Ground hunting versus tree stands

[cduke69]

I have about 7-8 ladder stands/ 1-loggy Bayou? (spelling) climber and 5 ground blinds. But out of the them I've shot more deer from stalking and setting on the ground then all of them combined. something about spot and stalk that I love, you do have to have a larger piece of property I think to be successful at it, but something so natural about sneaking up on game. I also feel more of an accomplished hunter because I've been successful at do it. Anyway I thought it would be an interesting Thread!!

[THE DEER HUNTER]

I have always stuck to the trees. Never done much hunting on the ground, at least for deer.

[BuckMaster]

I kind of know what you are talking about. I mostly hunt from a tree stand but have always been drawn to wanting to spot and stalk. The only problem is that I don't think I am THAT patient. I have tried it a few times and have actually taken a nice buck this way, but I find it a VERY hard thing to do. With me it really starts around the end of shotgun season when I haven't seen much from my stand. I just want to start walking around to FIND the damn deer. I would love to do this with a bow one day!!

Do you have any tips on spot stalking you could share?

[powdernut]

Do both, but stalking is kind of fun seems more challenging then just sitting and waiting at times you almost feel like the hunted not the hunter.

[Hardcorehunter]

I mostly hunt from a tree for deer but have stalked them several times. I am never still enough or quiet enough. Even my slow stalking ends up jumping deer. I do think that it is a great accomplishment to be able to successfully stalk a deer. I'll stick to treestand hunting for a while longer.

[nybuckstalker]

I bow hunt almost primarily from a stand. When I lived in NY I would occasionally stalk if conditions were right but find the terrain on the Eastern Shore to be too thick for good bow shots when on the ground. Now I think about it, same goes for gun hunting. If I hadn't killed a deer by noon in NY, I walked. I was always the youngest by far out of our camp and could cover the steep ravines and streams. I filled most of my doe tags walking and stalking. I like taking them from the air the most though.

[05wrangler]

I mainly hunt out of a tree, but lately have been on the ground. Just sitting though, no stalking. I'd give myself away stalking, LOL.

[Huntin'Fever]

I try stalking after a rain and most times I jump them up. But, by the time I get my gun up they are like 30 to 40 yards away in a full run. I've only killed on this way which makes me 1 for 3. Most other times I don't even get a shot off. The only other deer that I've killed stalking actually came up walking to me. I was in between stops - walk....stand...walk... stand....walk....stand. Since the area was thick with brush and had cut over timber, the doe was at 25 yards before I saw/heard her. The tough part was actually getting my gun up. I had to be really patient (and thankful that the wind was in my favor). As you can imagine, I had plenty of range with my muzzeloader. Ha!!

Tips: after a rain with a slight wind is the best condition. If it's too windy or full out raining, I find it harder to pick up deer movement. I'm always mindful of the wind. I usually walk into it although coming in from the side also works if it helps with crossing terrain.

I couldn't imagine getting a deer with a bow stalking (although the one instance when the doe walked up on me would have been a good chance). How about stalking a turkey with a bow....hahaha...rrrriiight!

[somdmusician]

I have 2 ladder stands and one hang-on.

Most of my deer have been taken while sitting on my trusty old black milk crate... LOL!

I tell everyone, "The stands are just deterrents to lead the deer to believe that I am sitting in the trees".

[somdmusician]

admin said:

I kind of know what you are talking about. I mostly hunt from a tree stand but have always been drawn to wanting to spot and stalk. The only problem is that I don't think I am THAT patient. I have tried it a few times and have actually taken a nice buck this way, but I find it a VERY hard thing to do. With me it really starts around the end of shotgun season when I haven't seen much from my stand. I just want to start walking around to FIND the damn deer. I would love to do this with a bow one day!!

Do you have any tips on spot stalking you could share?

I took a buck 3 years ago while setting on the old black milk crate, I was actually hunting tree rat that day, but, the opportunity presented itself and I was kinda amazed.

Was this with a bow? Yes, it was in fact, And believe me, hunting deer on the ground with a bow is not all that hard, you just have to be a step ahead and have already drawn the bow before they 'round the beech tree. Knowing the expected "route de travel" helps well too.

Now, go shoot some tree rats with the bow and see what happens.

You know it always works, you see the big boy just out of reach on bow day, and he's nowhere to be seen on gun day. Or if it's tree rat season and you have a .22, here comes Bubba Buck, right? well, this tactic will throw the deer off completely.

You have to understand the theory here, deer are setting back in the woods watching what you're doing, if they see you shooting the tree rats, it puts them at ease.