From: warden415
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Date: 08-Nov-18 |
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Obviously I know guys can and do harvest deer this way. My question, a serious one, for the guys that have treestand hunted and now groundhunt. Are you able to have the same success on the ground seats vs past success in treestands? Are you able to get deer as close , do a lot of deer detect you on draw? Shot angle would be a big asset but I am fearful to gibe it am honest shot do to some of these concerns. Opinions welcomed
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From: warden415
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Date: 08-Nov-18 |
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I guess another question/concern would be shooting a 62-64” bow without hitting lower limb on the ground??
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From: dean
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Date: 08-Nov-18 |
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If you can't cant a longer bow, you must either stand to shoot or sit higher. Don't look 'em in the eye. Deer can detect very minor movements, so for myself, I find that when it time to shoot, get on with it.
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From: BOHO
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Date: 08-Nov-18 |
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Less success on the ground for sure but I normally still do it. One reason it’s safer. Two is no harness and climbing stand or sticks so it’s much easier. Three is it’s a lot more fun. Nothing like being on the same level as the game your hunting. Also much easier to change set ups if the wind shifts or your spot just isn’t what you thought
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From: Elkpacker1
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I have killed some nice whitetails back east and elk out west along with some blacktailes. Just my luck but never killed anything out of a tree stand. Seen alot and missed a few. Always killed the on the ground. Maybey I have no patience and a good sniking around kind of guy
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From: deerhunt51
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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2X what bluesman said. Sent often blows over deer from a tree stand, BIG advantage.
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From: dean
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Cedar shrubs are a ground hunter's friend.
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From: Geezer
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I climbed trees for years, but no more. Too much hassle and set up time, too dangerous, too restrictive. I have given up the advantages like deer don't usually look up even when you draw, better view, closer shots, and the wind advantage. . I've taken more than my share. I don't hunt with receurves anymore due to canting restrictions. We can "aim" and shoot a longbow from any now position even completely horizontal. My favorite places are any spots with foliage behind me seated in a low folding stool. When I want to move, just fold it and put the strap across your shoulder, and away you go with your seat and whatever much and supplies you carry tucked away in the stool's pouch. It's true for me that I don't get as many shots as I would in a tree, but I'm in the woods with a longbow.
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From: Tom McCool
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I find tree stand hunting gives me more opportunities and is a bit easier to get a good shot on a nice buck. But most of my hunting is still from the ground. I gladly give up the tree stand advantage to hunt from the ground. Less kills more fun. :)
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From: hawkeye in PA
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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My kill ratio has went down with out a doubt. My satisfaction level has went up. Simply enjoy the added challenge and not packing a treestand. That was hard on shoulder/neck arthritis. My last buck was at nine paces and my biggest bucks have came from still hunting. As far as the wind/scent I've had deer almost sniff me for confirmation of danger. My clothing is mostly wool or well washed military for still hunting. If I'm stationary I'll slip on the leafy jacket. Almost always wear a leafy face mask. If I had to have the venison or starve I'd still be in a tree, but I'm no longer obsessed with a kill but enjoying the hunt and God's creation.
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From: Nemophilist
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I hunt from both treestands and the ground. Which way I decide to hunt depends on weather, wind direction, terrain, vegetation, and where the best deer sign is. They both have their benefits and disadvantages. I've hunted and killed whitetail deer, elk, wild hogs, turkeys, muledeer, and some small game from the ground with my bow. I've killed whitetail deer and black bears from treestands. I like to hunt both ways and keeping my options open. Here is a picture I took of a doe at 18 yards from the ground. As far as success rate where I hunt deer in the urban areas around Pittsburgh and because most of where I hunt has thick vegetation where twenty yards is a long shot I would have to lean more to using a treestand.
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From: Live2hunt
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I do both now depending on the spot I sit. I like being able to see out and down from the treestand, you can get ready better for the shot, and yes your less apt to be seen. I do like sitting on the ground because it is less hassle and safer. But, I have yet to not be busted sitting on the ground bow hunting. It seems I can be brushed in to the point I'm not sure I can get a shot off and they still manage to peg me. It is a tuff game on the ground with a whitetail close.
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From: timex
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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90% of my bowhunting is from trees now but when I was younger I'd leave the truck in the dark & get back in the dark & know telling where I'd end up on the mountain & killed a lot of deer doing it. to this day I do a lot of sneekin - scouting especially on a new piece of property however when I find good sign I'm always looking for a suitable tree for my climber
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From: stickhunter
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Well if you are talking about stationary hunting from the ground vs treestand then I would stick with the elevated stand. I do both depending on the location and time of year. My biggest reason for staying on the ground is mobility especially during the rut. Because it is happening somewhere every day and you need to find out where. I've had good bucks follow a doe 5 yards past me when the buck clearly was aware of my presence but just didn't care because that's where the unaware doe was headed.
Have some fun with it. If you don't have a high priority to kill s deer than it can bring back that feeling you had when you first started bowhunting. It's a learning process but worth it when it all comes together.
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From: Supernaut
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I've killed from the ground and the tree over the years. This is my first year hunting trad and was fortunate enough to kill a 10 point from a tree (about 15 feet up). The biggest thing I noticed when I switched from compound was how imperative it was for me to practice from the ground and at elevation similar to what I was going to be hunting. I always practiced elevated with my compound as well but not nearly as much as I have with my recurve. I would shoot 10-12 arrows from the tree and then 10-12 from the ground to train my brain. It took awhile.
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From: 1/2miledrag
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I switched to ground hunting this year. Sold my climber. Was sick and tired of all the gear and wanted simplicity. Ive hunted on the ground enough over the years to know what i was getting into.
On the ground you have to be extremely vigilant about wind direction and your own movement. Because you are not elevated, seeing deer well in advance is much harder than in a tree, and they may well see you first. Being at their level reduces your ability to move and get into the best position for a shot. Practicing while seated with the bow in different positions is imperative.
That said, i am having a riot hunting from the ground! Im not locked into going where a treestand is in place or have to lug one around, etc. i carry my Waldrop on my back and often find a place to set up on the fly. It also extends my hunt for the last precious 15 minutes before dark, because i refused o decend in the dark so i lost that time.
Yesterday was my first golden chance. A buck at 12 yards, broadside, with nothing in between us (no cover in front of me) and only 4pm so lots of light. Since he was close and in front of me, i could not move so had to draw across my body. Shot right below his heart. Clean miss. What a thrill!! I will never forget that hunt. Getting drawn on a whitetail under 15 yards, when it is dead calm, no wind, and no cover is hard to pull off.
So, it is harder and more challenging and your success rate may go down, but worth it in my opinion.
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From: N. Y. Yankee
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I have had many more encounters with deer on the ground than in a tree. I don't see many deer at all up in trees.
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From: Mike Burch
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I love deer meat, so I’m in a tree. For me, getting deer in close from the ground isn’t the issue, getting in position, drawing, and getting the shot off without getting busted, is the problem. I have done it, but I’m more successful in a tree.
I’m not a good enough shot to take 25+ yard shots, which would make it easier to pull off for me. I’m more of a 10-15 yard shot hunter, and it works better from a tree for me. ...but I would love to only ground hunt, would be nice not to haul a tree stand around!
Mike
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From: Bentstick81
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I quit treestands. I bought a tree seat earlier this year from Rural King. Pretty well known treestand company. I was putting the support brace under the seat that has a welded bracket with two holes on each side. I grabbed it with my hands and was having to use a little force with my hands to get the seat bracket in position when all of a sudden i heard a medium pitched pop. I got to looking at the bracket and one of the welds came loose. It looked like the weld didn't penetrate the seat. I really hope that this Company uses higher welding requirements on their climbing stands than they do with tree seats. Be sure to visually check your treestands occasionally during hunting season, and wear safety harnesses.
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From: chazz847
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I have hunted from the ground now for 3 years. I have taken 3 doe's and missed a big 12 point when I went itch my nose. He caught my movement and that was it. Wind direction and movement are top concerns. I like the challenge of getting up close and personal.
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Tree stands make it easier to kill game. You need to decide what your main desire is..to kill game or to not always kill game but still enjoy a new challenge. Most people hunt from stands because that's how they learned to do it. Prior to commercial stands (about 1972) everyone had to hunt from the ground or shinny up a tree and stand on a limb.
It's pretty much about confidence and overcoming the idea that the kill is the ultimate part of a hunt. You can always do some ground hunts and still use your stands. I hear all the time on here that people like traditiona because it's more challenging, but they won't give up their tree stands, even to try still-hunting.
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From: oscar11
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I do good on the ground. I only sat a tree stand once this year. I like hunting the edges of cornfields that border some natural habitat like a cat-tail slough. I use a 5 gallon bucket as a seat, move 10 or 15 rows set up the the bucket and sit from 20 to 30 minutes and move again. The last 45 minutes of shooting time I stick to a spot unless I'm just not feeling it. I shot a large doe that had a forky with her at 37 paces last week. The doe was larger than the fork horn.
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Oh, and no...I used to kill deer every year from a tree stand. Now it's about one deer every three years on average. But I decided that I needed to personally challenge myself. Not for everyone, and we have to admit that when we were younger we took to the tree stand because it made that 'deer taking' much more reliable. You don't have to do it cold turkey.
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From: col buca
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Went from tree stands to ground several yrs ago and have never looked back . Last year missed the biggest buck of my life on the last day of the season and was more excited about that hunt tha many that were successful . Iv,e taken many deer both ways but at 69 I'm more comfortable on the ground and feel no real disadvantage.To each his own , good luck to all.
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From: lv2bohunt
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I hunt both from the ground and from tree stands. I am successful both ways. I let deer movement, topography etc dictate how I hunt. I have found that hunting both ways regularly evens my success rate between the two.
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From: Jim
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I hunt both ways successfully and can tell you that you will have more success from a tree than from the ground. I build my ground blinds from natural cover. Sometimes you just can't find the right tree, so I build a blind. It's all fun to me!
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From: Bjrogg
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I'm pretty new to this type of hunting, but not hunting in general. I've only been hunting for three seasons with bow. I always wanted to but busy time of year for me. Three years ago I started making selfbows and just had to try hunting with one. I practiced hard, got some great advice from others and put up several tree stands and brush blinds.
I like the view from tree. It's easier to spot them before they spot you. It's easier to get a undetected draw and shot. It's much easier with multiple deer to watch or shoot undetected. Having said all that, personally for myself I'm not as comfortable shooting from a tree. I find it a bit awkward. The angle is also a bit poorer. I haven't practiced as much and the stands I did have had small platforms more suited to gun or crossbow it seems. I did get two new ladder stands this year. I'm much more comfortable shooting from these. I can turn myself on the platform and shoot to my right if I have to. I set one up behind my house to practice from. Another thing is that your stuck there. You can't sneak to a better spot. You also need a tree.
From the ground I feel more comfortable shooting. I'm more mobile and can set up almost anywhere. I don't have to worry about falling asleep and not waking up on the ground. Sometimes I change spots in the middle of a Hunt sneaking to a different spot. The wind is more of a problem. Seeing deer before they see you is more of a problem. You need to stay very still and it's harder to draw undetected. Getting close isn't the problem. I've been less than five yards but unable to draw. That's awesome feeling though and like said I felt like it was one of my favorite hunts.
I hunt both and enjoy both. So far I've taken two bucks in three seasons with my selfbows. Both have been from the ground. I had lots of opportunities from tree. I missed two and passed on a bunch more. I need to practice more from tree. I need to get more comfortable and confident. I think when that happens it'll probably be the easier hunt. But I'll still do both
Bjrogg
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From: DarrinG
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Id say a little research and you'll find that hunting elevated from a stand in a tree (whether sitting up in a nice fork or some limbs laid across a fork for a "platform") was quite a "traditional" method of hunting in forested areas for many, many years before a commercial tree stand ever came along.
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From: hawkeye in PA
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Good point DG you can still see remnants of the 2x4's in the PA woods and forests.
Sneak hunting this morning in a pretty good rain when I spotted horns behind a log. Sneaked in for a shot, at 50 feet I'm ready... kept getting closer thinking maybe he's hurt. Then at 20 feet he busted out of there. Huge 4 point and not legal but sure was pure entertainment!
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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DarrinG, That is true; however, the commercial, portable stand took trees that we couldn't climb and utilized them. When you're looking for a tree to 'shinny up', you damn well need limbs closer to the ground to even get in one. It wasn't always possible to find one near a trail you wanted to hunt. It was a hundred times better when the commercial, climbing stands hit the market.
It only takes looking at overall success rates. The commercial tree stand was the number one thing that led to the higher success rates we see today. Not bows, not strings or arrows. Tree stands.
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From: N. Y. Yankee
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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If i wanted "easy", I'd just use a rifle.
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From: Nemophilist
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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N.Y. If you want it easier hunt with a rifle out of a treestand. "LOL"
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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The question was about success...ground versus tree stands, and that should be obvious. Although I know some folks who take deer every year from the ground...I'm not one of them. It's a choice, nothing more and nothing less, but to hunt from the ground with a bow you should expect to be caught more than you would twenty feet in the air.
These threads always degenerate into my way is better than yours, so I'll not post again. Either way has worked for eons...choose what you like, there's no law against doing both..even on the same day.
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From: Sam Dunham
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I have more kills in a tree, any experienced bowhunter already knows that and does not have to ask. No offense, but true. The only exception is Elk and Mulie hunting but in the midwest and eastern hardwoods everybody knows that and even in some parts of the west and I will say that Elk hunting in the Rockies is often overlooked to goe up a tree at a wallow and wait em out in dry conditions especially.
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From: Randy Green
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Certain locations mostly due to lack of decent trees require ground hunting. Having dry crunchy so you can get ready helps. Randomly plopping down against a tree is stupid. Put some thought into it by making natural blinds with material behind as well as in front in the spring. If you can get away with drawing on a turkey outa it you have a good blind for deer
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From: ridgerunner
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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ghillie suit or leafy wear.
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From: RonG
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I have never hunted in a tree, like N.Y. Yankee stated, not too many deer in a tree.
It all depends on were you are, here in Florida in my area, (swampy) you are better off on the ground, not too many trees grow in wet marsh, mostly weed type bushes, plenty of cover.
Florida being flat, we always have a breeze from the north west in the winter, not a problem with being detected by scent. Plus you can get a lot closer to the deer on the ground than you can in a tree, plus you can see them coming from a long way off.
So in conclusion you get more anything on the ground here than in a tree. PS: the only way to get one from a tree is bait all year long. Might as well pay and go shoot one in a pen.
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From: Tom McCool
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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When I do use my climber it's not just go up any old tree. There is a lot of scouting, planing and understanding deer habits. Hunting skills are important to be successful taking deer either way.
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From: dean
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I failed to answer the original question. I have sat many many hours in tree stands. I have had many many deer come by on the wrong side, Iowa deer don't seem to how to read traffic signs. i have let many deer walk past me and I failed to shoot. Doe tags I can thank one Sabor climbing tree stand, 'the widow maker', for gettinguall of my deer tags failed in the first three weeks of three seasons in a row. I never shot at deer from it. It was over a mile from where I parked. The first year, i went way up the tree. The second year, I just used it as comfortable place to sit until it was time to sneak back to my car. I got all of those deer either sneaky to or away from that climber. I have been on the ground all but one week since then. I set up the widow maker, used double nuts instead of the wing nuts. I moved it one day. Later, a fat guy with a fat red headed son came crawling up the steep ravine, walked to where my tree stand used to be with a vice grip in one hand and a present wrench in the other. I did NOT shoot him with an HTM blunt. Two days later i went into town for lunch, when I came back out the seat of the climber was gone and my safety harness was cut into pieces. If I ever catch him using it, I hope that he is comfortable, because he going be sitting on it for a very long time. I have shot 48 deer in Iowa, I got them all from the ground, I am taking sitting more seriously the last few years, my back is not so good. I find myself still hunting less and sitting more.
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From: sir misalots
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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ive ground hunted for a while now I think Id be more productive in a tree but Ive never felt comfortable in one. So Ill hunt on the ground.
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From: Jeffhalfrack
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Both for me ,,mostly ground ,now been in transition for hunting spots ,,never enough time to scout proper ,leafy suit and a niffty t seat =meat ,, I remember an old magazine story about a bow hunter that carried a step ladder and hunted from it any one recall that story lol jeffw
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From: warden415
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I personally have never hunted deer from the ground except when we would put on deer drives with bows. I have killed several that way but obviously the deer were not coming in on their own free will, they were being pushed and paying more attention to what was behind them pushing. I also remember killing 2 deer while walking into or out of my stand. But again these were young deer. Other than that I have always used a treestand . I realize or believe stand hunting will be more successful but I was just asking how much more successful based on people that have tried both ways? There is more to the hunt than the kill but to be honest, that IS why we , or atleast I am out there.! I have a hammock seat and like it for turkey gun hunting and gun deer but not sure how effective it would be with a longbow
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From: Live2Hunt
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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RonG, I strongly disagree with your baiting comment, I've shot a lot of deer from a tree and do not bait. Dean, Id love to hear your tactics on ground hunting/spot and stalk deer with a bow. Its a bucket list thing for me.
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From: Stumpkiller
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I have done and still do both. When I started bowhunting I set myself a goal that I would take a deer from the ground, and it took five seasons. I used to hunt land owned by a lumber company and tree stands were forbidden. So I made myself a Torges Tree Seat and would sit at ground level. This is also a pretty good system.
Now I use a tree stand (I own my own hunting property) and set three hours at sunrise and three hours at sunset. In between I still-hunt.
I have to say a tree stand makes it very much easier to draw unnoticed. I still get an occasional deer on the ground, but most are at sunset from the stand.
The stand makes it easier, but a deer you have closed in on and harvested on the ground is a satisfaction far beyond that . . . still pretty satisfying feeling!
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From: Woods Walker
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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I've been ground hunting now for about 15 years. Most of that is stillhunting and/or stillhunting between makeshift ground blinds I've prepared head of time.
I see and get close to just as many deer as I did in the treestands, and under some conditions even MORE (specifically during high winds).The difference is getting a good clean shot off. That is much less on the ground because I don't have the advantage of cleared shooting lanes, and my vision is more limited on the ground so I can't prepare as far ahead for the shot. The other drawback is that it is harder to make the draw without being detected, although the more I do it the better I get at timing the shot when the deer's head is turned/otherwise occupied, or is stepping behind a tree.
The best things about hunting this way is the FREEDOM of being able to adjust as the conditions/sightings change and to be free from hauling around all the "impedimenta". Finally, for me the challenge of this kind of hunting makes it far more enjoyable than sitting in a tree.
Treestand hunting is a great way to hunt, and I killed a ton of deer from them and LEARNED what I had to know about them before I could successfully hunt on the ground.
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From: dean
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Date: 09-Nov-18 |
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Where I still hunt is critical for me. I stay away from mature woods. Hill sides with cedar shrub, creek bottom with thick tall weeds. Sitting on one hill watching an opposite hole with cedars is always fun in the mornings, deer around here like to bed down on them. There is a tremendous amount of fun and luck in that kind of spot and stalk. Many times, I see deer coming or near by close enough to call, I hunker down and play them a little tune. sometimes it works, last week, I must have been in the wrong key. One little chromatic phrase and the buck was in high gear and gone.
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From: ground hunter
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Date: 10-Nov-18 |
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I usually am on the ground all the time, but there are times I do sit, depending on the deer movement, and of course weather, etc
Now during the rut, I am very aggressive. I do not screw around and stalk etc. I cover a lot of ground, since I hunt big country, where the deer are only in certain spots. Sure I spook some deer, but I see, a whole lot more, find better sign, and get more chances, than if I was sitting all day,,,,,,
watch Whitetail Andrenilin, dvds, these boys might shoot compounds, but they are ground hunting fools on public land, I have talked to them, they do not hunt stands much, and they are very young
example, yesterday, I covered a lot of ground, fairly fast, and than BAM, jumped 3 does. because I do walk fast, I also walk quiet, because I have the right boots, and am not carrying a pack of junk with me all day........ I believe in the "Benoit" theory, carry a brownie in the pocket a knife and get going"
I circled them does, and sure enough, here they come, the shot was there, but the buck that followed them was just a little guy, but lots of fun
I love blow downs, and in the afternoon, I gave a hunter a scare, as he walked within 10 feet of me. No words were said, he just waved. and moved on and around. I sat quiet, and an hour later, a deer came by, buy no shot........
last week in bluff country, even with the dates, no movement, and my friends sat all day, every day..... However it is now on, so I will sit, in stands this week, since we have the bucks pegged.......
But I have been told, you can not kill big bucks on the ground lol,,,,,, my biggest on public land was 152, yeah you can
good luck to all and be safe out there
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From: oldbow
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Date: 11-Nov-18 |
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I had the biggest buck I have ever seen from a treestand walk up to ten steps of me yesterday..He's still walking as far as I know..Tree stands don't gurantee you a SHOT or a kill..I would rather hunt on the ground by so enjoy just sitting on a board and watching nature undisturbed from above..Don't use these metal stands, only boards like I have used for over 50 years now. That buck heard my heart pounding in my chest or else he would not have ran off..
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