With the vast knowledge and experience bouncing around on this forum, I thought it would be useful to see the ratio of ground to stand hunters. Please cast your vote! (I realize there are many hunters that utilize both methods, for simplicity sake just vote in favor of what you do the majority of the time)
It also depends on what your hunting. I assumed whitetail so that is the way I voted.
I've gone back to the trees this season after ground hunting for the past several years. Felt it was time for something different.
I do both grond blinds and tree stands. Most of my hunting these days is ground blinds as there are very few trees to put treestands in where I hunt. 10 years ago, all I hunted out of was tree stands. After hunting in the ground blinds the last 10 years, I really think I like the shots better from the ground. Treestand hunting compounds the angle of the shot.
Bisch
Good poll!! I like staying on the ground more these days. Tree's are to much work,and it is a pain dragging those climbers around on public land no matter how light they are. It seems that the best deer areas I find don't have a climbable tree anywhere around most of the time anyhow. rat'
I hunt from a blind due to my physical limitations but used to always either spot and stalk or treestand for bears. One of the best things about our sport is the personal choices that can be made...equipment, hunting style, etc. It is what YOU make it.
I didn't vote but I do both.The situation dictates which.
I think my cyber name says it all.......
.. mike ...
Hmmmm, I am a bit surprised at the response. I guess there are more ground pounders than I thought.
How can you answer that. I do both depending on where I hunt, wind, etc.
QuoteOriginally posted by riverrat 2:
Good poll!! I like staying on the ground more these days. Tree's are to much work,and it is a pain dragging those climbers around on public land no matter how light they are. It seems that the best deer areas I find don't have a climbable tree anywhere around most of the time anyhow. rat'
Same here. Ground hunting is so much more comfortable, not as cold, versatile, better shot angle.
I have nothing at all against treestands, I use one once in a blue moon. Never have been comfortable in a treestand.
I hunt from the ground 99% of the time. In fact, I traded my last tree stand this summer. I do have a Treesuit Treestand in a box somewhere, but haven't used it much. I like the mobility of being on the ground. It does take some different strategies, but I've found it to be quite enjoyable. There's nothing like having a whitetail eyeball you from a few feet away.
I hunt my own farm that I live on 95% of the time, so I have Loc-on stands and ladder sticks set up all over it. I have just always preferred a treestand, I just like being above everything where I can see better. I will hunt from ground once in a while though. To each his own, I guess.
Tom
Im really surprised to see so many ground hunters. I have had more luck in a tree stand ovee the years, however this will be my 1st yr strictly ground hunting. Im reading all the forums, books, and info i can find on ground hunting. Books by Asbell, bear, hill and a few others so far.
Your poll needs a "Both" tab. I look for sign to hunt.....the area tells me tree or ground, whichever is appropriate.
Fred Bear didn't like tree stands because you have a smaller target and it is much harder to get to the vitals .
Is there any other way to bowhunt Whitetails? You want excitement, frustration and know what it feels like to get "up close and personal"....then hit the ground. I've been on terra firma since 1976 and my freezer is always full.
I am really surprised at the results........I like the ground or maybe I'm just getting old. :dunno:
I do both for whitetails. I use a treestand during sunrise & sunset and ground hunt mid-day.
My fondest successes are the deer taken on the ground. That's fair chasse hunting
Ground all the way. Most fun you can have on two legs besides one other thing I know of ;)
I voted stand but like someone said above its 50/50 depending on where I'll be hunting, stands limit you to that exact spot but the ground hunter can drift around in an area or take advantage of no trees or blow downs ect..
I'd also say that both being effective is 50/50 if you have a ground hunter who can sit still and not move then no matter how close the deer will not see him, if his clothes are silent they shouldn't hear the draw also..
many folks cannot sit on the ground because they been busted so many times,,, so with leaving the wind out of this for now as an act of god the 2nd biggest reason is movement and 3rd is sound.
folks in tree stands get busted just as much they just don't realize they where smelled or they get caught turning their heads looking around like they watching a tennis game.
those are my facts anyway based on what I have experienced ;)
I'm surprised it's split so evenly. I would have guessed that thereare far more tree stand guys than ground pounders.
Yep need a "Both" option
yes sir, both, depending on conditions and sign
QuoteOriginally posted by mcgroundstalker:
I think my cyber name says it all.......
.. mike ...
Mike, so you like to hunt trees, huh?
:)
I do both, or all three (?) - treestands, ground blinds, and still-hunting from the ground, depending on conditions and my mood (which is not really smart if it does not match conditions, but sometimes I am too impatient to sit still, or not inclined to climb, and it's a free country :)
I know for myself 90% of the white tails I have shot with a bow are all from tree stands...
but Elk & Mule Deer I have never killed one from above...I have tried...always in timber calling or stalking... they just dont hit similar trails and patterns like a WT...
maybe make a tab for different species...
QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
Fred Bear didn't like tree stands because you have a smaller target and it is much harder to get to the vitals .
Graps,
I have never really thought of that concept. Interesting. So as an alternative, do you hunt off the ground only? or could you just hunt lower? I have to move around and change seated positions while hunting so i feel like i get away with a lot more while 15+ feet up in a stand.
Ground hunter here for the last 10 years. Introduced a ghillie to the arsenal last season. I'm hooked.
Interestingly it seems to be about an even split. This surprises me, as I would have thought more hunted from elevated stands. This year I hope to hunt more from natural ground blinds.
Almost all my bowhunting is done from a stand or tree saddle.
This year I have a spot that was found on short notice so I will be ground pounding on that spot.
I got tired of sitting in tree stands two years ago and started hunting more from the ground. This year I'm on the ground until the last week of Oct. I'll be ready to sit in a tree by then. First week of Nov. is chase phase and back on the ground I go! Whatever is best dependent on conditions.
95% tree, but I bought a ghillie to try this year. A lot easier to pack in on some of the public land hunts I do. Plus I swear the deer on public land are born looking up:) Look forward to trying ground this year.
QuoteOriginally posted by Huntingnut:
95% tree, but I bought a ghillie to try this year. A lot easier to pack in on some of the public land hunts I do. Plus I swear the deer on public land are born looking up:) Look forward to trying ground this year.
The deer where I hunt seem to look up more than on the ground, wasn't the case in the 70's. I think they've adapted to danger from the trees.
ground for me
Still amazed by the balance here. I would have bet stand would beat ground by 30%.
Why would anybody limit them selves just one way :dunno:
Another vote for both!
Tracy
I am with roger. I couldn't vote. I am about 50/50 depending on location. Some situations are better for the tree stand, others tucking into a spot on the ground is better.
I do both, it just depends on the cover.
I will be using an 8 ft ladder stand I built behind my house. I wont get a nose bleed at 8 ft.lol
Treestands are a great way to hunt, I just got tired of lugging them around on public land and never been comfortable sitting in one for more than 2 hours.
But, I've been known to change my mind, may run across a treestand that has a comfortable seat.