I decided to try some ground level hunting this year. After many years of not hunting since I moved from MT to TX, I ordered a new JD Berry Vixen and decided to do some ground hunting this year. The trad gang forumns were very helpful especially the part on ghillie suits and the ghillie bow blind. Anyways, I ordered a ghillie (Marc Anthony version) and then added some leaves and other material. I also took a leafy suit head net and altered it so it stays on my head straight when I look over left shoulder. I make a bow blind out of an old GT carbon arrow and wire and attached some netting and ghillie material. Once I figure out how to post pics I'll try to get some uploaded.
I did a lot of post season, spring and summer scouting, trail cameras, etc... hunting 100% public land. Been shooting with ghillie in this crazt 100+ Texas heat almost nightly. Tweaked my Waldrop Pac seat and ghillied it..... now 18 more days until season!
If you give it a real chance, I think you will find yourself on the ground more often than in a tree from now on. Not only do they work, they work where there are no trees. Opens up a whole new world of scouting. Just think. . . "nobody hunts there cause there are no suitable trees. ."
ChuckC
Dave, we need some pictures!! Nice thread!
I think you will be surprised at how many opportunities you get on the ground, even without a ghillie.I have an ASAT leafy suit and had deer walk by me on an open trail at 10 feet and look right through me! Drawing the bow gets trickier though...
I like to hunt from the ground and have had some unusual things to happen. Things like a doe coming up behind me laying in a soybean field in Kentucky. She had her nose right next to my foot trying to get a good wiff. I eased up to my knees and was half drawn when she and her friend decided to depart. Another time I had shot two arrows at a fox and then shot my last one at a deer and missed. After about two minutes of browsing the deer decided to move on. She came within 5 feet and had gone about 15 yards before she scented me. That was an upset deer.
On the ground you will see a lot of deer up close, but as someone else said, "Drawing the bow gets trickier though..." If you have several deer around you it's impossible to move without beeing detected. It's fun though, go for it.
I am hoping my bow bling I built will hide my draw.... that and I have built some very simple natural ground blinds in some good funnels/travel corridors.
I built a DYI ghillie before last season. I had 4 deer with 5 yards on 2 separate occasions last season. Now that is close! I made a ghillie ponch style with no sleeves. It give me the ability to walk with it on without snagging onveverything. Love it!
I sometimes will hunt the early season when thre is plenty of ground cover with my shaggie suit.
I use a niff-t-seat. Look up rancho safari on you-tube and you will see someone using the seat leaning against a tree.
I sure like my Marc Anthony Ghillie, I dont even own a good treestand anymore.
What are the differences (beside price) on a good ghillie suit and in your opinionwho makes the "best"?
I really like Marc Anthony bushrsg bow ghillie... but I sewed on a ton of sneaky leaves (fall blend). I also made a sepersted head ghillie cover so it turned with my head
I really like Marc Anthony bushrag bow ghillie... but I sewed on a ton of sneaky leaves (fall blend). I also made a separate head ghillie cover so it turned with my head
I've got a Bush Rag - Bow Hunter's Ghillie. Opening day last season I had a doe withing 3 feet about 5 min before legal shooting light.
Your gonna love yours!
I seriously doubt you will go back to climbing trees after one season on the ground.
do any of you guys like ghillie over a leafy suit...or leafy over ghillie? I have not tried a ghillie...but have had luck getting close enough on the ground with leafy suit.....it just looks as the ghillie would be too bulky and I'm anal about string contact with chest and sleeve material....
I have learned quickly that cover at your back to break up your outline and obvious wind directions are both vital steps to ground success.
Thats where the Marc Anthony Ghillie is nice, it doesnt have anything in the way on the arm or chest. It's made for bowhunters.
I made a few mods to my Marc Anthony suit (which is a great ghillie). First - I used some fabric paint to break up the fleece material on chest/bow arm by making a predator type camo pattern. I added a lot of green, brown and off brown leaves (sneaky leaves is brand name).... I tied them on with waxed dental floss instead of pinning. I removed my hood and made a separate head cover with a string attached to the side of the eye openings so I can tie it off behing my head. I made the separate head cover so that it would turn with my head as I look left or right. The suit as is, the eye opening would sometimes not turn as much as my head and my sight would get restricted. I also cut off all the straps and buckles of the inside and in front as I don't like the chance of noise they "could" possibly make at the wrong moment.
Sounds like a lot but it only took me a couple evenings to do and the suit is working great.