Trad Gang

Im pretty much done with stands.
I think from now on till my "end of time" is going to be ground only for when I hunt deer.

Do you guys prefer natural homemade, or store bought?
I have a spot where I the ability to put a commercial blind and it "probably" not be stolen.

But I also have a lot of branches, dead fall, etc that I can use to construct a nice blind with some work.

Also for those that make em all natural, do you brush em heavy or leave them more open?
Im wondering if the big "blob" is more noticable than an open branch/limb design.

After wrestling stands and hanging on the side of trees setting them, I just want a relaxing hunt.
I do like the view from a stand, but I get more of a rush at ground level.

8yrs and it's been unsuccessful kill wise that is! Going to give a tree stand a try this year but, do see lots of game on the ground. I don't hunt from a blind either. It's mostly spot and stalk and sometimes a tree seat.

  (http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q506/ORShooter1/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/F572C3CA-8091-4C31-BDEB-D700EFE45D03_zpsj3fjjtpt.jpg) (http://s1161.photobucket.com/user/ORShooter1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/F572C3CA-8091-4C31-BDEB-D700EFE45D03_zpsj3fjjtpt.jpg.html)

My first choice is a double or triple trunked tree slightly uphill and downwind of the trail I'm hunting, I set up in front of the trees, lean back against the biggest trunk on my stool, keep the ground in front of me clear so I can slide forward onto my knees. Sometimes I'll add some limbs behind me to break up profile, but usually not. In my experience deer, especially old does. look at an established  ground blind every time they get in the area and they keep looking at it  now and then, yet they will eventually  ignore those houses that rifle hunters build.

I use a popup occasionally, usually for turkeys. One thing to keep in mind is limb clearance with 60-70" bows usually isn't all that great in most popups.

This past season I hunted from brush blinds 75% of the time, while I didn't get a shot on a buck I wanted, I had opportunities many times within 10 yards.

I look for some kind of back drop, tree trunk, hill, brush pile, berry patch, ect. and work off that. A few branches leaned up with some good drab camo, and you're golden.

Watch your wind, plan your draw, and you wont need much cover.

I just love being on the ground... My fear of heights has nothing to do with this...  :rolleyes:  ... Carry a good set of pruners... That's all I need...  :dunno:  ...

... mike ...

Spot and stalk here, though I do carry a treestand with me, I prefer to spot them with binoculars then stalk them or let them move in towards me, it's very challenging. I've almost gotten myself trampled a couple of times. It's the bucks that are a big challenge, they always seem to be on their guard but it can be done. I wear 3D leafy tops and camo bottoms, and some kind of head net.

Good luck

I have hunted off the ground off and on for as long as I have been hunting, although all of my success has been with a compound I'm looking to change that this year. I'm not a big fan of pop-ups for deer, missed a slammer cause my arrow hit the bottom of the window, long story. I like to find natural blinds and enhance them, one of my favorites are trees that have been uprooted. Use the hole and brush it in an the root ball as back drop. Also can use blowdowns them self. Plenty of those around after the last couple hurricanes here in NY.

Plenty of talented Ground Pounders here. Hec in my group of hunting Buds alone There's Jerry Jeffer, Vaughn deadsimple, Mikey bamboo, Scott southpaw, and Joe Skipp! All have confirmed kills. Hopefully they will chime in.

A ghillie jacket totally changed my ground game....I got one from cabelas called the bowhunters jacket or something as a gift and got laughed at when I took it out but now I won't hunt without it...I try to find a small cluster of leafy trees I can sit under then cut some surrounding leafy branches and place them around me...I consistently get closer to deer this way then when I hunted without the jacket...I hunt mostly heavily pressured public land too...I spread the branches when I leave so my spot is unnoticed and set them back up if I hunt it again.

My hunting is from ground only. Stalking and still hunting. Asbell wool jacket an wool pants. Mostly just use deadfalls, large trunks, anything to diffuse my outline. Added only one thing to be successfull, face paint. Was getting busted all the time, tried the ol' face paint, bam! No more getting busted. Only nerves get the better of me, mostly while bear hunting. Seem to shoot right over them 4/5 times.    :banghead:

I have hunted the last eight years form the ground. I have a couple of "cleaned up" spots on the public lands I hunt. One of my favorite spots is a nice and thick base of a cedar tree that works year in and year out. My other go to spot is a nice thick blow down that has worked great for the past two years. I much prefer natural blinds. Now even though I prefer natural I have killed deer from a pop-up blind that I popped up not 30 minutes before the shot.

I will also second that leafy jacket or ghillie jacket. They work great.

Hardest part of hunting from the ground for me is not to make eye contact. If they see your eyes its over.

Shaggie long coat on the ground......really neat. When you can count the whiskers you know your close. Bad part then is they are to close to shoot,   :biglaugh:   But it is exciting.

Slickhead are you hunting on private or public land? Or both?

Get military booney hat w/elastic loops around the headband.  Put 2-3 small pieces of the local brush into the loops.  Don't get carried away.  It seems to break your predator dome head shape up. Then when you get caught peeking, DON'T DUCK BACK DOWN.  Yeah, I was yelling.

When they catch that bit of movement, they often aren't sure and look at you.  When you duck, you do nothing more than confirm their suspicions and they depart.

I mostly hunt private property where I can set up permanent stands. I like homemade blinds made out of cattle panels covered with plastic grass carpet. Never have an issue of not enough room for my bow out of my homemade blinds.

As for natural brush blinds, back cover is just as important as front cover!

Bisch

"Slickhead are you hunting on private or public land? Or both?"

public

I have 40 acres behind my house that has very limit access.
You either have to go thru my yard to get to it or from the side.
Other than gun season never found evidence of anyone on it.
Its not the greatest place (deep ravine with a creek runing thru it.
But on the other side of the 40 acres a guy has 80 with a cabin, food plots and feeders. So during the rut some of his deer roam my side.
Its not the greatest but its easy access for me. Walk 140 yds and Im in:)
Want to do some improvement to it, plant some seed.

This past season was the first time using a homemade ghillie suit and BigJim's tree seat. I need to perfect my choice of spot, but WOW, I couldn't believe how close deer, turkey and coyote got to me. (No, I didn't kill any, but that wasn't the point)

First of all, welcome back to Earth. Gave up on tree stands over 20 years ago. I started using a seat similar to what was shown in the earlier photo. Being able to move around easily gives you more flexability. As long as you sit low, you don't need a lot around you. There are some older threads on here with tons of natural ground blind pics. This is basically how I do it.

 (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/lowerflatsit_zpsff7d844c.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/lowerflatsit_zpsff7d844c.jpg.html)

Also, If you see a deer off a ways, and you think you can stalk it, it is easier to make a move this way instead of climbing out of a pop up.

I don't like the physical or visual confinement of a pop up.
I'll use one on a very rainy occasion..but that's about it.

I find it most important to have good high cover behind you.
Try to wear clothing that'll sort blend in with the cover behind you.
( doesn't do much good to wear a black suit and sit in front of a big sand pile etc.)

Being surrounded by cover is even better of course.

I use what ever is around to make a blind. Sticks, leaves, deadfalls...whatever is there.

QuoteOriginally posted by timbermoose:
My hunting is from ground only. Stalking and still hunting. Asbell wool jacket an wool pants. Mostly just use deadfalls, large trunks, anything to diffuse my outline. Added only one thing to be successfull, face paint. Was getting busted all the time, tried the ol' face paint, bam! No more getting busted. Only nerves get the better of me, mostly while bear hunting. Seem to shoot right over them 4/5 times.     :banghead:  

Do you carry a firearm while bear hunting from the ground?  If not my hats off to a brother. You're a braver man than I!

I use brush ground blinds exclusively these days. I used to use a lot of tree stands, but I don't like the shot angle from a tree, I've had I don't know how many stolen, and I like the on the ground, same level, up close and in your face excitement of ground hunting better. I usually build a semi circle of limbs/brush at the base of a good sized tree, and weave in some branches with the leaves on for more camo. I'll lean some bigger branches against the sides of the tree too at times, if I think the situation calls for it. I build these high enough to hide all my lower body, and some of the upper, but not high enough to hinder my shooting. I sit on a bucket with my hot seat on top, between the blind and with my back against the tree. I use other variations of this same blind in places where I don't have a tree in the right spot too. I've been using some of my blinds for 20 years. I just fluff 'em up each fall, and add more branches. I've been thinking about buying some of the camo burlap material and using it in the same way, but adding some natural stuff to it. I'd take a picture of one of them for you, but they're buried under about 3 feet of snow right now.

Bob

I spent the better part of a day one time, building a blind in a great spot that didn't have a tree where I needed it. There were two decent sized trees handy so I threw one over the other in a V, with the wide opening facing the trail. I built the back up some more, so it would hide my outline, and give me a back rest. I put another smaller log across the others in front of me, camo'd that in with brush and killed a nice buck from it on the first day of season. Of course the deer changed their travel pattern there the next year, and I had to move 40 yards out in front and build another blind. Luckily, I had a big maple tree to work with in that spot. I've been shooting deer from that blind for years.

Bob

QuoteOriginally posted by JDow3:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by timbermoose:
My hunting is from ground only. Stalking and still hunting. Asbell wool jacket an wool pants. Mostly just use deadfalls, large trunks, anything to diffuse my outline. Added only one thing to be successfull, face paint. Was getting busted all the time, tried the ol' face paint, bam! No more getting busted. Only nerves get the better of me, mostly while bear hunting. Seem to shoot right over them 4/5 times.      :banghead:  

Do you carry a firearm while bear hunting from the ground?  If not my hats off to a brother. You're a braver man than I! [/b]

No firearm, usually carry bear spray. I'm more fearfull of the blasted squrrels looking for nutz.  ;)

I like the Torges seats, they are cheap and easy to make. I have two problems with them. They are a bit creaky on burr oaks until they settle in.  If I use a binder tie at the base and up top they settle in better and I prefer to leave them for the next time. However, and this really torques my screws, they almost always get stolen.

spot and stalk or sit on the ground and lean on a tree that way if ya fall asleep ya don't fall far.

love that pic J Jeffer
had to look twice.

When possible, I build up natural blinds in the winter months using available cover. Dragging over limbs, brush etc. Gives the deer time to adjust to the new "object" in their area.

However, as I lost more land, I used any and all available cover that allows me to setup 20-30 yds off any trails or scrapes. Not always easy...key is to blend in as well as my camo allows, not move and 99% of the time, taking quartering away shots.

The use of the torges seat for comfort and quiet clothing. If the wind is wrong, I won't hunt that particular blind or ambush location. The 3 pics below may not look like much but I've taken deer from all three locations.

 (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/P3080008.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/sf1oak/media/P3080008.jpg.html)

 (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/PB230006.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/sf1oak/media/PB230006.jpg.html)

 (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/044_zps271dc48c.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/sf1oak/media/044_zps271dc48c.jpg.html)

This scrape 25 yds from my ambush spot

 (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/045_zps9427b142.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/sf1oak/media/045_zps9427b142.jpg.html)

One thing I notice about J. Jeffer's pic is how his full brim hat shadows his eyes with the sun behind. The face I think is the part that gives me away the most with deer or turks at close range. Thanks for the pic.

I have never used this personally. However, I have a hunting  buddy who swears by carrying two camo umbrellas in his pack and setting them up as his ground blind. They are the little ones. easy to pack. He sets rocks on them to hold the handle and the part of the umbrella on the ground. Obviously they don't do well with windy conditions.

I rarely hunt from a stand anymore after a near fall a few years ago...ive had luck off of a bucket up against a big tree/group of small trees. like others mentioned backcover is more important that cover in front of you. blend in to what is behind you. keep your face covered, darkened with paint, or your god given beard! I love hunting off of the ground because I have so many more options when the wind isn't right or if I want to try a new spot. lugging around stands, worrying about structural integrity, and feeling like im "stuck" to hunting certain spots without moving the stand are a few reasons why it appeals to me

Ground hunter hear the last 10-12 years. At 56 I just  don't feel comfortable in a tree any more.

Natural blinds, - consisting of getting behind blowdowns, large double or triple trees at my back, Torges seat. As Joe Skip mention, ASAT camo is a great camo choice. I wore a ghillie for a couple seasons but found it to be a hassle. I keep the ghillie hat however, I believe it helps change the shape of the human silo and make your head and shoulders more mound like. I had my closest encounter ever this season with the try of set up mentioned above. An 3 point walked right in to me to 15 feet.

I to am 0-5 deer hunting trad. But I believe getting closer and learn from every encounter.

Hunted half the time on the ground this past season. Used blowdown trees and rootball as cover. Had a blast and some 10 yard opportunities. Will be getting out in the upcoming weeks to add some cover to the westside of this set... a bit open. Have some blowdown pines at another area that I can't wait to use this fall. Good luck!

Never tried a ghillie hat; any harder to shoot wearing one compared to a regular face mask?

I have one brush blind that resembles the "forts" we used to build as kids. It is a wall of brush built up as part of a blow down involving several tress. It would not work in a more open area, though. Other times I use far more sparse hiding spots, making sure I have good cover behind me. Sitting still, which requires a comfortable seat,  becomes a major component of camouflage while hunting from the ground. I had no luck from the ground but had fun trying.

I'm planning on digging a couple pit blinds for turkey season. I have some nice blow downs I can dig in front of that will give me a very low profile. This will be on my own land.

Been ground hunting exclusively a couple years now. I've tried the enclosed blind, but they are a hassle to pack and move. This year had good results with a Big Jim seat and brushed in with the trusty clippers. Had 5 deer within 20 feet, but got busted on the draw. Still all were unforgettable hunts.

Been building ground blinds for years as I scout in summer, and learn new areas.  Some I have never returned to, others I have.  I like it, but have not had success.  Been busted once, but that was because we made eye contact, before he got to a spot I could shoot.  I try to build up cover behind trees I hope to use if they are not really large.  I use a torgues seat and just got a Waldrop pack seat that I am looking forward to using.  I still use tree stands, but I find myself being drawn more often to sitting on the ground.

Here is one from last season, blaze cap is on due to muzzleloader season.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_1353.JPG)

And another
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_13612.JPG)

Dbd, I use a bucket style hat, kind of like a boonie with netting attached that hangs down to my shoulders. Tied in is jute cord and different eathtone fabrics. The whole thing is to obliterate the silo of the head and make the head more of a mound shape. I find the ghillie hat works well. I had an 8 point with 15 feet this season - correction to post above

IMO  the best spots to ground hunt --
1- must have sign

2- favorable wind conditions -best if there is some structure [pond/rockwalls..ect]that steers the deer Upwind of your ambush position

3- needs very little or NO modifications

avoid setting up tight to the bottom of steep banks of any size-it usually will have very deceiving swirling winds
also don't bury yourself so deep in the brush that you can't shoot!-trust your camo--and trust your background---oh sit still and quit fidgeting!!!

Oh yea, fidgeting is the hardest part for me. Damn I hate that!

(//%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i58.tinypic.com/15z1qop.jpg)[/IMG]

I had luck this year hunting next to a downed oak tree.  Just snuggle up to the root ball

(http://i62.tinypic.com/2d11u0l.jpg)

QuoteOriginally posted by bamboo:
IMO  the best spots to ground hunt --
1- must have sign

2- favorable wind conditions -best if there is some structure [pond/rockwalls..ect]that steers the deer Upwind of your ambush position

3- needs very little or NO modifications

avoid setting up tight to the bottom of steep banks of any size-it usually will have very deceiving swirling winds
also don't bury yourself so deep in the brush that you can't shoot!-trust your camo--and trust your background---oh sit still and quit fidgeting!!!

I am a half-time still hunter in late morning depending on cover and wind.  I'll sit in Bamboo's scenerio, especially paying attention to the air movement (convections) at or near the base of higher ridges. Have not been in a tree for ages.  Can't stand sitting in a pop-up!

My friend Mudd has a few creative methods of ground concealment.  I will visit him in the Spring and check 'em out.   :thumbsup:

I have hunted from both store bought and natural blinds. I've noticed that I get MUCH closer encounters from natural blinds. It just might be coincidence but I've have way more deer walk within 5 yards of my natural blind than my store bought. September 2013 I had a young button buck literally pulling leaves off of my blind with me in it. His face was less than 2 feet from me. Actually I don't think I've had a deer closer that 15 yards in my store bought.

I have hunted from the ground almost exclusively in my hunting, although I only added a bow in 2014. In previous years I have used a firearm, although my primary has been a flintlock muzzleloader for the last 15 years.

I built a ground blind on my land (only 11 acres but surrounded by 100 acres of woods with only 2 or 3 hunters on it) in a place where the previous owner had created a brush & limb pile as a "fort" for his kids. I have been very successful using it and have only added a bit more brush each year to account for loss of height due to weighty snow cover each winter. Have taken many deer from this spot and in different years have had two walk by well before dawn that I could have easily touched. I added a new natural material ground blind last summer that sits under the limbs of a white pine tree (long needles). That was very productive this season in seeing deer but none were close enough for a good bow shot.

I have a bit of a problem with heights so have never hunted from a tree stand. But I will be building a small platform stand on my land this summer. About 12 feet off the ground and hidden by an old unproductive apple tree. There are several scrapes nearby every year, 4 or 5 deer trails within 30 feet, and I saw some rubs last season, so I think this will be another potentially productive area.

I do utilize existing ground cover as much as possible (like goldenrod on deer trail edges) and have a ghillie suit that I use in bowhunting. I've had some success in the past with still hunting and stalking but I am not an expert by any means. And now the bow adds a whole new dimension. Over this winter I have been reading everything I could get my hands on regarding still hunting and stalking with a bow (Asbell, Bear, etc) and plan to practice as much as possible this spring and summer.

Really like ground hunting. Hunting turkeys several years ago in a swamp back home. Sitting at the base of a cedar. Heard something approaching from behind. Moments later had three large does not more than 15 ft. they froze I think they got wind of me but never saw me. The larger doe stomped and snorted they took off and came back full circle. They then slowly walked off down through the swamp. It was a awesome encounter. Can't move, you just have to wait for your shot.

Upfront I apologise as I haven't read all 4 pages of responses so much of what I'll say is probably just repeating. This season I went ground only. I've done it in the past, but off and on. Bear in mind I hunt Ft Benning Georgia, so our deer and other game are plenty, but skittish all year round. We also have to see which areas are open each day as the open areas rotate depending on training and such. Picking a good spot for me was much like picking a tree stand spot with some exceptions. For starters theres more options as I didnt need to find a tree that suited my needs. I often used a home made light weight ghillie top I made out of a camo jacket, the screen kind thats just meant to keep bugs off you. I cut strips of nylon camo netting and tied them on with burlap twine. With the hood up my outline was very non-human. Next, I found a three legged stool to be lightweight and easy to use in a number of situations. It made it easier to stand for a shot slowly but sitting on the ground wasnt a problem (im young enough where my bones dont fight back yet). My #1 dont go-without-tool was a pair of prunning shears. After selecting a spot to sit in front of (dead fall, log, dense brush, etc) i pruned any limbs that were in the way and also built a cocoon to my back, left and right, leaving the front open. Camo face paint and either playing the wind or scent killer and I had deer and pigs very close (5-10 yards). At times almost too close to move, you have to stay vigilant and dont let them creep right up on you before youre ready. All failures were mine. Bad shots, waiting too long, etc. and not neccessarly because I was on the ground. Play around with it and you may be surprised what you can get away with.