This year im gonna hunt only from ground,still hunting and making natural blinds.Read article in tbh and talking about how the animals make noises when deer are around, I think we all need to get are woodsman ship back not sitting in tree.Who is up for the challenge

I took that challenge about ten years ago and I haven't sat in a tree since.

***WARNING***WARNING***WARNING***.......

This kind of hunting is HIGHLY addictive. If a ground, eye level, CLOSE experience with a deer that doesn't know that you're there doesn't get your predator genes flowing in high gear, then you simply don't have any!!

still use a tree stand , but rarely in the early season; I mainly hunt form the ground, and like it so much better

agree with Woods Walker; once you start getting them from the ground ,its close and personal (very addictive)

I'm with Woods Walker, I'll be on the ground again this year.

It takes a little experience but if you hunt from the ground enough, you can learn how to be, and remain, accepted as part of the natural ebb and flow of the woodlands for a large portion of the time you're there. At first, you may not realize such a feeling... or recognize it... but then you will, and then for increasingly longer periods of time as you improve your skills and awareness.

When you get in that 'zone', it's pretty awesome... you can FEEL the presence of other critters as they come and go... even if you can't see them, as they leave ripples of various sizes in the calm that surrounds you and everything in your immediate area. Eventually, hopefully, you will learn to move while maintaining that surrounding calm... and take advantage of the ripples of others to move, take a step, shift your weight, etc. And you will get within pouncing distance more and more often as a result. You will be proactive... part of the natural dynamic that is life and death in the woods.

Sitting for countless hours in a tree waiting doesn't compare.

In my opinion nothing beats hunting from the ground for heart-pounding excitement. Good luck!

Been quite awhile since I owned and used a tree stand. Checking my notes it was prior to 1992 sometime.

I am heading to my new stump blind with my self bow, self arrow and stone tip. I get a deer with that outfit I might as well quit hunting because it can't get any better than that!!!

Sold all my stands 7 years ago, never killed a deer out of a stand. I do like the idea of being 10-12 ft off the ground and HID good. I'm goin back n forth tryin to talk myself into getting a couple more stands. I enjoy ground hunting, only advantage around here with a treestand is being up off the ground, but if you're not hid good it's no advantage.

Good luck Jon, hope to hear how it works out. Self bows are special for sure.

Shot one deer with a bow out of a stand in 1979. The rest, before and after were shot on the ground, mostly still hunted, some out of natural ground blinds.

Well i've always been afraid of heights,guess i'll be on the ground again.

This will be my third season from the ground. I love it.

Always have hunted from the ground and the trees. Hunting to me means killing when I can. I don't know about all that ebb and vibration or such. I just hunt where I'm best suited to kill. But, I gotta admit, I enjoy it from the ground more as I can move better and it is fun. Good luck. God Bless everyone

I thought about buying a treestand but the feeling passed quickly...I would sooner not shoot anything from the ground than shoot something from a treestand...why take up the challenge of the traditional bow and then immediately start searching for ways to make it easier

DDave

Dave, it is warmer on the ground. lol I think it's easier to hide on the ground here in the south. Deer have learned to look up. In the mid 70's when we had the old Baker stands you could get away with just about anything 12 ft off the ground. It is a little more tricky drawing on deer from the ground, other than that I see no disadvantage to ground hunting.

Been on the ground for some years now. As said, highly addictive.

I do both, but see nothing at all wrong with hunting from a treestand. I think it gives me more perspective to see more critters, but that is just me. I don't really see that it matters one way or another as long as you enjoy however you choose to hunt. Tom

Yup, I'm in. No treestands!

I mostly hunt from the ground these days and haven't seen any discernible decrease in my success rate. That said, I have noticed a marked improvement in the 'enjoyment factor'.

I hunted from a stand once-the rest has been on the ground. Don't even think about stands.

I'm in. I can't sit in a stand anyway.

I just finished three natural brush blinds.Deer season opens next Monday and I am getting more excited each day. Not being in a tree stand has made it possible to see more deer.And after arriving my first deer from the ground I realized my angle is allowing me a bigger kill zone.Good luck everyone.

Will continue doing both. Enjoy both and don't feel either makes me special or disconnected.

I do both,love the rush ya get from the ground,but also like the scene from above,when most critters dont have any idea your there and u can observe them in there natural state.I know im hunting,but also like to observe wildlife

No thanks, I like the view.

My new climber just came in a couple weeks ago... so I will be using it as conditions dictate. I'll be in a tree, or on the ground. Whatever is best for the location.

CD

I like both and d both and have been successful at each

"I think we all need to get are(our) woodsman ship back not sitting in tree."

IMHO, good woodsmanship is knowing which tree to put the stand in. I'm certain my woodsmanship skills are in order, when a deer walks within fifteen yards of my tree.

The only difference I see between ground blinds and tree stands, is elevation. I'll take the elevated seat and the advantage of being out of the normal "line of sight", for as long as my health permits me to climb. I find it positively enjoyable to be in a position with a marvelous view in all directions.

Spot and stalk is a hunt, and again IMHO, the only reason to hunt on your feet. See a deer, chase a deer, is probably ok if you have unlimited space, and have no worries about where your property permission papers are valid.

Then again, if a walk in the woods is more important to you than taking a deer, you know, those of you who stress the "outings" rather than a hunt for meat. I don't see where there is a skill to "happening" upon a deer while sneaking through the woods.

I'll stay in my tree.

Tree for me. Better view.

"Then again, if a walk in the woods is more important to you than taking a deer, you know, those of you who stress the "outings" rather than a hunt for meat. I don't see where there is a skill to "happening" upon a deer while sneaking through the woods."

Your right, there is no skill in "happening upon a deer", but then again, that's not what those of us who are hunting on the ground are doing. That folks get defensive in these types of threads is a very curious behavior, but very telling as well.

Then again, if a walk in the woods is more important to you than taking a deer, you know, those of you who stress the "outings" rather than a hunt for meat. I don't see where there is a skill to "happening" upon a deer while sneaking through the woods.

Put the pipe down....

I'm in. Started out on the ground so I guess I've come full circle.

Mostly the ground this year. Some articles in finfish and fur this month, Darren has one in there.

I have two stands set up but I'm not going to be able to check them out before the season so they may not get used this year.

I never liked to handicap myself by doing anything the same way all the time. Once I feel I have the hang of something. I want to try something new. I feel that you have a better view from the ground. I see more on the ground then I do in a tree stand. I enjoy hunting both ways. But I find myself spending more and more time on the ground these days. Try it this season.

Just freshened up one of my ground blinds last weekend. Little bit of jute twin and saplings can turn into a real nice natural blind.

I've been ground only for years with the exception of occasionally using a ladder stand on the private land that I used to have access to. So ground only for me now.

So a challenge for the ones that think a tree stand is the ONLY way to hunt-don't use your stand...Nuff said

Lol. I was with TJK68 this weekend doing some work on his farm and resetting some stands. Lord have mercy, I was hanging from a tree saying to myself "trust the belt"!! I finally said to Tom, I think I'm going to spend the money on a good stool. I'm getting to old for this!! We got it done and ready to roll for the opener.

Forgot to mention - x1000 roger. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

Jeff ... what an excellent post.

Wild Bill: Stillhunting is NOT "a walk in the woods", except for people who tried it by "walking in the woods" and not seeing anything. Stillhunting is anything BUT a walk in the woods. There's actually very little walking involved and any walking that is done is completely unlike the walking that humans do on many different levels from the technique, foot placement, WHEN to move (if you move at all), and most importantly the level of concentration involved.

When I stillhunt I have to check my backtrail as much as what's out in front of me, because the area 40 yards behind me I passed through close to an hour ago and there's just as good a chance at a deer approaching from there as anywhere.

There's NOTHING wrong with treestand hunting. It's a great way to hunt deer and I killed a pile of them from trees over the 35 years that I hunted from them. It also taught me a LOT about deer behavior because the obvious advantage of a treestand is the visibilty one has. It also taught me PATIENCE to sit and wait. It wasn't until I could sit in a tree from dark to dark that I had the mental discipline to stillhunt, which in a lot of ways requires MORE patience than sitting in a tree for 11 hours. When I started groundhunting I did not specifically intend to not hunt in trees anymore, in fact it was quite the opposite and I just thought that it would broadnen me as a hunter. But after a season I realized that I had no desire to go to the trees anymore. The ground was my new home.

I've been on the ground now for 10 years and I stillhunt a good 80 to 90 percent of the time. I see and get close to just as many deer as I did in the trees, and under some circumstances even more. High winds no longer make me stay home. When there's a good blow at hand I know my ground and I go TO the deer. That's a tough hunt because when you do find where they are they are ALL there!

The big difference bewteen treestand and stillhunting is getting a clear shot opportunity. I will be the first to admit that the treestand is the winner here. I pass on more deer now not because they see me, but because I don't have what I consider to be a high percentage shot so I don't shoot. The next best thing for me after actually cleaning killing a deer is being eye blinking close to one and having it walk away NOT knowing I was there.

One final point. I don't know if this is because of the hunting technique or just dumb luck, but I've seen and killed the biggest deer of my life over these past 10 years. One was a 150 class 11 pointer that stood 7 yards from me as I knelt on the ground but didn't have a shot and he just walked away. He's on my mental wall though!

I bought my first baker as soon as Ohio legalized tree stands and never looked back. I've used both natural ground blinds, and tree stands since, but tree stands make the more mature bucks much easier than ground hunting. Jim Dougherty once did an article about how much tree stands increased peoples odds of killing a deer and I believe it.

I quit using tree stands because of the way they're made now a days. Seats not a bowhunting seat and platforms almost covered by the seat. I like standing alot in my stand. I used my old ones for a while longer but then gave em away n decided to stay where if I fall I only fall 6'4".

Woodswalker, that's one of the things that keeps me from buying treestands again, I remember havin a hard time sitting very long in a stand. Due to terrain, most areas I hunt ,stalking is next to impossible, on some WMA I hunt that have more open timber I will stalk when the ground is wet or if it's a little windy. I didn't hunt out of treestands very much ,even when I had treestands. I do like being in a tree if it's concealed real good, but here in the deep south they seem to spot you easier in a tree unless you're hid good.

My dad shot as many deer stalking as he did still/blind hunting. It would take him hours to travel 1/4 mile stalking.

Just do what you like to do and have fun doing it. Something I don't believe in is luck. It is all about skill so practice on your skills and have a good hunting season.

Got my buck last year from the ground at 15 yards, it was funny that I was in a tree stand and got down and killed the buck 10 minutes later. The big advantage is you can move with the wind and the deer can't pattern you if you keep moving. Am going to use my self bow and stone points so I'll have to get close. Lots of acorns this year so the deer won't have to travel far to find food.

Lol Mark..."Trust the belt"

All my drivers.

Good luck Jon,worthy gold. I hunt from both but mostly Up a tree.Not very good at still hunting and even worse at stalking,and like to eat so I mostly ambush from above. Pappy

I have found that still hunting can present you with greater range differences and longer average shots than stand hunting, either ground or tree where distances can be predetermined. Where my stand hunting shots run 15-20 yards, my still hunting shots have run 25-30 yards with my longest kill at 43 yards. I practice mostly stump shooting in varied woodland settings at distances from 15-40 yards and pay a lot of attention to the visual perspective, being an instinctive shooter. I would prefer a shot at an older buck at 20+ yards than 10 or 15 yards. I think they can hear your heartbeat when at close range!!

after putting up a stand in 100 degree weather I understand. Ill probably do 10% from stand 90% from ground I agree that ground is more exciting

I took the challenge 10 years ago and have not been in a tree since.

hunting from the ground is certainly a lot less hassle. As i look back over the years though i'd say i'm running 50/50 from the ground and out of a tree.

wind matters in both a tree and the ground.

But Movement that's your worst enemy on the ground. sitting still for hrs don't go well for many. And they get sloppy, move to much ect.

Good luck to all you guys'.I can't do it.Very limited time in the woods means I need every advantage I can get to be in my favor.Getting above their noses is one I can't dismiss.

My back kinda dictates how I hunt, to a degree. Location of folks with guns, also. A lot of times it comes down to being able to hunt or not, for safety. I also do not want to influence others who are hunting an area. SC has a new law that has a height requirement for a tree stand and requires it to be used. All for safety sake. Enjoy your hunts!

I dont understand your post Chief... South Carolina requires you to use a treestand?

And has a height requirement? Minimum, maximum, or what?

'taking the no tree stand challenge' Is a cash donation required and who gets it? :)

Back here in the Appalachian Mountains, spot and stalk is only a term for the most part. Most land here is on the side of an incline and our trees go to the top of the mountain.

It is quite possible to spot them many times, from one ridge to another or ridge to valley, etc. Finding a stalking route is always a challenge...if you know which way they are going.

Most still-hunting here involves walking a few yards and looking for fifteen minutes. It can be very productive however and folks who were born looking out of their cradle at a tree stand have never had a chance to learn. It's another aspect of why archery is such a challenge to your overall woods skills. Once folks actually apply themselves to it, they find it is not so awful. If you fear being skunked though, you'll never leave your tree stand.

I`ve killed MANY pigs from the ground..over 200 and a lot of deer. I hunt how ever I please and what the area dictates.There is more than one reason to hunt in a tree. If you ever hunt south ga. in mid sept and you find a hot food source in the swamp. You look around and there is a bit of brush to get in . You dare not handle or move anything for the chance of spreading scent. You settle in on your pak seat and you notice you`ve already lost a pint of blood to the skeeters. You dare not spray down because of scent and a thermacel from the ground smells. The river is about 300 yards away and its funnel causes the wind to swirl every five minutes...you feel something on your arm and its a spider...you swat it and heh...it looked like a brown recluse. your trying to be still and you hear a limb break and a doe is standing there at 20 yards looking at you . she stomps and runs off. You come back in three days...drill a tree with your woodpecker drill at 15 yards from the persimmon thats dropping and climb in your wal-mart loc on. You kill the doe..bone her out and put her in the back pack and walk the two miles out. RC

Everyone has their own reasons based on where and how they hunt. Don't care either how you hunt, but robert carter's last part of his paragraph explains why I got out of the trees. Do as you feel and I doubt anyone cares but you. If I get it done and need the meat, I'll climb a tree near a good run. Haven't had to do that yet...but I'm not in Georgia either.

I am terrified of heights. Alway have hunted from the ground. I am sure. It has made me a better hunter because of it. Love it too and the many different close encounters I get.

I put my stand up this weekend 15 ft ladder Ill use it occassionaly for bow, but I also use it for gun season. I like hunting with my 44 revolver and I like to be perched up there to get a better view.

Theres nothing wrong with either tactic.

Roger

I'm guessing people get defensive in these threads because there are those that are proposing that because a man uses a treestand he is somewhat less skilled in the woods. This thread is not much different from the many others that promote one style over another. While maybe not always the original intent they turn into "my way is better than yours". Interesting to find out everyone's opinion though, makes for a good read.

I love ground and tree stand hunting and won't likely give either up until I have to. But I enjoy a traditional bow most of all when still hunting.

I still use a couple of ladder stands on my own property, a climber for Sika territory, a natural brush blind when the wind is right and I'm putting up a pop up this year to try and intercept the big boy who comes every season to breed the does.

Last season I missed a large Sika doe on the ground at dark, and didn't get a shot at the big boy from 10 yards in the ladder stand due to overhanging pine boughs.

I do admit natural blind hunting is the most heart pumping method of deer hunting I do.

No offense to anyone in particular, but I fail to see how it requires any more skill to be up a tree vs. to be on the ground when a deer passes by.

And as for “happening upon” a deer… Nobody ever happened upon a deer by bumbling about the woods in a part of the habitat which the deer don’t use regularly; either way, if you want to intercept a traveling deer, you have to be in a travel corridor. And if you’re on the ground, you’re operating on a level where deer expect to see predators. True, SOME deer have learned to scan the trees for hunters, but ALL of them scan the ground. And the more we move, the more we tip the odds in the deer’s favor…

And I loved Jeff D’s post on becoming part of the flow of the woods, because – in its way – it is a more demanding discipline to slow down to that rate of travel than to be parked. If you hang a stand up a tree, you’ve committed to that spot for at least a half a day; it may be difficult to sit as still as you should, but you know that getting yourself and your stand back down out of the tree and moved through the woods to another likely spot is going to be a serious Project, and one that may well do your chances more harm than good. If you’re on the ground already, the temptation to speed up just a little through this patch or another can be overwhelming, and IMO, you have to have MUCH greater confidence in your ability to be hunting the right spot – from the right direction – at the right time.

And all that said… I MUCH prefer to be on the ground, but if you’re on a small piece of private land surrounded by No Trespassing signs, there’s just not much sneaking around to be done. And frankly, figuring out which tree is both likely to offer you a shot AND is more than a Death-Run from the edge of the property… that can be as tricky a puzzle as any other you’d come across in the deep woods. Besides – you get into the suburbs, and sometimes you need that steep downward angle for everyone’s peace of mind regarding where an arrow is going to end up.

I can think of too many good places I'd rather be after I sit down on the ground in the spot I'd already determined was the best in the woods.

So, as long as I can still climb trees and tote stands, I'll get up in a tree and stay in one spot. My ability to sneak up on deer has long past, along with most of my senses..I can still feel and taste pretty good, but seeing, hearing and smelling have pretty much wore out.

lv2bohunt, sometimes you can misread a person's post by having your mind already made as to what they think or feel. Context is hard to come by many times in the printed word, so don't judge folks by how you "think" they are responding.

I do think it is a lot easier with tree stands. It sure was for me and many of my friends. And after tree stands became the normal, our kill percentages went up as a whole. Doesn't mean we don't like them or that we look down on others who do. Most of my pals use them. This is about how we personally look at challenge. If you take that as negative, then that is your perception...not reality.

I have a personal set of goals that I attach to "me" and I try to stick with them. I may someday choose to use a stand now and then, but right now I have no use for them. Your mileage may vary and that is okay too.

George

I hunt both ways. I have no issue with either way and maybe I do take some the wrong way. It is often as much their delivery as it is my reading them wrong though. I agree a treestand is an advantage. I disagree that those that use them don't possess the skills to ground pound. I spend lots of time doing both.

............I am one of those that read every post in a thread too so I try to keep an open mind as I follow a thread.

I`ll be blunt. Hunting from the ground and killing deer is harder than in a tree for me. I killed my last deer of the year last year from the ground and usually kill at least one from the ground every year. I like to kill deer and one taken from the tree means a lot to me and helps bag the 5-6 I need a year to keep me away from the grocery store as much.Kinda like killing turkeys without a blind with a stickbow. It can be done..I`ve done it but it ain`t easier. RC

just converted to a tree this weekend, have been patterning the elk in a small spot and I know the hunting is competitive, hoping to ambush them from the tree first thing opening morning before the rut starts and patterns change. I have it guessed that tree is higher probability. oz

i love hunting in a tree.i like the ground also. sooo since someone stole both my stands, i have been hunting from the ground.....ron

It is mostly the compound types that use treestands.

I love using both methods and believe I'll always continue to do so. I agree you cannot beat the excitement of sneaking up on something and matching wits on a more level playing field. I love the peace and quiet of a treestand. I've spent many an day in a treestand with dozens of deer moving around below me and just watched them. That is fun for me. In many cases a ground blind is just as effective as a stand, if not more so. We must remember that all hunting situations/terrains/quarry/ect are not the same, so you can't over-generalize.

I'm out! I enjoy tree stand placement, sitting and success way too much to ababdon tree stands. Returning to traditional gear 18 years ago had zero negative impact on my high success rate. I believe staying on the ground 100% of the time would lower my success more than desired. I like to still-hunt my way out of the woods in the morning and have taken a number of deer doing so. I admit those on-ground ambushes and stalks gave me an extra kick, but not enough to abandon tree stands. Good luck to all of you who do so. BTW - stay away from my stands as you'll louse-up my areas! Have fun!

"It is mostly the compound types that use treestands." Just love to stir it up don't you J.R.?

I plan on doing both because I like both.

babysaph,

"It is mostly the compound types that use treestands."

It is mostly the compound types that use bows. Traditional bows are about 3% of bows sold for hunting.

I took the challenge a bout 20 years a go and took 4 does from the ground that year. I said I would never climb another tree but that only held until the next year. This year I will hunt more from the ground and mostly with a self bow as I have never killed with it. My only complaint about stand hunting is how lazy I get. I'll put up 3 or 4 sets and rotate between them. I kill my share but some how I don't feel like I'm hunting anymore.

I hunt in South Alabama where there is a lot of cut over, very few oak trees. When the acorns are falling it is best to get up a tree and wait, eventually the deer are going to to come in and feed. I could build a ground blind but where i hunt the deer are really hard to pattern. Since i hunt mostly on weekends i want to give myself every advantage i can to harvest a deer, thats why i prefer tree stand hunting.

I hunt in South Alabama where there is a lot of cut over, very few oak trees. When the acorns are falling it is best to get up a tree and wait, eventually the deer are going to to come in and feed. I could build a ground blind but where i hunt the deer are really hard to pattern. Since i hunt mostly on weekends i want to give myself every advantage i can to harvest a deer, thats why i prefer tree stand hunting.

I hunt what ever way the situation calls for , stand , ground , walking, and even crawling,, It seems silly to cut my chances down for any reason. hunt the way you want

What is the value of all these pledges, commitments and challenges? If you want to hunt from the ground, do it. If you don't, don't. You can even change your mind. This sport is supposed to be fun. To me being boxed into a corner as far as what I can do or feel good about is B.S. More power to ya, but I'll just do what pleases me and I won't be letting anyone down. - John

Ryman, what value? Well, it simply gives some folks reassurance, motivation, etc to know that others are willing and able to do it too. Personally, I'd continue to work out my own journey alone if I was the only one doing it. I'm not one to get lonely or feel isolated.

For others, my primitive gear and hunting methods may make them feel like they're 'boxed into a corner', but I'm not asking them to change anything they do... and to me though, for comparison's sake, it doesn't box me in, it gives me a MUCH greater sense of freedom. But that's me.

Great post up above there, George!

I accept that challenge twice every day I hunt. Coming back from the stand for lunch and a nap and again when I make my way to a stand for evening. I move quietly and still-hunt at those times. Sometimes it pays off . . . and those are treasured freezer-filling moments. I's much rather kill fair chasse.

That's all I ever done here in nevada because trees are few and far between. I would love to sit in a tree one day.

I hunt big woods, so the terrain dictates alot on how I hunt.

I use both. Its all fun. What I do not do, is build natural ground blinds or use pop ups.

I did at one time, but good bucks in my area, are few, and they notice alot of small detail, and something out of the ordinary they pick up on...

I like pre hung hangers, and I use my climber on some days, but when I am on the ground, I use the guille and a good chair.

My chair, weighs 5pounds, spins 360 dead quiet, and has goose feet and adjust up to 19 inches, and that set up in the right areas is deadly.

I hunt alot of tamarack bogs, at the pinch points. I also have found, sitting in the water, at some of my spots, has been deadly, they never expect you there......

Last year, even though does were legal, I would not kill one, because I knew how few deer there were, but sitting in a trout stream, right by the rapids, I had a deadly spot if I wanted to kill one.

I hunt, to kill a good buck, I love the challenge, and reap the rewards of fine meat.

It takes good woodsmanship, to read the area, regardless if you climb a tree or hunt the ground

But let me play this out for some of you........ I had a really good spot, where I knew a great buck, bedded about 150 yards in from my stand selection. One day, I was using some smoke, watching the thermals, and I realized, maybe being up here at 25 feet in my climber, that buck, may already have my scent......

By sitting on the ground, he may not pick me up so fast, if and when he comes thru..........

No I did not get him, but I have taken others.... maybe I think too much, ha ha ha..........

JayB. Yea. Lol

"Something I don't believe in is luck. It is all about skill".

In a word, BS!

My brother walked up on a 10 point buck during shotgun season years ago that was sound asleep. At the time he killed it it scored 10th largest in state.

He crunched through the snow to within 40 yards before he saw it lying there.

I guess you could argue that he was skilled enough to recognize it was a deer.

Reality is luck plays a role in every hunt you go on.

you are correct JusPassin. Lots of guys try to kid themselves that it is all skill when hunting on the ground. Most are afraid of heights or are too big to climb. They won't admit it. I hunt from ground and a tree but these WV whitetails are difficult to walk up on. Just too many people shooting at them. Now I think it is great you guys kill from the ground but I do better in a treestand even if it is only 10-12 ft high because I am still and not alerting all the deer. I go to kill deer. I know that is bad but that is just me. I eat 9-10 deer a year so I need to get on em . LOL.

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