going to the ground

[Bulls eye]

After being a die hard tree stand hunter for over 20 years I'm determined to start hunting from the ground some. There are a couple reasons for this, number one, I am tired of not being able to find climbable trees in areas with good sign, I want to hunt deer, not trees. Number two, I'm tired of hauling a stand in, finding a tree, setting the stand up, climbing up and down and hauling the stand out. Guess I'm getting lazy in my middle age. I bought a ghillie suit, a good stool to sit on, some shears for pruning me a hidey hole and I'm ready to go. I know the hardest challenge for me will be the mental part, I just don't have a whole lot of confidence on the ground but i'm determined to stick it out and be successful this year. Might try this afternoon if the rain eases up. Sure wish we would get some cold weather...

 

[justin_h635]

Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[120 Acres]

Play the wind, keep your eyes peeled! Good luck.


May the sun be at your back, and the wind in your face.

 

[aviator41]

It can be done, as long as you are still. Another ground option is a pop-up ground blind. We love our little blind and have taken many deer from it.

Just hike it in, pop it up, throw some branches on it, get in and sit. It masks scent and movement and even some sound and is great to be 'inside' during ugly weather.

 

[dennishoddy]

X2 on the pop-up blinds.

 

[Sticky Stokes]

I like to hunt from the ground too, I usually try to find a good blowdown to get it, but I have 3-4 pop up blinds too, in my area though the deer always spook at the blind if I just pop it up and try to hunt it the same day. This happens even if I have it brushed in really good, after its been in a spot for awhile they just get used to it and ignore it. I have a climber that I rarely use for the reasons you said, I have two hang ons up at one farm but if you dont get them in the right spot, then you have to move em, ladders and all... and that's no picnic either! Where did you get your ghillie suit? I have been thinking about getting one myself so I can just walk in, find a good spot, cut my way in and sit down.

 

[Bulls eye]

I like to hunt from the ground too, I usually try to find a good blowdown to get it, but I have 3-4 pop up blinds too, in my area though the deer always spook at the blind if I just pop it up and try to hunt it the same day. This happens even if I have it brushed in really good, after its been in a spot for awhile they just get used to it and ignore it. I have a climber that I rarely use for the reasons you said, I have two hang ons up at one farm but if you dont get them in the right spot, then you have to move em, ladders and all... and that's no picnic either! Where did you get your ghillie suit? I have been thinking about getting one myself so I can just walk in, find a good spot, cut my way in and sit down.

Google bush rag ghillie suits. They have one specifically designed for bowhunters by a guy named Marc Anthony. I believe he has killed 3 200 inchers from the ground. Super smart guy when it comes to ground hunting. My plan is to walk in in normal camo with my suit in a back pack so it doesn't get stuck on everything as I walk through the woods. Then when I found a spot I like I'll trim it out, put on my suit and sit down. I plan on hunting some thick stuff with this set up.

 

[okhunter]

X2 on the pop-up blinds.

Dennis didn't you buy a ghost blind a while back? I've considered getting one and curious if you have tried yours and how you would compare it versus ground blind. Thanks

 

[nhagar]

Dennis didn't you buy a ghost blind a while back? I've considered getting one and curious if you have tried yours and how you would compare it versus ground blind. Thanks

In the past I usually hunted out of a deer stand. I have a few scattered on our property. I have hang on stands and they stay there most have been in the same tree for 3 years.

This year I bought a Big Game VS360 blind. I set it out mid Sept and have left it sitting since. I have does and small bucks that I could probably kill with my pocket knife they get so close.
However you better be still in that blind they can see you and know your in there. they just don't know what is in there. Took a buck yesterday morning out of it. Came within 10yds. probably around 8 actually. He was doing the head dance. trying his darndest to get me to move. Finally he gave me a chance to draw my bow and smacked him. Also that same morning just after I set down it came a torrential down pour for about an hour. dumped close to an inch. I stayed nice and dry. Rain quit as soon as it got light enough to see. I would have been soaked if I was sitting in my stand. I am convinced I am a blind hunter now. Picked mine up on ebay. I know Bass pro sells them for 179 I think. Inside is roomy can fit two people in it. base dimensions are like 77"x77"

 

[garret01]

Heck yeah Brother. I've been out three nights now and haven't seen one yet. I'm in a little ground blind made of brush. Hoping it'll get cold and they'll come out. I'm on the edge of a trail I watched them travel last year. I'm ready to see this soy bean crop harvested though.

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