....and have several hung on my lease. But I haven't been in one yet this year. I have hunted 4 times since October 1st, ground hunted every sit. And I have enjoyed myself literally every moment out there. Treestands are becoming uncomfortable to me, I find it a contest with myself to stay out. I just may be a permanent ground pounder.
:thumbsup: The majority of my hunting the last 5 years has been done on the ground and I believe it has made me a much better "hunter". I too enjoy my time on the ground.
I just built me a torges seat and for the first time in prob 20 years have started ground hunting. My 13 year old helped me build a natural blind to sit in and we had a great time! I just sat it last night...no deer but had some squirrels tempting me bad at 10 feet! I have sat on the ground a few times now and am loving it as well Roger. I see many more ground sits in my future and love the torges seat.
Roger,
I haven't been in one yet either, but I've been hunting with Morgan(13 year old daughter for Tradgangers fyi) every sit I've made. We had a doe and fawn close last Sunday night to a blind that we just built in the rain the day before. We found a nice spot behind the house a couple of hundred yards that had a couple of large juniper bushes already creating a natural blind. I dug a couple of holes for our legs to sit in so our profile is right on the ground and Morgan gathered some straight sticks (used zip ties to create a sparse frame) and ferns and we brushed in the blind the rest of the way. The doe was at 25 yards and didn't see us (but winded us).
I probably won't bring a tree stand to camp this year. Just a Double Bull blind to set on the food plot for turkeys and my chair and folding saw/clippers for sitting on the ground.
I have hunted the ground for 35 years. Treestands are still a novelty for me and I look forward to my laid back whitetail hunts in a treestand. I love the views and it is cool to have deer or other critters right below you.
I think a tree stand gives a guy a great advantage and love mine, and will use it in places.
But it's gotten to the point as a DIY public land hunter, trees = more hunters.
Guy has to get more savvy and hunt from the ground in treeless places.
I much prefer a ground blind and think he shot angle is much better from the ground, but will hunt elevated if that is what the situation dictates.
Bisch
98% of the time my boots are on the ground. The other 2% may find me in a tree if I have to hunt in gun season with my bow, just feels a little safer up there and am usually in really thick stuff.
Good Hunting,
Craig
Being on the ground allows you to hunt so many places that deer love to be but don't have huntable trees. Opens up a whole new world.
I personally still spend 99% of my time in trees but I see these areas for ground hunting only all over the place. I'm saving them for the time when I no longer lije tree stands....lol gives me something to look forward to a few years from now, just like fly fishing and ice fishing.
I'm on the ground too. The older I get the less comfortable I am at heights, so, I just set up on the ground or slip around at mid-day if its safe. I recently was talking with a work acquaintance who suggested I come hunt some public land with him. He seemed excited about it until I told him I preferred to stay on the ground. He said in an almost derisive tone, "you can't kill a deer on the ground with a bow?" Just use on of my loc ons. I insisted that I have done it and it was not just dumb luck, but now he seems much less interested. Could it be that tree standers don't like ground pounders? Do they think we are just stinking up the woods and wasting time? Guess I'm going to have to prove it now.
Roger......I've hunted primarily from the ground the past 5 years......a good chair is a must.....for me ....I need lower back support ! Jim Jones (firefly bows) turned me on to these.....they don't look like much and are a tad pricey..50.00(USA made).. the quality is fantastic....unfortunately the colors are for campers not hunters........I was lucky to find a green one and painted the legs flat black.......at 2.5 pounds....these chairs are the ground pounders solution to a light,comfortable,compact chair......the back folds down backwards and chair rolls up in seconds....toss it over your shoulder like a back quiver....get the taller model so you're not squatting and have bow clearance....best chair for hunting I've found! http://www.camptime.com/roll-a-chair.htm
Yep, on the ground all the time! :thumbsup:
Safer and more fun on the ground. Glad to hear you are enjoying your hunts.
I WANT to be on the ground as the older me is having trouble getting up there, but it ALMOST feels like an unfair advantage to be above the activity. Better view of the incoming and PERHAPS more movement on my part acceptable. Going to ladder stands makes the getting up part easier.
But the excitement of being at eye level and getting it done would be enough to make me a convert, I'm sure. Will soon be a necessity for me, I feel.
I am built funny I am fairly average in hieght but have short legs ( 25" inseam)This gives me a high center of gravity even in my younger thinner days. I have never been comfortable in a tree stand. strictly a ground hunter
I hear ya Roger. Might go airborne this weekend tho.
I have nothing against hunting on the ground but for some reason I prefer hunting from above,, :D
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583536987_zpsi6zmcv50.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583536987_zpsi6zmcv50.jpg.html)
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583533256_zpsxkctyplg.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583533256_zpsxkctyplg.jpg.html)
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583526606_zpshjmcuqqs.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583526606_zpshjmcuqqs.jpg.html)
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583528466_zps8t9mwgce.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-10/1327583528466_zps8t9mwgce.jpg.html)
QuoteOriginally posted by jacobsladder:
Roger......I've hunted primarily from the ground the past 5 years......a good chair is a must.....for me ....I need lower back support ! Jim Jones (firefly bows) turned me on to these.....they don't look like much and are a tad pricey..50.00(USA made).. the quality is fantastic....unfortunately the colors are for campers not hunters........I was lucky to find a green one and painted the legs flat black.......at 2.5 pounds....these chairs are the ground pounders solution to a light,comfortable,compact chair......the back folds down backwards and chair rolls up in seconds....toss it over your shoulder like a back quiver....get the taller model so you're not squatting and have bow clearance....best chair for hunting I've found! http://www.camptime.com/roll-a-chair.htm
Nice stool, thank you!
Roger, Let me/us know if you find the smoking deal on that chair. I need something soon. I hope they are tall enough for my leggy self.
JMG, I would love to go to work with you sometime. Always wanted to climb those bridges. I think it would be cool to work there.
Only been out twice this year, both times on the ground. I will be in my climber tomorrow though. East wind on Sunday and rain later on might make it another day off; no way to hunt the small properties I'm on with that wind and being early season I'd rather not educate them too much. Weekend weather has not cooperated very well so far.
I just love being on the ground...
... mike ...
I started my bow hunting on the ground but had all the usual problems...getting busted trying to draw.
For years, I tried to force myself to sit in a tree and I just don't like it.
I still have a tripod out in the back yard and a hang-on in the garage just "in case" but I usually stay on the ground.
I don't know how to post pics here but I built myself one of those seats that leans up against a tree.
The problem I had with stools is that the ground is never level around the base of a tree that's big enough to give you some background. The seat I built sets you comfortably with your back right up against any tree.
When I'm not sitting on it, it makes a passible walking stick.
I'll be 60 November 20th. I still climb. I like ground hunting but I still climb.
I enjoy hunting on the ground but I also enjoy hunting from above. I think each have their place. There are some areas on the public grounds I hunt where you could never use a treestand. For these, I love slipping in with my ghillie, home made portable ground blind (actually just a lightweight semi-ghillie blanket that I string between trees that helps me blend in better).
I am sure a lot of us would like to see your chair if you can figure out how to post pictures?
QuoteOriginally posted by mgf:
I started my bow hunting on the ground but had all the usual problems...getting busted trying to draw.
For years, I tried to force myself to sit in a tree and I just don't like it.
I still have a tripod out in the back yard and a hang-on in the garage just "in case" but I usually stay on the ground.
I don't know how to post pics here but I built myself one of those seats that leans up against a tree.
The problem I had with stools is that the ground is never level around the base of a tree that's big enough to give you some background. The seat I built sets you comfortably with your back right up against any tree.
When I'm not sitting on it, it makes a passible walking stick.
I am sure a lot of us would like to see your chair if you can figure out how to post pictures?
QuoteOriginally posted by mgf:
I started my bow hunting on the ground but had all the usual problems...getting busted trying to draw.
For years, I tried to force myself to sit in a tree and I just don't like it.
I still have a tripod out in the back yard and a hang-on in the garage just "in case" but I usually stay on the ground.
I don't know how to post pics here but I built myself one of those seats that leans up against a tree.
The problem I had with stools is that the ground is never level around the base of a tree that's big enough to give you some background. The seat I built sets you comfortably with your back right up against any tree.
When I'm not sitting on it, it makes a passible walking stick.
Found a video of the roll-a-chair, looks great and only 2.6lbs.
http://www.campspecialties.com/roll-a-chair.htm#Green Roll-a-Chair
Monkeyball convinced me to try the ground and it is VERY enjoyable, been doing more ground than anything now. You can play the wind and be much more flexible with boots on the ground!
I'm 100% on the ground. Nothing against treestands or the fine folks who use them, but I just feel right when hunting down below.
I'm with ya, even though I haven't been out yet this season, I have been on the ground most of the time the last few years & I've got a sweet climber & 2 hang on's.
Ground for me........just seems more like hunting to me. Been in trees, know the benefits but really only felt at ease in ladder stands. When I started there were few tree stands, most were home made or wood nailed up to make a platform. With my Waldrop Pac seat and a few Torges seats I'm a happy hunter on the ground.
I am going to stock the Roll-A-Chair in Green.
I am waiting for a quote but should be about $50/shipped.
Let me know if interested.