Ground hunt versus tree stand

[horatio1226]

Some people whose opinion I respect on this site ground hunt.`I guess my question is: why would I hunt from a treestand instead of ground hunt. Obviously your vision is better, but is it worth the effort, risk and discomfort? I just can't decide if I want to go out and spend good money on a stand if people are having success on the ground.  :confused:

[Bowspirit]

I have returned to the trees after the past five years, and will stay up there for some time. I'm sure others will chime in with more pratical reasons, but mine are simple...the view. That first sunrise through the hardwoods at the Adirondack Attack, and I was hooked...

[adkmountainken]

many are comfortable especially some of the climbers. the view is spectacular when set up right. i feel you can get away with more movement then on the ground. your best bet would be to just try both.

[sswv]

I do both. more options make for more excitement.

[madness522]

I spend a lot of time hunting to my stand.  I rarely go in before legal shooting hours anymore because of the number of deer I kick up and can't see.  I hunted a lot from the ground last year and didn't see that many deer. I think it takes lots of practice and patience to hunt from the ground because of the fast paced world we live in its hard sometimes to change gears when we hunt and slow it way down.

[John3]

The ground can be deadly if set up properly. I enjoy ground hunting the most by far. The key is to set up and let the deer walk past you. Deadly as it gets.

Treestands are great and productive; but for me I feel like I am "chained" to the tree.

John III

[horatio1226]

What are some good blinds?

[waiting4fall]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pCiRVe9O2g

[ishiwannabe]

I would try both Brian. I have a climber that you can try whenever you want.
The main thing to watch with either is wind direction. It all comes down to what is more comfortable for you.
You dont need a blind either. You can make an effective blind with the natural litter, and then you dont have to worry that your blind might have walked away.
With either, the thing to remember is watch the wind, break up your outline as much as possible, and move when you cant see the animals eyes, or move VERY VERY slowly.
Sitting in the woods requires a lot of patience at times. It allows you to watch the woods and literally every creature in them.
Get out there now, and try to learn how to be quiet. Then more so, then even more.
If I even get some down time, you are more than welcome to come up and we can get started getting you ready for the fall.

[Cherokee Scout]

I hunted from trees for years. The odds are much better from elevated stand. Less chance of being busted by scent. But, since I have started hunting from the ground, I have had much more excitement and challange. I enjoy ground hunting much more.

[Stone Knife]

Both are awesome in their own ways, you  will see more deer from a treestand for the simple reason that you can see them farther away and this will give you a better chance to set up on deer that you would not have seen from the ground. If you have your own land to hunt or private land that you can leave a stand at with out fear of having it stolen, even if you lock them there is a chance they could be taken, a ladder stand is easy to set up and easy to move if you need to adjust. Pop up ground blinds are nice because they are a lot more comfortable than any treestand ever thought of being, but they are a lot of work. if your willing to put in the extra effort the Double Bull is hands down the best there is, some will tell you different but I have tries a few different brands and the DB is well worth spending the money to get it right the first time. With a ground blind it is a crap shoot whether or not is bothers the deer, in any event ground hunting is very exciting.

[WidowEater]

i still hunt most of the time.  On the rare instance when Im in a tree I have a feeling of claustrophobia like i cant move and the limbs are coming down on me....seriously though it takes some getting used to not being able to move around.  

I also hunt out of ground blinds once in a while and these are my favorite.  So comfortable and free to move if need be.  I have stalked deer from my ground blind before.  I dont know if you can do that from tree.  Mobility is limited.  

I also like to sleep when I hunt.  I dont like sleeping up in a tree even with a strap on.  Ground is made for snoozing in the woods.  Doesnt seem to help my success rate though.

[Hot Hap]

I hunted from trees for about 5-6 years. Been on the ground for the last 35 or so years. I enjoy hunting on the ground a lot more. That said I'm thinking about a ladder stand for the coming year. My son picked up some new land for us to hunt last year that is amazing. It is loaded with deer. He killed a couple last year and missed a 180-190" buck at 12-15 yds on the ground. I normally wouldn't worry about it, but.... Hap

[Daddy Bear]

It all depends on the situation as to whether you'd have better visibility or better scent control from a tree.

Certain times of the year when the forest is greened over you'd be looking through leafed over tree tops when up in a stand whereas from the ground you'd be looking under the lower branches having a better view. In the foothills and mountains when hunting deer in low light from a tree the deer can easily blend in and are masked by the ground. You can place yourself low to the ground below the elevation of the deer and they are easily seen by skylining. This technique is far superior to any treestand during certain times of the year as the evening thermals carry your sent down the mountain below you while the big buck is just above you working the ridgeline searching for a receptive doe. The buck stands out like a sore thumb against the skyline and you are the one who blends in and is masked by the ground below. From any elevated tree you will lose visibility and risk having your scent caught in the warmer air circulating above the cooler thermals below you on the ground. Your sent will then roll back over the ridge onto the deer like a hydraulic over an obstruction in moving water.

Daddy Bear

[New to Traditional]

Been bowhunting 5 years now.First off the ground because of a lack of treestands and then got one and got my first bowkill in it within a week.My most memorable hunts though are those CLOSE range encounters off the ground which is why after filling one tag last year out of a tree I committed myself to taking one off the ground using natural cover and I went on the to take 3 deer that way.I may buy I couple more stands for certain scenarios, but my passion has become ground hunting.It does take a lot of discipline and you dont see as much but the encounters are far more memorable.I'm hoping to get my first spot and stalk kill this fall.


I would try both if I were you,
Ethan

[Ken Taylor]

Of the four big game animals in Quebec;
I hunt black bears mostly from the ground for the added challenge,
I hunt caribou from the ground because that is how you hunt caribou,
I hunt moose from the ground for calling methods and the mobility of changing position fast, etc.
and I hunt whitetails mostly from a treestand because I enjoy the change.

[Widowbender]

I like both...I like having options for different scenarios

David

[James Wrenn]

I deer hunt from trees but love to hunt on the ground for hogs.When hunting hogs I am hunting a large area with few other hunters to disturb when I am slipping around.My deer hunting is in a much smaller area and is often populated by other treestand hunters.Walking around kicking up deer and disturbing there hunting is just not the best way to hunt.Spending a lot of time on the ground spreading unwanted scent in an area that is hunted often does the deer hunting no good for everyone.

[Dark_Timber_Ghost]

To me it depends on the game.  Some setups are just better (higher probability of success) for different game/hunting area/style.  It is heavily weighted on personal experience and confidence of success, but then again, some time you are just thinking, hey hold my beer this is going to funny and find some thing you like better...

Just my two bit

Jason

[Aeronut]

I like ground hunting because I can quickly change positions if needed and I have been withing touching distance of four deer in the last three years.  The only disadvantage I have seen is you don't get the lower exit wound for an easier blood trail that you get from an elevated shot.



This guy was shot from the ground at <10 yards.  

Dennis