Treestand free since opening day

[recurve60#]

Kinda tired of lugging them in and out. Big hassle. I do have some ladders up, but they are set up for bow hunting.

This gun season I never once got sweaty and cold due to climbing a tree. I sat some, stood next to a tree or two and really enjoyed it. It was hassle free. Here's a few pics. First is from opening morning, next is two pics of one buck I killed tues this week.

 

[ImThere]

Congrats that second deer is an awesome 6 !

 

[Appleman]

Nice. I hunted from the ground for 2 years while back because my stand and camera got stolen.

 

[bowhunter163]

I like that 6 !!!!! Congrats .

 

[Bottom Hunter]

cool...trying new things is always fun..!!

I have also thought about sitting on the ground in areas where no stands were...might work...thanks.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

congrats

 

[xtremedeerman]

Congrats I hunt from ground with gun also

 

[ROVERBOY]

Nice deer. I hunt from stands and ground and for some reason I've not killed a buck from a stand in about 5 years. I've got 5 in the last 5 seasons from ground. What caliber is the Marlin? Nice rifle.

 

[caveman]

While I still prefer a stand vs.hunting on the ground since a stand normally provides a larger view depending on the terrain one is hunting. I have killed several nice bucks in the 120 plus range off the ground. I learned a long time ago it is not how high you are, it's which direction the wind blowing. Your scent will give you away faster than the sight of you.

 

[tarsalgland]

awesome!nice six.

 

[recurve60#]

Nice deer. I hunt from stands and ground and for some reason I've not killed a buck from a stand in about 5 years. I've got 5 in the last 5 seasons from ground. What caliber is the Marlin? Nice rifle.

Ibought that rifle in 1983. 336CS 30-30. I'm sure I've killed well north of a hundred deer with it. Will never part with it.

 

[primos32]

nice bucks! I have had more luck from the ground also.. Not sure if its because I get in quieter and faster or what but I will continue to hunt from the ground.

 

[BSK]

You all that hunt from the ground have my deepest respect. Not a chance I would hunt from the ground when I can easily climb up into a ladder stand that is at least 12' off the ground. I want that extra visibility of an elevated position, and I want my movements hidden behind a burlap wrap!

 

[Wrangler95]

Very nice,congrats!!

 

[ROOKIE2323]

congrats

 

[knightrider]

I quit using stands about ten years ago after wanting more of a eye to eye approach, I have much more fun hunting them on their level one on one than in a stand, there is absolutely nothing like bowhunting them from the ground(no bind) just hunkered down in front of a big oak! it is a great time

 

[Rob R.]

Those are some nice bucks! Congrats on two fine ones.

 

[Bone Collector]

Congrats!

 

[JeepKuntry]

I use a stand during bow season. Rarely use one during gun season. I've thought about using the stand in one area to get a better view, but I hate lugging them around.

 

[DMD]

I will take a treestand everyday of the week over hunting on the ground. I hunted off the ground exclusively the first 10 years I hunted. Once I discovered a Tree Lounge, then a Summit - I never wanted to go back to hunting on the ground. I do hunt from the ground because some situations just dictate it, but I don't like it.

 

[Snake]

Congrats !

 

[southernhunter]

I would love to hunt from the ground more but I get so uncomfortable I end up moving and twisting to much to do so ,

 

[Spikes Tactical]

congrats

 

[thirdwilliam]

congrats and the ground is not a bad place to be

 

[Crosshairy]

I shot a doe this year on the President's Island anterless hunt from my Summit Viper climbing stand. That was the only time that I hunted from an elevated stand all year.

The buck I shot (35 yards, MZ), coyote (50 yards, MZ), and doe (30 yards, pistol) were all from the ground.

Like you said, I HATE carrying in climbing stands. My biggest complaint is having to mess with it after shooting a deer. I've actually passed on deer for the sole reason that I didn't want to carry it out with the deer. I hunt on public ground, and mostly on weekends, so I don't care much for leaving them in the woods!

On top of all that, many of the thick areas I hunt have better visibility while *standing* than any other position. All three of the animals I mentioned above were shot from the standing position with a shooting stick, because there was too much grass/ground cover to allow for sitting. The biggest downside, of course, is that it's tough to remain disciplined about being still.

 

[Winchester]

Congrats

 

[pressfit]

Makes me want to drag my lever gun out.. I got mine in 80 or 81.. 336c 30-30 also..congrats!

 

[Hunter 257W]

I hunt the ground almost exclusively except when I sit in my homemade ladder stand or elevated shooting house. Factory built stands are too flimsy to earn my confidence. I don't want to become a statistic and I figure a good way to do that is stay on the ground!

Now there is no doubt that you are more likely to be spotted by a deer if you sit on the ground compared to 30 feet up a tree, but that can be helped by chosing where you sit and building/buying a blind. I like the burlap camo and piles of brush. This is my 1st year to use popup blinds and I've had several deer really close as a result. Regardless of how effective I am from the ground, I'll continue to avoid trees as I don't care for the thought of splattering all over the ground.

 

[WRbowhunter]

I've gun hunted from the ground and shot a few deer. Think it all depends on the terrain. However I move a lot more on the ground as to me its not as comfortable. But now that I'm only hunting public land the thought of going to a WMA that allows guns and sitting on the ground would scare the crap out of me.