Who hunts 100% on the ground? Please post success pics if you have them. I am going to try and kill a deer from the ground this year but think it will be hard to do.
I do but I mostly hunt from ground blinds.
Here are some setups.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010276.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/P1010276.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010091.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/P1010091.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/Hunting%202012/P1010362-2.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/Hunting%202012/P1010362-2.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/Hunting%202012/P1010355.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/Hunting%202012/P1010355.jpg.html)
And results.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010341.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/P1010341.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/20121229_104738.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/20121229_104738.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010351.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/P1010351.jpg.html)
Nice pictures Rob W.! It's always exciting have a deer near you at ground level. Good luck this fall LeverActionman, and let us know how you do!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
I am not 100% from the ground, I let the terrain tell me what to do. If there is great deer sign, and a great tree, up I go. If there is a great deer sign and NO tree.....I figure out an alternate plan.
Think shadows, think background cover, think enough cover in front to screen some movement.
The best thing about hunting from the ground is that you can move as the wind changes. I took advantage of this in Wyoming last week, literally everytime I was out. I eventually killed a doe at about 10 yards by paying attention to the wind.
The WORST thing about hunting from the ground is movement. I get busted often with just subtle movements that are never caught when I'm in a tree.
Don't give up on it. Tagging one from the ground is very rewarding.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/IMG_0584.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/IMG_0584.jpg.html)
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/IMG_0596.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/IMG_0596.jpg.html)
I'm ground all the way. I tried the treestand thing for a little while but its just not my style. I got within 20-30 yards of game on nearly every hunt I went on last season. Planning on/ hoping to make meat this season if I get a clear shot (hardest part about FL scrub/swamp). I feel it is all about watching the wind, good scent control, and literally learning to be a bump on a log when its time to be still. I love being on the move and the thrill of stalking.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/IMG_0048.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/IMG_0048.jpg.html)
Nice pictures guys!
I'm pretty much ground only also. Haven't shot anything yet so, no hero pic to share.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob W.:
And results.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010341.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/P1010341.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/20121229_104738.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/20121229_104738.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010351.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/P1010351.jpg.html)
Nice work and nice pics Rob. Is that a Timberhawk?
Stick to the shadows...
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/CedarSwampPlaid.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/CedarSwampPlaid.jpg.html)
Achigan, that is a Two Tracks Longwalker.
Great stuff. Thanks guys.
I switched to hunting from the ground last season and had decent success. I plan to spend even more time on the ground this fall and hopefully my learning experiences last year will pay off this fall. I managed to take two bucks last fall on the ground.
My first OTG harvest with a bow.
(http://i.imgur.com/gDMWJ.jpg)
My second OTG harvest came about 1 month later.
(http://i.imgur.com/Pdrfn.jpg)
Here are shots of a few of my ground setups:
(http://i.imgur.com/KzQOo.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0Q4SU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/oiL1d.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/BpC5n.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ce69G.jpg)
Always...shadows and something natural behind you to break up your outline like a wide tree or group of trees will help. Keep the wind in your favor and Above all...sit still
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob W.:
Achigan, that is a Two Tracks Longwalker.
Sweet looking stick.. The grip looks my like Falcon.
I had a doe at 7 yds last year, could have shot through a small window in the brush and probably would have got her, but hesitated because in 2 steps I would have had a clear shot. She turned and walked straight away and I did not get another chance.
About a minute later a buck came on the same line and I decided I would shoot him through the window, but before he got to it he saw the doe and angled off in her direction.
No meat, but what a feeling to have them that close while on the ground.
Leveraction,
You got some great tips from Rob, Roger and Bowhunter GA for sure. As you can see from Rob's pictures especially, you do not have to be encased in cover to kill deer from the ground but like Roger said you have to know when to move to shoot but the more cover the better. You will still get busted and learn from every time that happens.
Think of ground hunting as a separate skill set - it requires attention to things that are particular to ground hunting exclusively. As you can see from Bowhunter GA, in his first year he took 2 deer. That is phenomenal for the first year but proof it can be done early in the ground hunting journey.
I will add this one thing that may apply where you hunt. I committed to ground hunting 2 years ago and it was my last year on a particular lease in MS. We had food plots and I noticed how during late afternoon the woods surrounding the plots wood get real dark while there was still plenty light on the plots. I sat on the edge of a plot about 10 yards back in the trees and near sundown shot a buck that walked onto the plot 15 yards from me as he passed me quartering away. As he exited the plot my arrow fell out the other side and I knew he would not go far. I stepped out of the trees onto the plot where I shot him and looked back at where I was sitting and I could barely see my stool. Had the affect of a ground blind with the black fabric it was so dark back in the woods and yet plenty legal shooting light left. It was the shadow affect that Roger mentioned but more pronounced. I had 2 more shots that year on plots hunting that way. Hope this helps and good luck to you this season.
On the ground all the time.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Lastditchblind.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/Lastditchblind.jpg.html)
Doe at 36 yards
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Snapbucket/62882761-orig.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/Snapbucket/62882761-orig.jpg.html)
grey fox 8 yrds
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/greyfox02.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/greyfox02.jpg.html)
Porcupine 25 yrds head shot.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Snapbucket/70955780-orig.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/Snapbucket/70955780-orig.jpg.html)
All the animals I have taken have been on the ground, spot and stalk or still hunting all shots have been within 30 yards most around 15-20. This is my only harvest pic
(http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m551/bedortha1234/photo4.jpg) (http://s1131.photobucket.com/user/bedortha1234/media/photo4.jpg.html)
I love hunting from the ground. Here in Illinois tree-stands are the normal way to go. I like the feeling of being one-on-one and eye level with the deer. There is no doubt you see more deer and have better shot options from a tree. I been VERY close to deer on the ground, at times so close that drawing my bow would have blown my cover! It's tougher but I enjoy it.
Bearsfeet, that is a great photo. Nice buck. Looks like nice rainforest.
Whether or not I hunt from the ground is dictated by the circumstances at hand, but I do pref. to hunt from the ground when I can. If the ground is quiet I like to still hunt mixed with long stops in places I can blend in. Iv' killed more Deer from tree stands, but the last two years have been good from the ground. With one buck I snuck up on from 70 yrds, and shot him at 22 yrds by crawling on my hands and knees. Took me 45 min. to close the distance in open woods. He would browes and lay down, then brows and lay down.Finally as he was browsing I shot him threw the heart and recovered him 35 yrds later.
The buck last year came up a scrape line shortly after I had walked it's length. As I came to the last scrape, Two does trotted out of sight 90 degrees from the scrape line. I stood and waited in front of a large pine tree. 10 min. later Mr. Buck walked right up the scrape line and past me at a mere 4 ft. away. When he hit the does trail he put his nose to the ground and started following their trail. As he did so he gave me a perfect quartering away shot, and I blew an arrow threw him at 7 yrds.
The last two years have been unbelievable. Two of the best hunts Iv' ever had in 40 yrs: Not because of the size of the Bucks, but because of the size of the hunt. Nothing more rewarding than tagging them from the ground!
Good thread!
Last year was the first one that I only hunted from the ground and did not wear any commercial camo. I missed two does. Does that count? LOL I did have a spike at 12 yards that was oblivious to my presence. I practice drew on him and he would have been in trouble if not for the 3 point rule in Arkansas.
I'm also on the ground all the time. Very nice set ups and pics. BowhunterGa, what kind of blind seat is that?
Wow Rob, those pictures with the rock in the background look just like the land around Patoka Lake where I used to be the manager and bowhunt! Back in 1985-1989.
Great thread
One year i was comitted to shoot a deer from a climber tree stand. Because of that tree stand I filled all of my tags. I shot every deer sneaking to or from my tree stand. Usually, I just find or make a gap on the edge of a corn field and park my butt in my Huntmor. This year I am adding a Ghillie poncho with every hunt, there are a couple of big boys in our woods, the tree stand boys educate them very quickly and I expect the big boys will respond accordingly, as in, they will be in areas where the tree stands are not. They are already have their stands hung with cameras and are checking thier cameras everyday, telling the two big boys where not to go. Head for the brush with a comfortable chair and some good natural cover, and use a Ghillie to fill in the gap that you plan to sit in. If turkeys cannot see those Ghillie ponchos, you know they work.
I'm also all ground, all the time. A big part of why is because this fat guy and trees/heights don't mix :laughing: I still kinda suck at hunting, so I haven't killed anything yet, but I've had 'em close enough I coulda stabbed 'em with my arrow! I learn something every time, so I know it'll happen soon enough.
I just built a ground blind, and ghillied it out...I mostly did it because last year I took my daughter (8) up into a double tree stand, and it was not pleasant (ever-watchful of her and all that)...Now my son (4) wants to go too, so I went ahead and built a very roomy octagonal blind, then riddled it with Christmas tree branches and burlap...you can make it out in this photo...
I have to say, I am excited to see how it goes in this thing!
(http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad287/dkauss_photos/Blind3_zps224eab78.jpg) (http://s944.photobucket.com/user/dkauss_photos/media/Blind3_zps224eab78.jpg.html)
Hunt any area, even an open field.
Both style blinds from the front and back.
(http://i.imgur.com/L3PZMhw.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/hbxqwUy.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Or2xASr.jpg)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/photo_zpsee369bae.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/photo_zpsee369bae.jpg.html)
God bless,Mudd
I went to strictly ground hunting two years ago and got this fellow last year at 10 yards. Its a rush and I'll never climb a tree again (http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag59/tleiferman/FB9F1004-6151-4040-960D-92AB0D4D31E8-786-000000E4DF7C796E_zpsa8d2b994.jpg)
Rob you hunt a lot of the same setups I do. I love to sit on ridges. Sometimes just like that.
Often times I use what I can find. This was posed while stumping - but stuff like this.
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p65/FadedGlory77/StumingWithDad/DSCN0414_zps4b153f94.jpg) (http://s125.photobucket.com/user/FadedGlory77/media/StumingWithDad/DSCN0414_zps4b153f94.jpg.html)
Great photos guys!!
Nothing wrong with a treestand, but I'm 100% on the ground. Sold all my treestands about 6 or 7 years ago. I started out in 1975 hunting from the ground here in south Alabama. As treestands got popular I hunted out of them occasionally and eventually bought a couple but still I hunted 80% of the time on the ground.
So I finally sold my stands because all the deer I killed was from the ground anyway.
Never have liked heights or felt comfortable in a treestand.
The ground is so much more comfortable and warmer too..lol
Great photos guys!!
Nothing wrong with a treestand, but I'm 100% on the ground. Sold all my treestands about 6 or 7 years ago. I started out in 1975 hunting from the ground here in south Alabama. As treestands got popular I hunted out of them occasionally and eventually bought a couple but still I hunted 80% of the time on the ground.
So I finally sold my stands because all the deer I killed was from the ground anyway.
Never have liked heights or felt comfortable in a treestand.
The ground is so much more comfortable and warmer too..lol
After killing dozens of deer from the air I killed this very large doe from a ground blind, my first on the ground.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/IMG_0589.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/IMG_0600.jpg)
View from the blind, a pine bough blind. I shot the doe straight away 17 yards and I missed a VERY nice 8 point buck at dark in a snow storm to the left at 12 yards.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/IMG_0917.jpg)
This is the blind. I've since passed up several shots at smaller bucks, does and fawns, all within ranges. I've also been busted in this blind so many times it isn't funny. Mostly from updraft air currents in the morning and deer coming from behind me. Once they bust me it's all over for the morning.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/IMG_1651.jpg)
My most rewarding hunts when hunting with training wheels were those where I hunted from the ground...and had nothing to do with the size of the animal or his headgear.
I had what was perhaps one of my most exciting hunts ever last weekend, even though the only thing I shot was a maple.
Not quite ready to sell my climber, but thinkin' it over....
Kingsnake
Man Redogge, that's a whopper doe! Good for you and cool looking blinds.
I hunt mostly on the ground, might climb in a ladder stand every once in a while. I don't think anyone has been killed falling out of a ground blind !!!
I killed two deer out of this blind a couple years ago, one in Nov and the other in Jan. The dark spot in the middle is my Asbell bag on the seat. I'll be back in it again this fall with the right wind.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Fletcher610/Hunts%202011/P1080370.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Fletcher610/media/Hunts%202011/P1080370.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Fletcher610/Hunts%202011/PB040365.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Fletcher610/media/Hunts%202011/PB040365.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Fletcher610/Hunts%202011/doe4.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Fletcher610/media/Hunts%202011/doe4.jpg.html)
Do you guys think cover in front or back is more important? I know both would be ideal but the ideal location does not always exist.
I rather have back cover myself. I grunted in a 6pt last night to 4 steps while ground hunting, it was awesome but I didn't shoot him. I came to full draw just to see if I could get by with it, he never busted us and turned around and just walked off. I really like hunting from the ground. I did kill a little doe earlier this month off the ground at 16 yards.
Good stories and great photos,ground hunting has its rewards and as we age as hunters becomes the most practical way to keep on hunting.
Back cover is critical. I prefer to have some cover in front also, to help cover some movement when drawing the bow.
I ground hunt 95% of the time (only hunt from a stand if I go up by my brother-in-law...whom scouts and scouts and places stands very well) on all public land. I'm just starting to think about archery, so here is my modern weapon strategy...majority of my shots/set-ups are within archery ranges.
I like the mobility of ground hunting. And I find that stand hunting really lulls us as hunters into a pattern (human nature). Deer will quickly figure out our pattern and change theirs to avoid us. This is where ground hunting works in your favor....scout for where other hunters are setting stands AND accessing the stands....then scout/hunt the areas around their stands where deer would likely travel to avoid those hunters. I like to think of myself evading that hunter's position...where would I travel.
As I walk around scouting, still or small game/bird hunting or just hiking with the family, I mark a lot of trail intersections and crossings between habitat transitions on my GPS (helps to have a good directional and photographic memory too ;) ). Then I scout around those high-traffic areas for the best 2-3 locations to have a shot from the corresponding 2-3 different wind directions. Then build simple natural ground blinds with good back cover (natural lay-downs are great to build blinds in...all the hard work is already done).
After a couple years of this, you'll have a lot of options out there for different areas and wind directions. And, you'll only need to touch up blinds now and again which is easy when you are out hiking/scouting the areas throughout the year.
Shot my first deer off the ground BC I was a young kid and broke unable to afford a stand...3 yrs ago I had a terrifying tree stand incident and ever since I mainly hunt the ground...if I do hunt a stand its not high up at all...I'm not a fan of trusting my life to cheap metal...I still wear a harness if I do climb up
Maybe it was growing up out west but I have hunted mainly from the ground. Never really met that many hunters that do hunt from trees around here. Last year I killed my first buck from a tree stand and in 2009 I took a bear from a tree stand. Those are the only two animals I have taken from a tree in almost 30 years of hunting big game. Tree stands are really a new thing to me and think sometimes they make it much tougher. They take a lot of effort and I don't seem as mobile. I have always enjoyed still hunting and ambushing from the ground the most. I'm not 100 % committed to the ground but I do feel more confident hunting from the ground.
Ground hunting is the funnest , but also challenging
Thanks to a great Trad Ganger up in AK, I've got a new to me Torges seat to try out this late season.
(http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q506/ORShooter1/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-10/834667C3-7768-4779-B547-4C4FB9B3622E_zpsueslozqi.jpg) (http://s1161.photobucket.com/user/ORShooter1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-10/834667C3-7768-4779-B547-4C4FB9B3622E_zpsueslozqi.jpg.html)
Just my 2...but...
Once you get the setup right,...and watch a deer 6 feet away blinking, and licking its lips, and doing the things a deer does...whether or not you shoot that deer...
You will be hooked on ground hunting forever.
You got that right Russ. Once I made the move to the ground for good a couple of seasons ago I don't even want to hunt from a stand anymore.
Here's a view from the ground where I was hunting last weekend on a WMA unit by Kaw Lake, OK. (//%5Burl=http://images.imagelinky.com/1414253612.JPG%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://images.imagelinky.com/1414253612.JPG)[/url] [/IMG]
Lets try that picture one more time!
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1414253612.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1414253612.JPG)
No pics but I'm 100% ground
No pics but I'm 100% ground
Sorry for the double