I have taken game from the ground for years but mostly when time or lack of trees didn't allow for a tree stand. I have used various chairs or simply sat on the ground or a pad. But my tree climbing days are over, just no arguing about it anymore.

So, the ground it is. I have set up several ground stands using old hang on stands just off the ground and using natural cover to hide in. But I still wanted to be mobile (yeah, a mobile cripple LOL). I have always like most of you, hunted the wind. This means that certain stands can be hunted only with certain winds.

Being more mobile means being able to adjust to situations and even move at a moment's need. I have slowly begun to make the needed changes in what I have and use towards this purpose.

The major changes that will make a huge improvement for my success. First one is the Gillie top with the hood to really hide my form. This by itself was a game changer but that didn't help me in being more mobile with my disability. +

So the search for a better seat began. Now I still have a few seats that I used for turkey hunting years ago but now they are useless for me. I no longer can sit down low and struggle to get out of chairs where you sink in. Even the kitchen chairs give my lower back fits so I need a slightly taller seat.

Of course I looked at the various seats that so many are using but they all had something that I didn't like. Several were very expensive for me besides the fact that I am a large man. So, being one to have made my own stuff for years, I began going thru the existing chairs and stools hidden away in storage in the garage and the old shop.

I try to be flexible in my mind as I look something in terms of using or modifying. So I went thru various folding and collapsing chairs but they were already shorter than what I was wanting. I had even considered a hang on seat but there is not always a good tree for one.

And then I found it, actually two of them. In the past they were too tall for most of my needs but suddenly they really fit in. They were Game Winners Dove Stools. Lightweight, tall, folding and pretty comfortable. They even have crossbars in the front and the back to keep from sinking too deep. And the height was perfect for me. I can get very close to a tree or a stump/log whatever.

Now, at my lease, I can set up in places without any major changes for the wind or leaving a ton of scent. I can even store some things in the bottom of the seat. I can easily stand when I just have to and can set it up to my advantage for a better shot.

Now, I have added the heated vest to this to allow me even more comfort and therefore more hunting times. I am totally hooked on the Gillie suit and this dove stool for my needs. I still wear glasses and so try to be aware of them but now ground hunting seems so much more doable for me. I am an old disabled Vet that is still keeping on in spite of everything and life is good. Yeah, I am a very blessed man in so many ways. Jerry

the dove stool was purchased at Acadamy sporting goods years ago.

I bought a small stool and I also have one of the millennium seats that strap on to a tree. it is very comfortable and folds up. It only weights like 4 pounds.

If you haven't already at least try out a waldrop. Find someone nearby willing to let you try I know they are expensive but are a game changer for me and my brother.

You might see deer easier from a tree, but I think you can do much more on the ground. Especially with gadgets like this.

I was just thinking, I've got an old trailhawk climber that had a seat that you folded up against the tree and roped it off like with the old loc on stands. I could get a dove stool and rope it to a tree the same way and lean back against the tree, the front leg part of the stool might be off the ground but that wouldn't matter I don't think. That might work good. The trouble with ground seats here is on hillsides you're sitting at an angle downhill if you use one unless you're in the bottoms where it's flat.

tembo62, I have the same problem in most areas here, that was the main reason for using the hang on stands for a seat. but I do have enough more level places for the dove seat.

The millennium seat is just out of my ability these days. I would have to think that it would be pretty good if high enough for my knees

Sounds like you are getting a system worked out for you. That's what matters.

Hey tradslinger, you carry on any way you can. And thanks for doing just that. Enjoy life all around you. Good luck to you.

I am also an old disabled vet. We do what we have to do. I still hunt from trees, but safely. Can't walk too far but I don't need to. Blessed to keep going.

I am thinking about trying the common old metal folding chair like that Robert Carter YouTube guy uses sometimes. He just took an old Walmart metal folding chair and camo painted it. However, he hunts in Georga where it's fairly warm and that metal chair might get cold in cold weather and require a cushion added.

However, they are cheap, many already own a few. And if you have a place where you plan to hunt off and on, just leave it there at least for the season. If someone else steals it, you haven't lost much. I may plant one or two on my place and could even tie some brush to it, to break up my outline more. And you can probably dig down and level the legs on a hillside or uneven ground.

Might need to drill a few holes in them if it looks like water could stand in the seat.

I may try one this afternoon, as a matter of fact. The wind is blowing a bunch and I have a saddle I want to watch, but don't want to get in a tree.

I use a Niff-T-Seat I've had for years. Wife saw it in the garage and asked me,"How's your big a$$ and package deal with that?" It isn't my lounger,but works!

I walk slowly to hunt but have a small seat that straps to a tree the I carry strapped to me. If I find a spot that appeals to me to set up on then I use the seat. Comes in handy on a long day of hiking for a rest in a good looking spot.

Stretch.

Good hunting to you Tradslinger, I have just recently started using the Walkstool that my son bought me man I would never use any other small type seat anymore.

Google Walkstool and it will explain the various models. They're made in Sweden and are tough and quiet!Easily packable too.

Steve

Good hunting to you Tradslinger, I have just recently started using the Walkstool that my son bought me man I would never use any other small type seat anymore.

Google Walkstool and it will explain the various models. They're made in Sweden and are tough and quiet!Easily packable too.

Steve

Is that walkstool comfortable for long periods ?

wasn't for me hour to 1 1/2 was enough

Dave Waldrop pack seat works best for me over anything in the past (have the old original)

I have a number of ground seats and I use them but i've never killed an animal from one of them, except a small buck a couple of years ago who I shot with a rifle.

I'm interested in the seat that Dean Torgas used and I'm wondering if anyone makes and sells them?

I’ve killed a lot of deer off the ground using a little imagination and a folding hunting stool.

Tnx Andy man, I didn't think it could be, just wondered,ya never know, I can't be still,if I'm not comfortable

Tarpon, I had the same thought about a Torges seat. I made one a few years ago. They're not that hard to make. I'll see if I can find a link to post.

It has worked on every tree I ever put it on, until last week. I don't know what kind of tree it was, but the bark was more smooth and slippery than other trees in this area. Otherwise, you can set it at any height you want.

Waldrop seat is awesome! First year using it and it is the most comfortable seat I have. Can set up against a tree or free standing , super versatile. Not cheap but well worth the money and makes packing in extra clothing a snap.

I use a PacSeat but with high winds did some still hunting yesterday and came upon this set up on nature's balcony.

Here's a link to building a Torges Tree Seat. Not sure the link will work. You might have to copy/paste in your search engine.

http://www.bowyersedge.com/treeseat.html

If I just wanted to “hunt from the ground” meaning I wanted to sit and hunt I’d use a chair like the post just above and build a ground blind around it. Cheapest and longest comfort if you just want to sit and hunt. If I wanted to still hunt them any 3 legged stool or strap around a tree would work because you won’t be sitting for long at any one time.

Comfort is subjective for me the Walkstool is comfortable .

Old Waldrop pacseat

comfort is the key for me to sit very long. I've used the tri pole seats and they were just too short and did little for back.

Can’t beat the Waldrop. I still hunt out of trees to but a ghillie and a pac seat is with me every time I head to the woods. It’s so versatile and mobile. If I’m hunting out of a tree my pac seat and Ghillie are at the bottom of my tree. If I see a buck chasing a hot doe out of range I get down and move in to range of the trail they took, most of the time another buck will come through. Just pay close attention to the wind that’s so important especially on the ground.

Torges tree seat for me.

I will try the Torges tree seat as well

I did do what I said I might do and went to my shop and found an old brown folding metal chair. I drilled a few half inch holes in the seat where water would stand if wet, then I camo painted it with splotches of camo green and some flat black also, which worked good with the already brown chair.

I had a spot in mind for this late afternoon's hunt, special made for this type of hunting. This is a slow not real actively traveled spot judging by the deer tracks its a good saddle to watch at times, and I saw a good buck cross there only a couple of days before while driving my tractor back to the house after feeding cattle.

Anyway, at first, I set up close at first and also spotted another great spot for the chair but the wind was wrong for that spot and eventually I had to move farther away from my first setup today, because the wind swing from southeast at first to dead south an hour later and I had to move farther away.

But it was so easy to do, I moved in 3 minutes and was sitting again in a better spot to avoid getting winded. I left the chair there for now, because I intend to go back. I have another chair identical, so I think I will fix it up too.

The chair is fairly light and easy to carry, but I would want to just wander around, while packing it. It's more for hunting a spot that you have a general idea already of where you want to be. But then again, I never did like to carry much more then my bow, when actually wandering around.

but you found out a lot in doing this, you have options for sure

Tradslinger, very good post, thanks i enjoyed it.

Because you cannot sit low, I DO NOT recommend a pac seat for you. Although I like and use mine a ton (original model), I have arthritis in my hips and sometimes i feel it after a longer sit.

Good luck out there, sounds like youre making great adjustments to continue hunting.

I have a blind that I use a modified metal folding chair. I glue foam padding on it. I feel the angled backrest suits me better. not mobile but the blind is behind the house

I am in process of making a Torges seat from scraps. I do like options and being able to use existing trees is a bonus. Plus, I can make it as big as I want. I have a piece that is 3/4 of an inch thick (over kill for sure) that I intend to give me all of the seat that I want for comfort. And yes, I plan to cut out areas to cut down on weight and make easier for carrying.

The great thing about making it yourself, you can modify as much as you want to fit your needs. I will be using a cushion as well but even with this, I plan to have options. The piece of wood was a big 20" circle cut I guess for a sink. I have an adjustable strap(not a winch) to use to hold it to the tree. The principal of the Torges seat is the same as a climbing stand, grip and leverage. In fact, that is what I ended up using my old Baker tree stand for, a seat low to the ground. I gave it away years ago.

We had four of those stackable plastic lawn chairs that wouldn't sell at our last garage sale. I got the bright idea to camo spray paint them and set them in good spots in the woods behind the house. Most comfortable season I ever had! They even have arm rests.

I need to try a torges seat someday. But mainly use the Waldrop also when ground hunting.

NifTSeat

I don't think you want the lower Waldrop turkey seat that is mostly for shotgunners. They sell two heights. The older and taller model is comfortable for me with a couple of crushed vertebrae for long sits. I can set it up to shoot a 45 to 60 degree angle from the seat to my left side with a 68-inch longbow without any problems with clearance. Many folks like to drop to their knees to shoot, but that doesn't work so well for me. At the end of the day, it is whatever works for you and good luck.

I don't usually have a tree where I need it often enough to use a tree seat. I bought a folding tension chair a few years ago and cut the arms off. Very comfortable but they do weigh about 6 to 7 lbs. Several brands out there but Academy sells them. They sit up plenty high enough if you need a higher seat.

I usually leave it for the season in one of my natural blinds.

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