Joe, Don't know if I'm ready yet to completely give up treestands but I will tell you that getting that close and having deer at eye level was exhilerating to say the least. I will definitely be spending more time on the ground next season.

Hard to beat that rush!! Stay with em!

Wow! What stories!  I have wanted to start hunting from a ground blind from now on instead of having to mess around with treestands all the time...think it would be rather cool - despite having to be very careful about wind direction, scent, etc.

I'm wondering - would I be better off with a commercial ground blind/hut or just some 4 ft x 10 ft camo material string up between 2 trees and a seat? I don't wanna have to 'break the bank' buying a commercial blind....

PS CyclicRivers - I see you are from Scotia! We are very close to each other!

Awsome. I hope your season picks up for you and you have several more encounters just like that... Cept for the blowing and running off part!
God bless,
Nathan

Last evenings hunt was my last for the season as it ends today, but it ended on a high note. My buddy and I both set up on the ground about 75 yards from one another. I couldn't set up in the spot where I had the close encounter cause the wind was wrong but I managed to find a spot about 40 yards away behind a big boulder at the base of a hill that was at least 7 feet high by about the same wide. My view of the area was limited but if the deer traveled their normal route I would have a shot less than 15 yards off to my right. Around 3:50pm I heard a deer blow up on the hill off to my left front. About 45 minutes later I heard it blow again but this time it sounded like it ws right on the other side of the rock. I was all set and waiting for the shot. I could hear the deer moving about but waited patiently for it to come into my shooting lane. It never happened. When my buddy arrived at my spot after dark he told me he saw the whole thing. Actually the deer were blowing at him and they came off the hill and stopped about 10 yards from my position on the other side of the rock. There were 6 of them just milling around but watching him intently. They must have known something was up cause after a bit the ran off back up the hill from where they came. Just knowing I had gotten that close once again was awesome!!  They'd better beware next season cuz I know its just a matter of time before I get my first deer from the ground.

Way to go Fred!     By the way I had your old arrows out today. Going back out Monday morning. I will make it happen. Man oh man do they fly nice!!!    

Tom, I'm counting on you to bloody them.  

I'll try like Hec Fred.     I Hope to make something happen!