Any ground bowhunters here?

[Bowhunter57]

I've had a few injuries, as of late and it's put me on the ground and out of the trees for bowhunting. I may be healed up by mid-December, but until then it's ground hunting or stay home. I've killed a couple of deer on the ground, but prefer treestands.

Most of my ground hunting has been done from a blown down tree. I don't have a ground blind, but have considered getting one...a big one...one that a person could stand up inside.

Anyway...
Anyone here hunt from the ground?
Any suggestings...other than don't move much and scent control?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

 

[epe]

I have taken at least 4 bucks from the ground, and a doe. All from a ground blind. Most will tell you to brush em in, and wait a couple weeks, but I have killed em from blinds I just put out hours before.. I am anal about scent control. I also wear all black in the blind, with a dark face mask. I try to only open windows I will shoot out of, make my backdrop dark.....

 

[arjay]

I hunt from the ground with my bow a lot. I always set up with a good brush backdrop behind me and pick out some good shooting lanes and get comfortable. When you on the ground you have to keep movement to a minimal and wear good camo, the biggest distance ive found from hunting ground rather that a tree is thing happen quick from the ground be ready at all times! From a tree you can usually see them coming but on the ground you hear them and there on top of you before you know it and there might only be a few seconds of opportunity to make the kill, but its way more of a rush to take a deer at there level and much more rewarding. Enjoy it and don't get discouraged any way of hunting is better than work!
.

 

[Diane]

I agree with Arjay. When you are on the ground, you do not get much notice before the deer just suddenly appear, so you need to be ready at all times.

I use a ghillie suit when I am not in a blind. My best set up for ghillies seems to be with my back against a large tree. It seems to break up my outline better, although I have been known to sit up against brush. The brush scenario makes my back ache though!

As for blinds, we use the shoot through mesh.

I did tree stands my first couple of years of hunting, but now only hunt from the ground and all deer I've taken have been from ground level.

 

[Fullbore]

Yes , Ric and I have shot some deer from the ground over the years. We always used a large oak or beech tree for cover. Always down wind of a travel corridor, bedding area, pinch point or food source. Ground blinds weren't as popular back in the 80's, I dont even think they existed! Lol. Always remove the crunchy leaves from around your tree. Have a screw in step handy, for hanging your Nocked and loaded bow...Humting from the ground can be very productive and enjoyable. Now that we smoke up our clothes, I feel as though that it can be easier too stay scent controlled. I am really interested in those Hay Bale ground Blinds. They are large and roomy, and used in the right location, I believe you can seal some deals.lol. Good luck TOO you.

 

[Mike]

Ghillie suit for me too. Can't beat the up close encounters. I only hunt from the ground in areas where I don't have trees to sit in.

 

[arjay]

I hunt from the ground with my bow a lot. I always set up with a good brush backdrop behind me and pick out some good shooting lanes and get comfortable. When you on the ground you have to keep movement to a minimal and wear good camo, the biggest distance ive found from hunting ground rather that a tree is thing happen quick from the ground be ready at all times! From a tree you can usually see them coming but on the ground you hear them and there on top of you before you know it and there might only be a few seconds of opportunity to make the kill, but its way more of a rush to take a deer at there level and much more rewarding. Enjoy it and don't get discouraged any way of hunting is better than work!
.

 

[Big_Holla]

I often hunt from the ground, esp in new areas or if the wind isn't right for a stand location. I really do not care for pop-up ground blinds and prefer to get up against a big tree, blow-down or behind some good brush. When I bring one of the kids along the pop-ups are nice but if you don't leave them out for a while or have a good way of concealing them then they seem to get spotted easily and deer put their guards up.

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

I've been using my climber, my pop up blind & new for me this year is the Ghostblind. Maybe I'm just getting tired of having to suit up with my safety vest & lugging my climber around, but I've been enjoying being back on the ground as well. My popup has been in place for two years now & all sorts walk right by it. Deer won't even look at it anymore when I'm inside. When I use the Ghostblind ( & i'm not trying to pimp it ) it's just amazing how you disappear in plain sight for the most part. Once again, deer won't notice you & I have 'em walk by at 10 yards, so it's an exciting way to hunt. Anyway, at least there's options & as we all know, things can happen quickly.