Treestand, Ground Blind or Still Hunt/ Stalk?

[Lt.Dan]

Which do you prefer?

I use both treestands and ground blinds, but most times I like ground blind hunting with my crossbow best. I feel more hidden and since I fidget a lot, I'm better concealed. After the leaves drop and using a rifle I find the treestand more advantageous. But for the most comfort I like my homemade ground blinds better. I haven't tried hunting from the store bought blinds yet.

There was a time I could sneak up on sleeping deer but since I've gotten old my sneaking days are over. I trip and stumble too much now. I remember the day I snuck up on a 6 point buck while squirrel hunting. I was probably 16 years old. I had gotten about 10-12 feet away from him when I picked up a stick and threw it at him. I don't know who was scared more when he jumped up and snorted at me. All I was thinking was he was going to charge. Of he didn't. He just turned and ran after a few seconds. What a rush that was. I've snuck up on several other deer since, to within 10 yards. Shot a little 4 point one year after he stood up. I used to hunt a pretty thick patch of woods and we would see each other at about the same time. Most deer would finally wind me and leap away unscathed.

 

[deerhunter10]

Tree stands 99.7 percent of the time. Shooting houses rarely. With climbers and us not being afraid to hand and hunt we have pretty much cut out hunting from the ground haven't done it in years.

 

[BSK]

Treestand 95% of the time, elevated shooting house 5%. I don't feel I could get away with ANY movement from the ground.

 

[knightrider]

98% of the time on ground in a turkey chair(works like a charm) other 2% in a ladder stand

 

[41Magnum]

I do ladder stands and ground blinds. Most of my ground blinds are made with the surrounding materials although I have a pop up blind that I use occasionally. I don't use climbers anymore.

 

[TNRifleman]

ELk hunting out west where you are mobile almost the whole time has ruined me for deer hunting. I can barely stand to be in a treestand for an hour anymore. If I am hunting deer in TN, I'll either be in a climber or leaned up against a tree on the ground.

 

[DeerMan66]

Mostly ladder stands. I can cover more ground with the height of a ladder stand. I started hunting a property with some very steep terrain this past deer season. After the season ended me and one of my hunting buddies built some natural material ground blinds on the edge of some of the ridges overlooking hollows and natural pinch points. So, we are going to try some ground blinds this year.

 

[Andy S.]

Everyone and every situation is different, but I deer hunt out of a climbing stand 99% of the time. I like the woods and thickets, and I am thankful I can still climb a tree and enjoy the view.

 

[Wrangler95]

I hunt most all the time in ladder stands,very little time on the ground except in brutal cold like we had in Dec.!!

 

[Wobblyshot1]

Four of the last five deer I've killed were from the ground.

 

[TnTurk]

Pretty much a ground hunter now. I like being able to move and change positions as the wind and thermals change throughout the day even if it's just a few yards. I use natural ground cover and a turkey seat and don't feel handicapped at all.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Like Andy, I'm mostly hunting out of a climber. I have some pre-hung stands on some private land but I'm about to take them all down for good. I do maintenance on them every year and then never hunt them. The deer just catch onto them so quick, I'd rather stay mobile. I'm 52 and train to hunt this way, so I'm going to keep doing it as long as I can.

I should also add that I'm a morning person. Getting up and getting to my spot well before light is never an issue.

 

[Bass1090]

Summit 180 Max Climber 95% of the time….Summit Goliath Climber the other 5%.

Unless my wife joins and then it's ladder stands or ground blinds.

 

[Rakkin6]

Well I hunt public land and where I hunt it is mandatory if you carry it in with you in the morning it comes out in the evening. You can't leave stands in the woods and you can't leave ground blinds. So I use a climber all season long for this reason. Never has any luck throwing up a blind out of nowhere and the deer having a good reaction. Now turkey hunting in the rain I will throw out a blind no problem.

 

[Gravey]

Most of the time in a tree stand although I do like to sit on the ground in the right places.

 

[beefydeer]

Climbing stand 99% and 1% still hunting if the conditions are right for it

 

[Rakkin6]

Climbing stand 99% and 1% still hunting if the conditions are right for it

I would love to still hunt more, but hunting public I don't want to ruin someone else's stand setup or get shot in the chest.

 

[beefydeer]

I would love to still hunt more, but hunting public I don't want to ruin someone else's stand setup or get shot in the chest.

I do it on public. I go in by boat so I am away from the crowd. I also only do it mid day.

 

[TN Larry]

I hunt out of a climber the majority of the time. We have a few permanent ladder stands and shooting houses that I sit in sometimes along with a ground hunt or two thrown in but much prefer the mobility of a climber.

 

[timberjack86]

Millennium tree seat 99 percent of the time.