#1993452 - 07/14/10 12:33 AM
? For ground hunters.
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RKenney
10 Point
Registered: 03/15/08
Posts: 3634
Loc: Maury Co.
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Not using a man made blind, what is your favorite stand cover? I
don't expect too many replies to this question because nowdays
there aren't many who deer hunt from the ground.
I feel like there is more to "cover" that just a dead fall or a
clump of weeds or other vegetation. Who knows what I'm talking
about?
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#1993461 - 07/14/10 01:09 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: RKenney]
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stik
TnDeer Old Timer
16 Point
Registered: 03/12/99
Posts: 18546
Loc: lenoir city,tn
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i killed my biggest buck just sitting on a stool leaned against a tree. along with countless does. i rarely make a "blind".
_________________________
experienced hunters know its not just a bushy white tail, its a big middle finger.
nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught
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#1993467 - 07/14/10 03:04 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: stik]
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Travis E
6 Point
Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 782
Loc: TN / From Boone Co. WV
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I've sat between two large trees right next to each other. I bow hunt from the ground a lot and I sometimes use a natural blind or kinda make a makeshift one using limbs and stuff like that.
_________________________
Animals are tasty.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!
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#1993487 - 07/14/10 05:51 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Travis E]
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Bottom Hunter
16 Point
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 15554
Loc: Hatchie Bottoms
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if I use one, I normally take a piece of camo material (burlap) and hang it between two trees and simply sit on a bucket or chair behind the burlap. Normally it's in a thicket where I have natural cover around me.
I prefer tree stands (elevated) and so I rarely use a geround blind. I guess I have used a GB more the last two years than I ever have....
_________________________
There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict.
Walk away; the battle they are fighting is not with you, but with themselves.
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#1993516 - 07/14/10 06:35 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Bottom Hunter]
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DUCK37101
"Link" Police
16 Point
Registered: 08/29/05
Posts: 18867
Loc: McEwen, TN.
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I've used large downed trees as cover. I just cut my way into the center so I can see out in all directions. I cut so I can sit my Bow down and look out at head level. Unless I move I can't be detected.
_________________________
You Can't Take It With You.....So Don't Go.
IN GOD WE TRUST!
"The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share; it also protects those with whose views we disagree."
- Ted Kennedy
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#1993528 - 07/14/10 06:54 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: DUCK37101]
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BlackBelt
10 Point
Registered: 08/09/08
Posts: 2632
Loc: SouthWest TN
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I only use a man-made ground blind when it's raining. I try to blend it in with the background, because I've never seen one that didn't stand out when I walked away from it and looked at it.
I prefer to hunt with my back up to a big tree, and foliage around me. I'll cut a few small branches and stick them in the ground in front of me if I can.
I know it sounds weird, but try to become a 'part' of the environment rather than a guy just sitting in the woods.
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#1993555 - 07/14/10 07:13 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: BlackBelt]
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mr.hicks
4 Point
Registered: 02/12/09
Posts: 331
Loc: knoxville,tn
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killed my biggest buck on the ground, a 157 in monster 11 yrds away. ground blind hunting is very under rated. i prefer tall grasses and one of those ground blinds from wal hole.
_________________________
no matter where ever you go, there you are...
Buckaroo Bonzai
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#1993624 - 07/14/10 08:05 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: RKenney]
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Snake
16 Point
Registered: 05/03/09
Posts: 15573
Loc: McMinn Co.Tennessee U.S.
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Don't really hunt that much from the ground but if I do I don't feel right unless I try and conceal my self some what , dang does will give you away !!
_________________________
No matter the storm , when you are with God , there's always a rainbow waiting .
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#1993634 - 07/14/10 08:11 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Snake]
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jb3
10 Point
Registered: 02/23/09
Posts: 3336
Loc: Burns, TN
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Been hunting on the ground off/on for 30 years. My dad still does from time to time because of his knees. Deer may get suspicious, even at close range, but we still take deer from the ground.
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#1993636 - 07/14/10 08:11 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: mr.hicks]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25339
Loc: TN
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Depends on what is available. I have many times sat on top of a high wall or cliff, bout the same as a stand in some cases. I also use hay bales around fields when necessary.
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#1993644 - 07/14/10 08:18 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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Buck Nekkid
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/20/07
Posts: 42423
Loc: Jefferson County,Tn
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i will use whatevers available.but i have used a stool and sat down by a tree
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TnDeer's sexiest man over 300lbs.
One half of "Man Purdy"
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#1993676 - 07/14/10 08:38 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Buck Nekkid]
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CopperHead77
12 Point
Registered: 08/20/07
Posts: 6707
Loc: Hickman Co.
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My biggest buck came while hunting from the ground, I was actually just leaning up against an old beech tree,no blind or anything.
The element of suprise can be your best "cover" sometimes.
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#1993696 - 07/14/10 08:51 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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brmaster
6 Point
Registered: 06/27/10
Posts: 739
Loc: TN, Shelbyville
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I will hunt from the ground many times, sit on my stool in some type of thicket, I also use my climbing stand, but just depends on where I am and if there are any good trees in get into. I have been in areas that arent real friendly to climbing stands only because so many limbs on the tree or view is blocked during bow season, But I will hunt ground most any season as well as in my stand.
Shot a nice 9 point sitting in a stand only about 10 ft off the ground, watched it walk up edge of field toward me for about 20 minutes or so until it decided to turn, then BAM about 60 yds away, ran about 10 yds and fell. so dont have to be up so high if you have some good cover.
But then again, some may disagree, and that is fine to. Each to their own.
BRMASTER
_________________________
Guns dont kill people, they only provide a path
Legal gun owners will be punished because the government doesnt know how to keep the criminals from buying them.
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#1993725 - 07/14/10 09:15 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: RKenney]
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MUP
Non-Typical
Registered: 08/01/07
Posts: 36597
Loc: Just North of Chatt-town
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A downed tree top.
_________________________
MUP
Amateurs: Built the Ark
Professionals: Built the Titanic
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#1993789 - 07/14/10 10:12 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: MUP]
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Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 17071
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
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Over the past few years, I've found myself enjoying doing more and more hunting from the ground instead of an elevated stand. Last year, I took one of my most memorable trophies at 35 yards while sitting pretty-much flat-butted right out in the open. But I was on the side of a hill, low enough down the side that the deer 35 yards farther down that hill did not see my head above the horizon.
I'll take advantage of any available natural cover, but where there's less, I think it may be more important that your clothing colors blend better with your background while deer hunting than while turkey hunting. That's just the opposite of what I would once have assumed, since turkeys have such superior eyesight.
When there's less cover, one of my "tricks" is to set-up BELOW the horizon from the deer's view. Most hunters want to go to a higher point where they can "see" better, but that's what enables the deer to see the hunter first. Of course, if you're mainly looking for deer over 200 yards away, the higher place set-up may be better. My set-ups are usually for intercepting deer at close range.
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#1993811 - 07/14/10 10:31 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: RKenney]
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pass-thru
10 Point
Registered: 10/10/04
Posts: 3059
Loc: va beach
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I feel like there is more to "cover" that just a dead fall or a
clump of weeds or other vegetation. Who knows what I'm talking
about?
I disagree here. The best cover is vegetation in it's natural state, because it looks natural. 2nd best is vegation moved to form a blind.
I hunt quite a bit from the ground when the situtation dictates....I prefer to hunt from a treestand. I have killed dozens of deer with gun and a few with bow from the ground.
With a gun, I often use no cover other than terrain features and the tree I sit against. The main concern is movement and breaking up your outline is second. If you don't move, you don't need cover. Terrain features, trees, etc are sufficient to break up an outline.
Bowhunting my ideal blind is fashioned from a handful of pine or cedar boughs, fashioned to form a screen between me and where I think the deer will appear from. I sit on a five gallon bucket. I use the cover of the blind to draw as the deer approaches. I shoot when he steps beyond the cover of the blind, at which point there is nothing between me and the deer.
The best blind I used several years ago constisted of sticking a five gallon bucket behind a clump of high grass on the edge of a field. I had patterened the evening buck movement from a stand out of bow range. I noticed they came within 25 yards of the clump most evenings. I sat on a bucket and drew with cover from the grass, and shot the buck when he stepped beyond it...nice 8 point.
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#1993821 - 07/14/10 10:36 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: pass-thru]
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JeepKuntry
16 Point
Registered: 01/20/04
Posts: 13274
Loc: Clinton, TN
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I haven't bowhunted from the ground really, during gun season I usually just find a bit tree to get against and push all the leaves aside so I don't make noise once I'm situated.
_________________________
Greg Cooper
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#1993876 - 07/14/10 11:07 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: JeepKuntry]
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ferg
Spider
16 Point
Registered: 07/29/04
Posts: 13812
Loc: At the TNDeer shirt factory %^...
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I have an old wood pile I used stacked up next to some downed trees - and stumps - works pretty well -
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NOTICE: Due to Operation Prism I have given all of my internet passwords to a number of different folks, I no longer accept full posting responsibility for any of my internet accounts.
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#1993908 - 07/14/10 11:26 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Travis E]
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Still-n-Quiet
10 Point
Registered: 07/18/06
Posts: 4620
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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I've sat between two large trees right next to each other. I bow hunt from the ground a lot and I sometimes use a natural blind or kinda make a makeshift one using limbs and stuff like that.
This describes my bow hunting, as well. Occasionally, I'll find a low depression to set a small stool in just to remove more of my outline.
_________________________
Mike
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16)
Μολων λαβε
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#1994034 - 07/14/10 01:23 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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droptine
8 Point
Registered: 06/07/00
Posts: 1341
Loc: Knoxville
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i have killed more deer from the ground than in a stand. Deadfall or back up to a large tree.
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#1994049 - 07/14/10 01:33 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: droptine]
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Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 17071
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
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Still, most of my deer hunting is done from an elevated stand.
Just generally speaking, most of us have significant advantage when hunting from an elevated stand. Sometimes this is not possible, sometimes hunting on the ground has little disadvantage, sometimes more advantage being on the ground.
And treestand accidents aside, I believe there's less risk for shooting accidents both to the hunter on stand and other hunters when all hunters are in elevated positions.
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#1994251 - 07/14/10 03:28 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Wes Parrish]
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Football Hunter
18 Point
Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 24708
Loc: Wilson Co/Perry Co
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I rarely hunt from the ground,I like to see over the next hill,but there is a spot in Ky that I hunt,public ground,its all flat,but where the hill goes up out of the swamp,there is a perfect flat spot,I can probably see 2 football fields worth of ground.A fallen over tree is what I use,its the perfect height to hide,and to prop a gun on.Ive killed 2 nice bucks,and my son has killed 2 as well.
I tried a pop up,but deer were on that quick.I may set one up at my place this year,before the season,its a good spot,no tree for a stand.
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The best day to plant a tree,IS TODAY!
You wont know,if you dont go!
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#1994321 - 07/14/10 05:01 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Football Hunter]
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smstone22
16 Point
Registered: 01/11/04
Posts: 16325
Loc: Allardt, TN
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I just sit back up against a shoulder width tree. Usually above where the deer are likely to be, I have had to shoot them above me though. I sit on top of bluffs quite a bit too if I really go high and far back in the mtns.
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-QDM=Better Deer, Better Deer Hunting
- Fentress Roots 200 years and growing
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#1994417 - 07/14/10 06:44 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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Bone Collector
12 Point
Registered: 09/09/09
Posts: 6188
Loc: Murfreesboro, TN
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I have killed several deer just sitting or standing against a tree. I just clear the leaves and debris away so if i have to move it is silent.
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Don't let the screen name fool you spikes are made of bone too  Semper Fidelis! The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson
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#1994481 - 07/14/10 07:32 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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tickweed
10 Point
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 3596
Loc: medon,Tn.
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I perfer a large downed tree, two together are even better.
_________________________
The hardest thing about Bowhunting Turkeys is leaving the gun at home!
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#1994783 - 07/14/10 10:15 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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MRUTVOL
6 Point
Registered: 12/16/02
Posts: 868
Loc: Goodlettsville,Tennessee,USA
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Depends on what is available. I have many times sat on top of a high wall or cliff, bout the same as a stand in some cases. I also use hay bales around fields when necessary.
Ditto ....What ever I need at the time. Since most of my shooting is done at longer ranges concealment is not a big issue. I have not hunted in a treestand in almost 10 years and my success rate for big deer has greatly improved. I do not bow hunt anymore so no need to be super close for me.
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#1994790 - 07/14/10 10:19 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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gator-n-buck
16 Point
Registered: 10/22/08
Posts: 14956
Loc: Knox, TN / Palatka, FL
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When I do hunt on the ground (rare)... I need a big ole tree for cover.... 
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#1994791 - 07/14/10 10:19 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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ShaneHallum
Good ol' Boys
16 Point
Registered: 08/30/08
Posts: 11459
Loc: Belk Tennessee
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I've got one peice of land, that is a funnel type area. It has ponds at both ends of it, so naturally over time its going to make drainage ditches on each side of the dam. I can get a fold out chair and sit it in the ditch.. I usually put the top of a cedar tree in front of me. and I'm completely covered from all sides.
_________________________
"Welcome to Tennessee, the patron state of shooting stuff."
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#1994809 - 07/14/10 10:30 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: ShaneHallum]
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cecil30-30
16 Point
Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 13279
Loc: Morgan Co
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When I hunt on the ground,I just find a big tree to sit up against...Killed severl deer that way..Including 1 3.5yr old and 1 4.5 yr old...just by sitting up against a tree and being still...
_________________________
The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." -Thomas Jefferson
Ban Liberals!!! Save America!!!!
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#1995114 - 07/15/10 09:10 AM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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LA man
16 Point
Registered: 05/31/03
Posts: 18626
Loc: spencer, tn/houma, la.
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i ocassionaly hunt from the grond. usually sit next to a big tree and if possible get some branches stuck in the ground to break up my outline
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GO LSU
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#1995664 - 07/15/10 07:11 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: CopperHead77]
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elauwit
14 Point
Registered: 12/01/07
Posts: 8256
Loc: Near Bull Run
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I killed my biggest buck sitting against an oak tree. I usually build ground blinds. I lay a frame in a v shape in front of a large tree and then pile branches and stuff around it. works good.
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Covert Ops
EAST SIDE MAFIA TCB
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#1995687 - 07/15/10 07:49 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: Winchester]
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jakeway
TnDeer Old Timer
10 Point
Registered: 11/22/99
Posts: 3459
Loc: Hendersonville, TN, USA
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I've gotten one or two from the ground each year lately, but I don't use any kind of blind. I like to still hunt and just stop for a few minutes every 20 yards or so, where-ever a deadfall, brush, patch of tall grass, whatever can break my outline. When I lived up north, it was illegal to hunt from an elevated stand with a firearm, so virtually all my deer were shot from the ground. I don't recall ever killing one from a blind, unless you call a hap-hazzard collection of logs and branches a blind.
_________________________
It's not rocket surgery, for crying outside!
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#1996718 - 07/16/10 04:50 PM
Re: ? For ground hunters.
[Re: jakeway]
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RKenney
10 Point
Registered: 03/15/08
Posts: 3634
Loc: Maury Co.
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Wes Parrish's reply to my post was the answer I had in mind.
Yes, natural cover such as a deadfall is extremely important,
but so is the lay of the land.
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