Lately I haven't been taking a tree stand with me when I go deer hunting. Its easier to just take along a small folding stool and set up against a large tree overlooking a trail. I just haven't felt like hauling along my climber and having to assemble it then take it in when I'm done. Also, its kind of cold to be sitting up in a tree.
Does anyone hunt deer from the ground? If so, do you use a blind? Any other techniques that work? I can only remember killing one deer from the ground with my bow and it was kind of a fluke.
I'm trying to find things that would make ground hunting more effective. I think its so much simpler. Thanks in advance.

I tried it but i later realized i was skylined. Also, toward dusk, i couldn't see clearly when looking from above and the deer blended too well with the ground and brush. But it would depend on the lighting conditions. Ideal would be if you set up like you described, but if you can watch a trail where they crest a rise and THEY are skylined, you can see even in low light. Also watch the thermals, in evening, air moves down the hill so you wouldn't want to watch a trail directly below you, but rather, below but off to one side.

I can fully understand your reluctance to fool with the stand when it would seem the terrain itself could put you in a readymade vantage point.

Penny

I put the stalk on a bedded buck yesterday, but I could not get a clean shot.

He was bedded in a creek bottom about 100 yards from a freeway, so I would move when a big truck went by. I got within 35 yards, but could get no closer due to a steep slope and 6 inches of snow.

I waited there for an hour, hoping he'd clear himself of the downed trees and water-piled brush when he got up. He did, but only a glimpse and then he was gone into the thick cover.

I think he was the same mid-sized 8 point I've seen before. His were the only tracks in the days-old snow, so I went home after that.

Don I bet the heart was pumping pretty good huh? There's nothing like putting the stalk on an animal, it's awesome. Congratulations on getting closer than the magic 45 yard point. 45 yards is where deer don't feel too pressured.

the chef

I hunted from the ground a lot last year. My problem was in getting too close-ambush, not stalking, then I couldn't get my shot off because the deer could hear me. I mostly just piled up some brush and sat behind it-it worked very well in almost every situation. Seems my treestands don't always work so well. One trick I used was to put a blanket (descented) on the ground then I could move my feet and not make as much noise. I also stashed my non-descented equipment under it and it seems to have kept the scent down a little. I have some nagging doubts about setting up to have deer skylined- it's a somewhat dangerous shot and doesn't give you much time to get ready.

the chef

In addition to hunting from stands I enjoy hunting from groundblinds (read glorified brushpiles). I also use a folding "hunting" chair for when I have room and time to do the "walk a spell, sit an hour" sort of still hunting. Our deer woods are either too leafy when green, or too noisy when brown, to do much real still hunting. If you choose one of the spring-loaded folding fabric blinds be sure to get one that is large enough for you to come to (or out of) full draw while remaining completely concealed within it. Good hunting!

Any suggestions on tent style ground blinds would be appreciated. I haven't seen one I like yet.also any experiences using one would be nice. I'm not sure I could shoot instinctivly out of one though but I'd give them a shot.

the chef

Max,

I tried it for a couple of seasons just a little and it worked ok. I was able to stick a small buck on year and I drew down on a few doe the next season but, didn't shoot.

It was definitely a challenge and I had just about as many deer spook as didn't. I will say that if you aren't in a blind it helps to get behind some brush or a large tree so you'll have a chance to draw or draw when you hear them walking close if you have a high % let off and can hold for a while. It's definitely much more challenging than treestand hunting.

That set-up I had when I tagged that buck from the ground was sweet. I found a real heavily traveled trail crossing a creek and just a few yards away there was sort of a washed out cave in the creek bank w/ roots hanging down for a bit of camo, well, it worked he never knew what hit him at about 5 Yards!Talk about gettin' the ole heart pumping, that's up close and personal.

Good Luck

Reloader

At least a third of all my game animals were killed while I was on the ground. You must hunt smartly though.

I like to find crossings in creeks and either set up in the creek or near a huge tree that sits on the bank. You have to find the right place with lots of ground cover and the wind should be in a predominant direction.

My biggest bucks were taken less than 20 yards with a bow while I was on the ground. It can be done.

I have had some success from the ground.

I arrowed a large bobo from one of those military net style ground blinds in RSA this past season. Could have taken guineas, impala, kudu, vervets, nyala and grey duiker as well, they never knew I was there.

My big kudu from this season was also from a pit type blind with a grass thatch top structure. One of the most difficult to hunt from as it was not wind or noise proof. Took a 24 inch impala buck from another one on the same property. All were 20 yard shots.

I have killed deer from Ameristep pop up blinds at home. My first deer ever and first archery deer was done with this. Blinds do seem to need to be set up to allow time for the game to adjust to them.

In fall of 2004 I actually leopard crawled across my mowed lawn in full view of a doe/fawn herd. The lead doe could not figure out what I was. Though they all made a huge fuss, whistling and snorting they did not run. The lead doe was so beside herself she finally cleared the large multiflora rose at the edge of my woods to try and get down wind of me. I had my shotgun cradled across my arms. She cleared the brush and I took a 15 yard shot putting a 12 ga slug through the boiler room. That sure surprised them all. I was surprised at how close I was able to crawl to them.

Did something similar on a buck impala group when hunting leopard baits in Zims. They just stood there and looked.

quote:

Blinds do seem to need to be set up to allow time for the game to adjust to them.

I'm with Ann on this point. This is absolutely key.

Also it's a good idea to "brush in" ground blinds. A few limbs/grass/whatever's natural laying against them really helps.

I like the Ameristep Doghouse TSC (Note: Make sure it is a TSC model those are bigger and nicer)

I consider these blinds crucial Turkey hunting tools.

Well, I'm still using my climber but there's an area I've been hunting that is very hilly. Think I'll go out and pile up some branches in some strategic places and see if I can fill a bow tag before the season is over.

Ann,

Funny you mention the leopard crawl. One of my PH's had my crawl up with him on some impala. We got to within 20 yards of them. They were watching us, but didn't run.

Standing and trying to stalk quietly, I never got that close. Once they saw or scented us, they were gone.

My PH said the same thing you did about them not knowing what you are when you crawl.

I don't know if it'll work on deer for me, but I plan to try it.

Steve

Probably the biggest factor in killing deer from the ground is the wind. If you have a swirling, shifting wind you are much better in a tree. Late in the day when the air begins to cool it will drift consistantly downhill. This makes a good ground setup. On a typical fall day, in my area anyway, the wind blows all over and makes if really hard to get a relaxed deer in range. John

<--------Hey I'm "one of us" now LOL

Heres a new one. majority of the cypress trees are too fat at the trunk to get the climber on in the swamp. The area that I hunt is so dense, I would never get off a shot more than 40yd before any bush gets in the way. one good thing about that is I can use a low bush for some cover, draw, and come up over top. Wheter it be deer or hogs, its all about the swamp(unfortunately).

If you want to get really close to deer. Search the net for the ultimate crawl. It seems to work....I didn't do it too much this year but I had decent results. I was pressed for time and had trouble getting hunting spots or I would have done it more.

the chef

Will check. Thats a new one for me? John

I went after Springbok last Saturday. The area where we hunted burned earlier in the season so the grass was really short.

I tried to walk and stalk the springbok but there where just too many eyes with to little cover. The closest I got was about 70 yards, had a great time and I am sure I will be stalking again very soon.

Gerhard

Seriously people....search for the ultimate crawl. I now know how the indians did it with their stick bows.

the chef

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
Seriously people....search for the ultimate crawl. I now know how the indians did it with their stick bows.

the chef

I found this link it is at the bottom.
http://www.bowsite.com/bowsite/tf/thread.cfm?threadid=2...&messages=31&forum=4

This is from the websight there is more info on the actual link but this is very interesting.

THE ULTIMATE CRAWL METHOD PROCEDURES

1. Your out there at the edge of the field where it is known that deer come out in the field to feed, you can sit on the ground in your truck or stand outside till the deer show up.

2. You sight the deer as they are coming out from whatever cover it may be. Lets picture a rectangular field, (100 yards wide x 400 yards long), with you at one end and the deer at the opposite corner.

3. Make your self known quietly crawl in complete exposure to the deer by going from the corner and make a small circle in the field, proper position is anything but a upright human position, but slowly go in their direction. Always look at the deer with one eye only; they don't know humans can close one eye. Deer think your focus is in another direction.

4. If all there heads go up to watch you put your head down and literally act like your eating grass and take a peek every now & then to see if they relaxed, once they graze again keep going towards them again. You may need to do a soft doe grunt/bleat, but don't worry if they start to go away, normally with a soft grunt they will turn around. As you continue remember you are a grazing animal so keep eating grass.

5. As you approach 150 yards don't go any closer, (unless they are very calm, I never went closer than 100 yards or so) now make your grazing sounds as loud as possible, eie pulling grass off is great, but don't pull it out of the ground. Eventually they will really take a look and get very curious and start coming in, don't forget to move all the time and keep your movements slow and steady this is the key at getting your shot off as the deer comes in.

6. Now here they come. Watch their tails half cock that’s good, full spread you screwed up. Typically young deer will come running in to check things out and the older deer tend to stay back a little bit or they will come in, turn and act like they are running away, every time they turn to go away do your soft grunt and normally they turn around. 7. Now they are standing at 14 yards and broadside, (normally deer always present themselves broadside, I feel because they need to turn only 90 degrees to flee), all this time you have an arrow in your string so now its pull back time, RELAX, RELAX, deer will eventually graze right in front of you. DON'T make a defensive move right away let the deer calm down. Up till now you have been eating grass so oh, I finally see deer, pull back keep moving up to when you release the trigger and bingo, watch out because if you had a good hit on one the others have been known to stay right where they are so get ready for the second shot, because this has happened. Movement DOES NOT MATTER AT ALL.

Well, I am one to get the fever pretty bad and just writing this has given me the jitters, because this is repeatable and I can't wait till the first day

I hope you got the drift,

More info @jstoltzfus@reifenrubber.com

Or go to http://www.huntseek.com /forums/elk/deer/bear to view discussions

Well done Swede, if I wasn't so damned lazy I would have posted it here like you did. Sorry I dropped the ball guys. Anyway it sure seems to work well with the does--I have serious doubts about finding a big buck like that though.

the chef

I would try it if I were in that situation. I would probably screw it up anyways.

I only hunted on foot once last year when approaching my stand at the crack of dawn, I spy 3 cows and their bull coming down the ridge about 75yds away. I'd bellow at the bull, alternating a cow call infrequently, but alas, the bull kept them just out of realistic range, turning and screaming back at me everytime I sounded off. I followed them for over a mile, the bull and I having a serious aural "firefight" the whole time, but never closer than 50yds........POO_DOO!!!!