hunt public ground from the ground  :)  
For me eye to eye hunting is humbling and fun!  :)

I have shot dozens of deer in Iowa, all from the ground. Most important thing I look for is the proper cover and preferably somewhere that no one would want to put a tree stand. Most of the time it is the in the edge of one of our cedar clumps. Our Iowa versions are not really cedars like one would see out west, they are closer to junipers. They grow in tight clumps at times, but deer like to bed in and around them. More than half of my deer have been shot using them like a blind. I simply cut my way in and take the cuttings and stick them in the ground in front.  On state land it is not legal to damage trees, but quite often there is no need because the DNR has been cutting them down on our hill sides as they are considered to be an invasive species on our prairie hills.
My other trick is to make my self as comfortable as possible, Huntmore chair. The set up works just as well for turkeys.

Spending to much time looking at the ground. I use to scan a ton at the ground so I wouldnt step on sticks. well buy a good pair of binos like swaros or the like with good eye relief and glass ahead of that next patch of cover. always look for the bedded deer or elk. look for a ear or antler tip at a range beyond your bow. Wind is huge. scent control is a big one as well . learn the wind in the area you hunt know the way the wind will change though out the day especially in the elk woods temp inversions change the wind and you need to be in the right place when that happens. when the wind is swirling in the afternoon I just hunt in clean gear and I wash in hunter soap with no perfumes. I also belive in spraying my clothing with UV killer. Take your clothing under a black light and you will see the differance. This is huge in the dark timber.
also foot ware is a big deal as well, Large warm cluncky boots will not work. I like a danner grouse boot with a bob sole for quiet stalking My son takes it a step further by hikeing into a area he is going to hunt and then switching over to water slip on shoes, Light steps are key to getting close. I have snuck up and killed a Mt lion using these tips. it'll work for you.

Waldrop Seat!

You dont want the deer to approach you directly.  You want them off to the side.  There like us they look where thier going.  Once their even w/ you its amazing how much easier it gets.

I like to be behind the cover not in it.  I like to keep it between us.  I'll almost always be on both knees as low as I can get.

Ive tried getting in the blowdowns.  It works sometimes.  There seem to be some deer that will always eyeball these very hard.  Bet theyve encountered danger in them before.

As for turkeys it seems to vary property to property for me.  Some places I wouldnt dream of not using a blind.  Others I wouldnt bother to carry one.  Goodluck

Ghillie suit.

If not that, at least get an army booney hat and stick junk in the loops to break up the round (predator look) shape of your noggin.

QuoteOriginally posted by LKH:
Ghillie suit.

If not that, at least get an army booney hat and stick junk in the loops to break up the round (predator look) shape of your noggin.

The Ghillie is intriguing, but I can't get over the fear of catching my bowstring in that stuff. I've had the string catch the string on my hooded sweatshirt while practicing and it is not a pleasant experience. Not only does the string flip back and hit me in the face, but the arrow does all kinds of weird stuff. I'm lucky if it hits the bag target. I know you have to trim the chest and inside of the bow arm, but what happens when you have to severely cant the bow to make a shot? I've looked at the leafy suits and think those might be an option though. Those would be more for turkeys than deer though. As long as they don't spot movement, deer have a tough time finding me, even in wool plaid camo.

QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
I have shot dozens of deer in Iowa, all from the ground. Most important thing I look for is the proper cover and preferably somewhere that no one would want to put a tree stand. Most of the time it is the in the edge of one of our cedar clumps. Our Iowa versions are not really cedars like one would see out west, they are closer to junipers. They grow in tight clumps at times, but deer like to bed in and around them. More than half of my deer have been shot using them like a blind. I simply cut my way in and take the cuttings and stick them in the ground in front.  On state land it is not legal to damage trees, but quite often there is no need because the DNR has been cutting them down on our hill sides as they are considered to be an invasive species on our prairie hills.
My other trick is to make my self as comfortable as possible, Huntmore chair. The set up works just as well for turkeys.

Pavan, where the heck are you in Iowa? I certainly enjoy your posts and knowledge of traditional archery. I'm in the north central part, about 15 miles from Minnesota and 8 miles from I35. Might be fun to get together an fling some arrows sometime or at least BS over a cup of coffee (one of my few remaining vices   :rolleyes: ).  

I hunt mostly an hour SE of here though, where I grew up.  There are very few cedars in the river bottom land I hunt most of the time.

I've looked at the Huntmore chair, but man $220 for a chair    :scared: . I just haven't been able to get my mind around that one yet.      

I try to match my terrain, where I hunt mainly lots of green and brown foilage! Play the wind, and when building natural blind make sure there is ample room to manuever and to shoot a bow, background cover is very important! Sometimes they make you no matter what you do!Its funny I have watched deer this year that did not have clue that I am there, and other times those damn mature, or what I call "Lookout" does will bust me every time!LOL

Welcome back to the ground, its much safer. I've had more shot opportunities from the ground. IMO, when it comes to ground blinds, "Keep it Simple", use the brush thats around you and if you need more structure then bring some string or cable ties and set the blind up to your preferences.

my favourite trick was taught to me by "calgary chef" on this forum.
i dig a hole in the ground- knee deep and big enough for my feet to fit comfortably into- the perfect chair- and animals just dont seem to see you as the same thing when you are only half a person.
back the setup into some good brush or whatever as a backdrop- and keep your front well open and clear for shooting.
you can carry one of those small army type shovels with you- and it only takes a few minutes.fresh dirt- good cover scent too.
remember to close the hole when you are done- so no small critters get trapped.

QuoteOriginally posted by fujimo:
my favourite trick was taught to me by "calgary chef" on this forum.
i dig a hole in the ground- knee deep and big enough for my feet to fit comfortably into- the perfect chair- and animals just dont seem to see you as the same thing when you are only half a person.
back the setup into some good brush or whatever as a backdrop- and keep your front well open and clear for shooting.
you can carry one of those small army type shovels with you- and it only takes a few minutes.fresh dirt- good cover scent too.
remember to close the hole when you are done- so no small critters get trapped.

How does that work with a longbow, I'm wondering?

just a five gallon bucket next to a large tree with logs stacked in front.
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae69/arrow30_photos/snowblind.jpg)
just throw theese together near trails, and you allways got a spot to sit for a couple hours in the evening..

i threw this one together in about 10 minutes
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae69/arrow30_photos/groundblind.jpg)
its the dark spot on the right
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae69/arrow30_photos/oasis.jpg)
it wasnt 30 minutes later when this doe walked past me on my right side about 4 yds away headed to the water.
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae69/arrow30_photos/gettindark.jpg)
this was last year...

small steps,( 1 foot or so) move everything slow, not just your feet. my goal is to be moving slower than anything else out there. watch the squirrels, if you are doing it right they won't even go up a tree. a cross wind is good, look behind you also, sun somewhere other than in your face.

Congrats arrow30!!  What kind of bow were you shooting?  Looks kind of cool and compact!!

I just got in from ground hunting on public land.  Very fun!!  Had fat forky come within about 15 yds, but alas we are only allowed spikes and does.  I saw a couple of studs at a distance.  Heard some pigs.  Saw lots of cool birds.  Missed a walking "alert" doe at about 22 yards.  She stopped walking and whirled off at the "thump" of my shot, but honestly I would have missed her anyway.  My bow arm was busy doing a 45 at the shot.  My longbow is not speaking to me or my bow arm at this time  :)  LOL!!!

Biggest thing is try not to have deer approach right toward you. keep your hand on your bow at all times. don't move until you have to except for scanning your area. I hunt simple, don't need a lot of stuff or a big crazy blind.

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/P1010008.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/98buck01.jpg)

kestimater, thats a kodiak mag.

Great pictures, guys and nice job on the whitetails. Jerry, you really hide in plain sight in that shot. That's what I want to do. If I hunt anymore this year, it will be in the snow though. I still think my Wooltimate or my wool plaid will do the trick if the wind will cooperate.

Thanks for all the responses. This was just what I had hoped for.

Russ

30 coupe- works just fine for me and i shoot 68" selfbows.
you might have to cant a bit depending on your shot angle
its not the only answer- but just one more to add to the arsenal

I hunt public land with lots of pressure. Ghillie suits are remarkable. You need to take the time to trim them up so they don't catch your string.I have a shaggie longcoat and use it hunting in crp fields and crop fields. Anywhere I can find a clump of something left standing to sit in or by they seem to do the job. They are great for late season when the deer are avoiding the trees and those places where there just isn't a place to put a stand.

ive been doing some ground blind hunting this yr.  ive been using a keyes still hunter pack with an integrated seat (http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt101/broketooth/DSC00589.jpg)it works great, has lots of storage for all the stuff you want to carry along, even though i have not used it to its fullest potential. here is a veiw 20 yrds from the natural blind (http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt101/broketooth/DSC00590.jpg)beleive it or not im actually sitting on the keyes stillhunter pack. here is a veiw inside the blind (http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt101/broketooth/DSC00591.jpg)

I hide in plain sight most of the time. Here is winter bow last year. the trail is toward the camera about 15 yards.

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/22sit.jpg)

Broketooth....love the looks of that Keyes pack.

bill, there is a product review thread that i did also. rv

This was from a different post but some of it applies, especially the last paragraph.

I use to use climbers, but I find in this area that it's not necessary to go very high up, so I now use two sets of Lone Wolf sticks, and a very light weight easy to hang fixed stand. This set up gets me up about 10-12 feet just above the bottom canopy. I naturally try and get close to other smaller tress that still have leaves. With this set up one can really tuck themselves away from very good eyes. Don't forget, the higher up you go the more the angle is for the shot.

Once all the leaves have fallen off I just use fake Christmas tress that have been put by the trash, deer don't know that an oak tree is not supposed to have pine tree limbs, come to think of it, most people wouldn't notice that either.

A couple off years ago, I had a pretty good size buck come up the tree, like a dog to try and figure out what I was. He never did, and eventually just wondered off, this really surprised me !

While hunting I don't usually go up in a tree, but since this set up is so light weight , I spot and stalk with it on and can remove it very quickly, if I find a good ambush spot, with a good tree, I go up and wait, I also carry a light weight seat that I can set up in seconds. In this situation I would just put all the other stuff down and out of sight, seems to work pretty good for me.

Hope this helps.

I love hunting the ground. I am in no way an expert. My advice is practice shooting from all different positions. You will look like a goof to the neighbor but it will help in the field.
I like my LaClair Longhunter shirt on the ground. It is long so it keeps your seat dry. I have had no issue getting busted in plain grey. Took my biggest buck in that shirt sitting on the groung in a blowdown. Had a bobcat at 10 feet two nights ago. I was leaning against a tree. He looked right at me and walked on. Very cool!

QuoteOriginally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
I hide in plain sight most of the time. Here is winter bow last year. the trail is toward the camera about 15 yards.

 (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/22sit.jpg)

Jerry, is that one of Dean Torges' tree seats you are using? I made one of those, but haven't tried it yet.

I just finished a my first hunt with the Waldrop seat. Very handy and comfortable in most any situation.  I mounted the top pack from my Nimrod system to the back of the frame and it's just great for the job.  When spot-and-stalk hunting, I like to sit for a while in good looking areas, and looking for the right tree stump, log, or natural blind on the downwind side of the trail takes time and movement. With this seat,you're sitting quiet in seconds.  Nothing's perfect, but I like this seat a lot.  I didn't get a shot on this winter elk hunt in the snow, but I sure think a ghillie suit or bush-n-a-bag, and a Waldrop seat is a good way to go

QuoteOriginally posted by katie:
I love hunting the ground. I am in no way an expert. My advice is practice shooting from all different positions. You will look like a goof to the neighbor but it will help in the field.
I like my LaClair Longhunter shirt on the ground. It is long so it keeps your seat dry. I have had no issue getting busted in plain grey. Took my biggest buck in that shirt sitting on the groung in a blowdown. Had a bobcat at 10 feet two nights ago. I was leaning against a tree. He looked right at me and walked on. Very cool!

Katie,

Wool seems to work about like fur when it comes to hiding. I have noticed that deer are mostly one color, but those buggers sure can hide with very little cover once they decide to freeze. I have had lots of deer, squirrels, birds, etc. look me over and continue feeding while I was wearing my brown and grey plaid wool jacket. The same reaction happens with Cabela's Wooltimate stuff. I have the High Plains version (tans and greys). I also have some old, cheap wool "camo" bibs and jacket that are mostly just dark brown with a few lighter splotches. It gets the same reaction. I think wool lacks reflective qualities that synthetic fibers have, so it blends in much like animal hair. Couple that with a deer's poor daytime vision and minimal color vision and hiding in the open is easier as long as you don't move.

I was mushroom hunting one spring. It was a nice warm day, so I had on a white tee shirt and blue jeans (my standard outfit back in the 60's and 70's). I was moving slowly, prodding the grass with a walking stick, when a doe and two fawns stood up from their bed in some gooseberry bushes. They were all of 10 feet from me, so the wind must have been in my face...don't pay much attention to it when mushroom hunting. When they stood up, I froze. We had about a five minute staredown. Finally she decided something just didn't work, so she walked away with the fawns in tow. She never spooked or blew, just walked away, stopping to look back every few yards. I didn't move until she was out of sight, so she stayed calm the whole time. Hmmm, no camo, no scent control...no movement.

I've kind of forced myself onto the ground this year by failing to connect during the first season. There won't be any deer in the timber I usually hunt once shotgun season starts, so I'll probably end up hunting some public ground closer to home. I don't want to hang stands there and risk making a donation to some thief, so it will be ground or nothing for the late season.

BTW: Did you fill your tag, Katie?

Oh, and the neighbors are kind of getting used to me by now so the most I get is:    :scared:  when they see    :archer2:

I'm always on the ground and generally either trying to spot or stalking. Everyone has posted great pointers. I will add a little.
Avoid looking at your prey and don't walk at them. Peripheral vision and angle your way to them appearing to look away. Be prepared to close the last 50 yards in your socks-the difference is huge; but don't forget where you put your boots! LOL Speaking from experience here.
Also make your final approach with your bow up in front and fingers on the string then all you have to do is come to full draw and release; done with minimal movement. I came to full draw on a cow Elk at 8 feet this fall. She had spotted me but I made almost no movement drawing back my bow the shot went right through her heart-she never moved till the arrow struck.

I dig this stalking and still hunting stuff! Been at it, with trad gear for about eight years and haven't put a deer down yet.   :(   But I've had more "almosts" then you can shake a stick at!

Hunting the same general area (with non-bows too) for over 35 years. Kinda know when to stay inside and watch TV. Hunting during a light rain or snow fall has given me the most action. Moving head-to-head along a deer trail is how I like it best... Sometimes off to one side is even better. Windy days help to confuse a deers ability to pick you out, sometimes.

Once the firearms season starts it's another ball game. On a clear, still day getting within 100 yards of a whitetail is really tough. Heavy cover is the key, if you can get inside it quietly.... I always carry pruners with me. Helps gettin' through a thicket and such.

Best Of Luck!

... mike ...

Still hunting in rain, fog, or snow is an often a rewarding experience.
Soft sole footwear that helps you feel the ground is good.
Leafy suits help and they are very lightweight.
Travel light to avoid overheating.
A camelback is a great idea, because you can get thirsty with all that hiking.
Walk very slowly, a few steps at a time, and stop often to soak in your surroundings. It's amazing what you will see, and how many critters won't pay you any mind.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bjorn:
 Be prepared to close the last 50 yards in your socks-the difference is huge; but don't forget where you put your boots! LOL Speaking from experience here.  

Thanks, but this is Iowa, not California. If I stalked for 50 yards in my socks at this time of year, I'd have to go back and look for where I left my toes!    :scared:  

Early season, this might work though.

QuoteOriginally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
Biggest thing is try not to have deer approach right toward you. keep your hand on your bow at all times. don't move until you have to except for scanning your area. I hunt simple, don't need a lot of stuff or a big crazy blind.

 (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/P1010008.jpg)

 (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/98buck01.jpg)

Very good advice   :thumbsup:

Yes, I use a version of torges seat made from a lone wolf climbing seat. I quit tree stands, so thought of a new use for it. Not as heavy to carry as plywood.

A few points I keep in mind.

When still hunting, pick your path as you go to avoid limbs and briars. Look ahead and plan your route to avoid noisy obstacles. Don't step on anything you can step over. When you stop to look and listen make sure you can raise and draw your bow with no obstructions. Take another step or two if you must to allow drawing. It does you no good to be concealed if you can't shoot. If you find a natural blind, blowdown or whatever and decide to sit a while, go ahead and clear the leaves and limbs so you can move and shoot quietly. Make the noise and get it over with before you settle in. Try not to carry a lot of stuff around. I try to limit myself to a small fanny pack. It's good to stay on your feet whenever you can. If you need to sit and rest a while, pick a fallen log or stump instead of carrying a stool around. I know some people use various chairs and such and that's fine. I don't want to lug it around. Its much easier for me to shoot standing or kneeling than sitting. If you are sitting and see game approaching, stand up and position yourself for a shot at the earliest opportunity if time and cover allows it. Keep your eyes and ears open and remember that new areas come into view with each step. An animal may come into view or see you so look carefully all around. Go slow .........