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Post by dougedwards on Dec 21, 2009 17:28:35 GMT -5
I use to bow hunt from ground blinds when I was a youngster but I have only hunted from elevated stands in the last 20 years. When anyone says that they don't worry about the scent of their breath or clothes because they watch the wind I automatically assume that they hunt from the ground where you can move your stand position with the changing wind.
I was wondering how many of you routinely hunt from the ground and what method that you might use to do so? What do you use for cover? Do you sit or stand? Is there any opportunity for movement? Tell me how you guys do it.
Doug
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Post by killahog on Dec 21, 2009 22:53:32 GMT -5
Doug I mainly hunt with a summit self climber and can climb down and reposition my stand within 30 minutes. I always carry a pocket full of feathers and are constantly floating them watching them drift. I will only hunt from the ground when there is a stiff breeze and then it is usually only long enough for the deer to move out of sight so I can climb. I don't use sent of any kind. But I am considering trying skunk or mink sent.
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tslc
Forkhorn
Posts: 66
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Post by tslc on Dec 22, 2009 0:08:06 GMT -5
I've killed several deer from the ground setting a few rows into a corn field after breaking corn stalks off above the ear for shooting lanes. I have killed others in spots where they can't see you until their in shooting range and if your ready for them when they pop into sight you can get a shot at the first one or two that come into view most of the time before they spook.I try not to make eye contact and often use the top wheel of my bow to help cover one eye to break up my face. I try to draw on them when they are quartering away and grunt with my mouth to stop and turn them broadside for a shot. Some will spook when you draw on them and run but a a lot of deer, even old bucks, will often stop after going 10-15 yards and turn and look back.
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Post by sagittarius on Dec 23, 2009 0:04:11 GMT -5
Doug, For many years I have hunted from climbing or ladder stands. I prefer big comfortable ladder stands to all for convenience and comfort but became disillusioned with them when my favorite was stolen earlier this year.  Lately, I have been hunting part time in my (new for this season) Rhino labs XP-1 Blind and love it. Here's a link from AT with pics of my dealer's blind, (bowmanhunter) mine, and a few other lucky owners.  www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1057924&highlight=Rhino+Labs+XP-1 |
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Post by dougedwards on Dec 23, 2009 10:54:46 GMT -5
Do you shoot through the netting of the blind? Do you bring a chair to sit in? Can you see all around you? Is it easy to move the blind when the wind changes direction?
If hunting with no blind.....are you able to scratch your nose without feeling that something will spot you moving?
My problem with moving my climber as the wind changes applies to the first two hours of daylight and the last two hours of the daylight. I have to wonder if the sound and the visual of the movement is worth it when the wind changes direction. What do you guys think?
Doug
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Post by sagittarius on Dec 23, 2009 11:21:45 GMT -5
Doug, I don't shoot thru the netting if I can avoid it; too cheap to want to replace it. ;D I try to position it so I'm not silhouetted when I'm inside. I use a Double Bull chair and like it but some guys don't. See Rexxer's topic on hunting chairs. The blind is very easy to move and I don't feel like something will spot me while inside.  |
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Post by dougedwards on Dec 24, 2009 8:24:26 GMT -5
Doug, I don't shoot thru the netting if I can avoid it; too cheap to want to replace it. ;D I try to position it so I'm not silhouetted when I'm inside. I use a Double Bull chair and like it but some guys don't. See Rexxer's topic on hunting chairs. The blind is very easy to move and I don't feel like something will spot me while inside. Paul.......a couple of questions concerning shooting from a blind. I assume that you shoot while sitting in the chair. If this is the case do you find it difficult to position yourself and the chair for the best angle on a moving target? Do you practice while sitting in a chair? Doug |
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Post by sw on Dec 24, 2009 10:12:45 GMT -5
Doug,
I prefer the advantages of an elevated stand. Terrain greatly affects the need for such. I like to sit on ridges even when bow(now normally x-bow) during late fall/winter and especially gun hunting. I try to keep in mind the air goes up the hill in late morning and early afternoon and down the hill in early morning and late evening. My favorite is an elevated(6-10') platform with a blind on it. I have one that is cloth and about 5" square and 5" high. These seem to be very popular now as I see many advertized and in larger(Gander Mtn,etc) stores. I just have one of these but I love it - maybe another in the future.
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Post by dougedwards on Dec 24, 2009 20:00:07 GMT -5
I noticed after a recent snowfall that there were many deer tracks leading from a briery swamp to a small river which appears to be a crossing of sorts. I usually pass this area on my way to the back of this swamp but I seem to be seeing less bucks there than in previous years although I see does almost every sitting. I am thinking of setting up in this area near the deer tracks but there are no nearby trees suitable for a climber.
My choices are to carry treesteps and a lock-on or try to set up some sort of a blind. This is a military facility where you can't leave a treestand in the tree so I would be screwing in the treesteps and pulling up a lock on stand in the dark if I hunted the morning there. Then I would have to take everything down when I left. The cloth blind idea seems like a good one but I am not sure if I would have the patience to stay perfectly still for hours and I am not sure how well I would shoot my compound bow from a sitting position.
But I think I will prove that you can teach an old dog new tricks and try it just out of curiosity. The deer hunting season is almost over here in Virginia and I am already trying to pick up information that will help me for next year. Thanks guys for the input.
Doug
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Post by sagittarius on Dec 24, 2009 20:37:09 GMT -5
Paul.......a couple of questions concerning shooting from a blind. I assume that you shoot while sitting in the chair. If this is the case do you find it difficult to position yourself and the chair for the best angle on a moving target? Do you practice while sitting in a chair?
Doug[/quote]
Doug,
I position my blind where I shoot naturally to the left side with my compound.
If not, I will move out of my chair and shoot from one knee to the right.
Same deal with my Scorpyd crossbow except I can shoot either side from the chair with ease because the bow is totally ambidextrous and a breeze to shoot from either side.
I practice from a chair while shooting my compound but, with my crossbow, I shoot exclusively from a chair but practice both sides.
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Post by huntingmike on Jan 1, 2010 18:32:13 GMT -5
Doug,
Just got back from hunting.
I have used a dog house scent contain pop up blind for several years. Took three deer this year alone from it (including an eight point at 38 yards) with my Excalibur. I used to use my Matthews compound in it as well. I practiced shooting in a chair (with shooting sticks with my crossbow) as well as on my knees (before the knee replacement that has kept me from the trees). I always set it up with the wind in my favor just in case scent leaked from the open window. I can shoot through the net but usually do not. For my scent control I use the charcoal head cover to breath through and spray scent killers for my clothing. I think the best thing I do is use a spray bottle of cedar oil to spray around the openings of the blind windows. I have used this stuff to cover my scent on the ground with out a blind and have deer come within 20 yards downwind and never bust me. I have had deer as close as 2 yards while I was in the blind with out detection. It works great !
Mike
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