Due to a fall about 10 yrs ago I only have the use of o0ne of my lungs so I made the choice to not hunt out of trees. As I was sitting out yesrtday in my guillie(sp?) suit for our opening day I got to thinking and wondering how many others might have restricted themselves to just hunting off the ground. I bet as a gruop if we got to compsring styles/methods/tricks used someone might glean out some nuggets new to us we thought were worth trying.
At this point I've only been successful in a blind or just sitting without a blind. I must not have done a very good job in my few attempts to still(slow walk) hunt or spot and stalk. There is a definite need for improvement here. I hope some of you ground-only hunters will share your experience with me. Thanks in advance!!
God bless,Mudd
PS I sure felt like a newbie yesterday after having to not hunt or shoot for over a yaer due to my not so good idea to get a motorcycle(I got to own it for 8 hrs and ride with for 20 minutes before being run over by a lady talking on a cell phone traveling at a high rate of speed(above 70mph). I however was only moving some where between 40 to 50 mph. I am blessed !!!!!! Thank God!!!

I hit the wrong button and posted before proofing please forgive the spelling errors and typos.
God bless,Mudd

Mudd, I also only hunt from the ground, had to jump from my stand once as 3 trespassers opened up on me with slugs from about 100 yds, then I fell off a 47' scaffold onto concrete and walked away without a scratch, so I figure I've used up all my falling luck already, but the motorcycle thing... You are a lucky man!!!

Glad you're still with us Mudd, sounds like things could have been worse. I only hunt off the ground. I just got tired of hauling a stand around. I usually don't enter the woods until just barely daylight. I play the wind and ease along, just trying to blend in with the rest of the creatures that are just waking up. I will usually set up at a likely spot with my little folding seat for an hour or so. then ease along to another likely spot and try again. I use a face mask, and gloves, moving as slowly, and quietly as I can. I'm usually hunting squirrels as well as deer. and if neither are co-operating the occasional stump. Overall I would probably kill more deer if I hunted out of a tree stand. But I enjoy just being out and about.

For some reason this year I have the urge to hunt from the ground. So, I'll let you know how that goes when season starts.


Sure glad you're still with us after all the bad luck. I gave up riding a couple years ago when my Son wanted to buy one. I like my jeep,,, put the top down, take off the doors and I have the same fun. Air bags and seat belts,,, wish those were in some tree stands!

I'm a ground hunter as well.  That's partly because I'm too cheap to buy a decent tree stand and partly because I find myself carrying too much stuff as it is.

I have plenty of tree stands around the property, but I only hunt from the ground.

Once you have a close encounter of the ground kind, it's hard to get back up the tree.

Enjoy your hunts.

Hey Mudd, Glad you are around to keep hunting. I've been ground only for about 10 years now.  Like mentioned above, once you gat a deer in close on the ground... wow.  I have been hunting the past several days after work. I don't get to the woods until 8:30am. The other day I did a stalk since I had a nice 5-10 mph wind in my face. i walked up within 8 yards of a nice buck. Too bad it's doe first in that zone. As for ground blinds, you don't need much to hide you. Make sure you have plenty room to draw your bow. Hunt the wind when you can. Most of my spots have crazy wind that changes all the time. Good luck to ya.

I usually hunt from the trees, but last year I had some good luck from the ground, so it'll be a mix from here on out.

Mike

I like to hunt from the ground because of the chnllenge, and also because it's more exciting. You are matching wits with the deer at closer quarters. You won't get as many deer, but if you hunt properly, you will have close encounters.

I have had deer walk to within six feet and not know they were in danger. I've also had deer to come up from behind and approach within 10 feet before going ballistic.

i hunt the ground alot because i only have so many treestands. last year i got one at seven yards off the ground so i am going to do quite a bit this year

I bought a ghillie this year to hunt form the ground. My new lease does not have any tree stands and only a few pop ups. So I have decided to ground hunt off a stool. Should be a blast.

Being tied to tress and tree stands is like a ball and chain. The ground is more fun.

I hunt from the ground because these are the only trees around here.

 

 Now that's funny right there Zilla!!

Personally, I am going to hunt from a treestand until we lose some of the vegetation that's so thick where I hunt.  Otherwise it's very hard to see anything coming or, as is the case much of the time, going. Once the leaves come off, she's on the ground for the most part for me.  Cheers, Matt

Glad you are up and kicking Roy! Hunting from the ground is great. Something about being eye to eye with the game you're hunting that makes it super cool.

I hunt the heavy cover where any shot will be very close. Sometimes I'll still hunt along a deer trail then hold for a while. Using a wind feather and a pair of compact binos helps too. Been at it this way for eight years and had many close encounters. Would not bowhunt any other way.

... mike ...

PS... Ain't got a deer yet    but who cares?

Local fella had a tie strap on a climbing stick fail this weekend.He broke his neck in two places.Me,I also hunt on the ground.  Leland

Dang, glad you're okay Mudd(mostly okay, that is).

I hunt from the ground as well. Mostly because I'm tall & heavy & when I hit the ground it hurts more these days...   :D

Mudd, glad you are ok from your motorcycle accident.  I also gave up treestand hunting when I moved away from my hometown and now hunt public land.  It is the most addicting thing on earth...except maybe for coffee.  Which I am out of so I'm going to make a cup.  Again, glad you are ok!

See what the situation dictates most of the time. Dont spend alot of money on stand and stand stuff so I do spend alot of time on the ground. Made kills both ways, like the ground on all dayers as I can slip from spt to spot.

J