Lotsa folks kill deer from the ground without a blind.

Sit on a bucket downwind of the trail and in between some trees.


Treestand gives you more visability and other advantages.

 

Yes...........you will have to be extra cautious when drawing back, you can always build a blind with old deadfall, branches or whatever there is where you hunt. Pay close attention to wind direction and scent control.

 

Do it several times a year. Pretty much every animal taken is done this way. It can be tuff, but nature porvides lots of cover to use and be creative with. Takes some practice, but its worth it.

Jason.

 

I stalk all the time and have reasonable success. It is not public land, but it is pretty pressured. I don't know what region you are from, but down here stalking the edges of heavy cover with the wind in your favor is fairly productive if done correctly. Get some good binoculars and learn to move v-e-r-y slow. Do not get in a hurry, the real secret is not to sneak up on the deer, but to spot them first and let them move to you or intercept them further along their course. My success sky rocketed when I started using Ghillie suits and it still amazes me how I seem to become part of the woods. I have birds land on me all the time and have had squirrels so close I could have touched them. It is not the most productive, however, it is my favorite type of hunting.

 

Thanks for the replies so far guys, this is encouraging. I'm going to be hunting either Loggy Bayou or Bodcau out here in NW Louisiana. I'm going to go this week and get an idea of where the hunters are setting up so maybe I can find a place where they'll pressure the deer towards me. I have no reservations about getting pretty deep in the woods if I need to. Loggy Bayou seems to have good water sources that are fairly deep in the WMA.

 

I guess I'm gonna practice shooting from a bucket as well.

 

I would like to say that I am also a new hunter for the first time in my life and came here asking the same question. I have only hunted pheasant until now. A friend gave me his bow because his wife bought him a new one for christmas last year. I do not have a blind but did pick up a ghillie suit. I would like to thank you all who replied to kernel as well. I am in Illinois and got into the drawing at my club and was lucky enough to get a spot. Going to give this a serious try but was hoping to save as much money as I could getting started in case it just wasn't for me. Have always been more of a bass fisherman but I am trying lots of new things as I grow older due to the fact I recently got much better from a very serious illness and want to experience everything I can since I am already on borrowed time so to speak..lol.. Can't wait to get out there in my suit and give it a try.. Thanks again and by the way. Any more tips anyone has will be greatly appreciated since I am a major green horn at this.

 

Yes it is! I do it all the time on public land. Work the wind and keep it in your favor. This means that you can't just pull up to the same spot every time. I usually check the wind and then hunt from that direction into the wind. If your not going to spot and stalk, then build yourself a ground blind out of the materials lying around. Check your state laws and make sure that it alright to cut any trees before you do it. There are some public lands where you aren't suppose to cut any trees and always keep the wind in your favor when you're setting up. It should work fine. It will take some time to learn as you go, so don't get discouraged if you get busted when drawing or adjusting for the shot. Goodluck

 

I have before and it is a lot of fun and is quite a rush. Like others have said, be careful when drawing back and play the wind. There are some products that are in the $15 range that are burlap or run and gun blind material that you can hang up on tree limbs and allow you to cover yourself.


Good luck my friend.

 

Might want to check out my "Still Hunting" thread.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1543695

 

I killed most of all my deer this way. Very rarely am I setting still when I shoot one. I have done it with a bow on private land, and I have done it with a rifle everywhere. Its definitly a thrill either way but especially with a bow

 

When stalking, what kind call works best in each situation, if any? I read that when tracking prints you should call every so often to see if you can get a reply and then wait for them to come to you once you do. Also, what are some absolute necessities that I may need to carry with me? Thanks for all the replies so far, this has all been very encouraging. I just need to make sure I think of everything before I head out this weekend.

 

Binoculars are a must, I generally go silent, but always have a grunt tube handy, some times I'll grunt if I step on a loud twig. As far as tracking prints I wouldn't pay too much attention to that where you are, use them as an indication of heavy use areas, or travel routes. I only actively track big prints in a good stiff snow, in wet areas it is almost impossible to tell track age. The point I'm getting at is your not going to see the deer if your staring at the mud all day.

 

Your doing it the most challenging way. Move slowly and hunt with your eyes more than your feet. I'm usually on the ground in a heavy wind still hunting into the wind. You can beat the deers ears and nose but still have to see them first!

 

Defiantly possible. Killedmy first deer with a bow that way. Be sure to play the wind and conceal yourself with the surroundings the best you can. I have used bushes and other brush before. May want to practice from your knees and from a seated position. Good luck

 

Those ghost blinds are supposed to be great for hunting on the ground. Sportsmansguide sells one that looks and works the same as the ghost blind for about $70. But, hunting from the ground can be very rewarding.

 

You don't have to spend a lot of money to take deer in the woods. I would just take some fallen tree branches and make some kind of cover for myself. Have fun.

 

I do it every year on some of the hardest hunted public land in the country. Portable blinds rarely work on the heavily pressured deer here, as they spot them no matter how brushed in. I use natural blow-downs and hunt the wind religiously. My ASAT 3D Leafy suit is my most important accessory when ground hunting. Hunting the at eye level is challenging and quite the rush.

 

I use turkey blinds (telescoping), but not as often as I hunt without them. Just sit still. It is nice to be able to adapt to changing situations when needed without allot of fuss and gear to worry about.

 

On the ground

I have found that a ghillie suit is the best answer for ground hunting; one will never know the advantage until they try one; all of my kills come from hunting on the ground and I do not own a ground blind. those ghillies are the best known answer to your question; try one and you will soon agree.

 

http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...cgi?i=434133&pdesc=Gorilla_Gear_Adjustable_Height_Blind&aID=503AL1&merchID=4006

Best $20 you'll spend...weighs nothing and you can just stick it in your waist line while walking. Be sure you have your arrow and not just your sight above the top when you shoot :wink:

 

Yeah I've been thinking of setting one of those up as an alternative to my stand when i don't have much time. I ended up buying an olman a couple of weeks ago.

 

I do it all the time. I don't EVER get into a stand. I find that it is more rewarding taking an animal that you first spotted, stalked, and then shot.

 

I hunt probably 75% of the time from the ground without a blind. I simply have a fold up stool and pick my spot. I dont hide behind anything. I make sure I fave a good backdrop to breakup my outline. I have killed more deer off the ground this way than in a stand. In fact tonight I was sitting against a big cabbage palm. Deer should have been coming on the trail about 15yds in front of me. At about 10 mins before legal I heard something coming to my left. I was in a 30yd wide pinch point with water on both sides of it. I had a doe pop out of the palmettos to my left and walk literally 18 inches from me. I could have petted her. I thought for sure she would bust me. I had the thermocell going, my pack laying next to me. She ended up just walking right in front of me and making her way through the woods. I have had deer at 5yds before but not this fricken close. Was definately one of my favorite hunts. I will also add that when a deer comes close to you, obviously its tough to draw. In the past I have went ahead and drawn my bow knowing it was gonna spook them, and 9 times out of 10 they will spook about 25yds and stop broadside to see what the heck I am and ny that time I have settled a pin on them and take the shot. Give it a try and like posted above it is such a rush.

 

During the rut the deer are moving and not paying attention. My son shot his first buck on the ground at 40 yds...scored at 170.

 

I read that the Indians actually used to hunt that way....without blinds or climbers. Just kidd'n around. Tim

 

shot a doe at 4 yards on the ground while sitting behinda big hemlock. one of my most exciting hunts ever