I'm told by reliable sources that almost all hunting was from the ground until the 70's. I don't think Fred Bear or Howard Hill ever hunted from a tree and they killed a lot of game. It's about becoming part of the woods, learning how the wind works and how to use it to your advantage. Just remember, you're in their living room. You'll make plenty of mistakes but you'll also learn something new first hand and have a great time doing it !
In Fred Bear’s field notes he mentions hunting from an elevated platform a time or two. I think one hunt was for Tigers in India, and maybe another hunt in Africa. But I’ve never heard him do that in regards to white tail or bear
There were a few old wooden tree stands made out of 2 by 4 and plywood usually built by landowners but not always back in the 60s and 70s I grew up bow hunting since the late 1960s with recurve bows and killed a lot of deer things were way different back then and a lot of things I see on the market for hunting now I invented back then talking with my boys and others trying to improve I could have been rich if I would have patented my ideas for bow hunting and fishing back in the even in the 1980s it just boggles the mind to see all of the gadgets they have now that I already invented and talked about and Drew pictures of on paper years ago but I have killed deer sitting on the ground it works in the right time and place I believe in camouflage why not and I believe in a swivel seat which is a huge advantage to being able to move in the direction of the deer without getting up or jerky movements like a swivel seat on top of a 5-gallon bucket for example is a wonderful thing an old office chair from a garage sale with adjustable height in 360° spin :-)
Yup. I decided that I would be above the deer's scent line if I was in a tree as well as less likely to be spotted. That was back in 1964, but with everyone hunting from the ground they thought that I was a bit crazy. How times have changed! Also, I spent the entire deer season in PA ground hunting wearing great camouflage, but fall I ever saw was white tails flagging me. Then I remembered something about deer seeing well in the ultra violet spectrum. I checked the arrows I had been carrying with a black light and sure enough the fletching I had been using lit up like a search light! 😟
We also used to hunt from above as well. I don't use a stand lol if the spot is good but to thick and there's a tree in the right spot on the right days I will 200 percent climb it
Been doing this natural ground blind hunting for quite a few decades now, and what I've experienced being the the most important, was back cover and minimum movement.
When I was younger and in better health I would pack my climbing stand and gear a mile or so through the woods to hunt. I thought you couldn't hunt without getting way up a tree. I've killed more deer while setting 30-40 ft up. Couple heart attacks and heart surgery later I just slip in with a small folding camo stool or small folding camo chair .. I use fallen limbs and create a brush blind. I have a nice pop up but hardly ever use it. As long as I hunt the wind correctly, STAY IN THE SHADOWS AND STILL , I still take as many deer as I want. Thank you for this video. I believe the younger and newer hunters need to know that most of the equipment and gear hunting videos and magazines try to convince you that you need are unnecessary
I am an Ole timer. I have been ground hunting forever. No blinds, stands any of that. I am not a small person 6'8 349 pounds. I have never not taken a deer. 2 or 3 in some seasons. I wear black and grey camo, I have a leafy poncho. I can play the wind everytime. I sit with my back against a tree and a good cushion. I do not move a lot and have sat all day. I have even put myself in a big mess of a bush and just clear out a lane
Great video, probably one of the single most helpful videos I have seen on hunting from the ground. I wish I saw this video sooner, as I’ve made many mistakes you help people avoid here. Placement and how to camo yourself from the ground to get your draw is something it has taken me a lot of time and failed opportunities to learn the hard way.
I love hunting on the ground, that's how I learned to hunt. I've been doing it that way for more than 50 years, and I still do it that way today. You've got to have a good seat that's quiet when you shift your weight on it, especially when you're bowhunting. I've been using a Ground Effect hunting seat, (it's made by 03 Outfitters), and it's by far the best seat that I have ever used. It's super portable and it makes absolutely no noise even when the temperatures are well below freezing. It easily fits in my backpack too, so where ever I go it goes with me. Check it out.
I've harvested many deer just sitting against a tree or in some cover on the ground.when I first started hunting that was the only way I hunted. Nowadays if I'm ground hunting I prefer my crossbow for obvious reasons,less movement being the main reason, but I've harvested deer with my compound bow a few times ground hunting.great video..
Good video. A key point that is crucial to a successful ground hunt - you must play the wind at all times & ensure you are downwind of where you expect to see deer (on a trail, visiting a scrape, at the intersection of two trails, etc.). Have multiple ground stands/locations pre-scouted and selected prior to hunting and pick the stand that is the most downwind at the time you plan to hunt. If low to no wind speed is forecasted, you must consider the impact of thermals, especially in hilly terrain. A deer’s nose is it’s best defense mechanism to detecting danger & its ability to detect movement is the second.
I'm a fairly new, inexperienced hunter learning as I go. I do have a blind and a tree stand, but I much prefer to be on the ground, outside of the blind. Thank you for confirming what has felt intuitive to me.
Just remember you need horizontal cover, vertical cover, over head cover and a back drop to break up the human silhouette. Wind in your face and get you some research on thermals. Try not to hunt with the sun illuminate you.
What I’m understanding is that breaking up the body shape is more helpful than most of the coloring, so I think I will harvest grasses and green twigs to tie them to myself like the jewelry of a mad Druid.
Been hunting the ground as a bow hunter for awhile and had great success. I don’t really want to do it any other way now from what I learned playing the ground game. They come so close and it makes the bow very easy. I seen it in the comments and there is 2 critical things along with wind.. background and timing of your movements. Vision is limited and things happen fast but its very rewarding when ready. Mobility is nice too like you mentioned. I setup places watch the deer move and then relocate to what I leaned instantly. Killed a lot I shouldn’t have because of instant mobility. Great video btw.
Great video, but I have to say, it really is how you said it: You can get away with much more than you think. And that goes for you too. I've ground hunted for 3 years now, and I've had deer graze 15 yards out for 30 minutes without ever noticing me, sitting next to a tree, after a fresh snow. All with no camo, and in sparse woods. In the same area I shot an 8 point from 60 yards while actively moving. He walked up on me as I was standing in plain sight with no cover. I know the things you say would increase your chances of success, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in. And I'll be the first to admit I'm a relatively inexperienced hunter. Thanks for the video.
7:37 One note about peripheral vision. Many people don't know why Samurai, taught students to actually glance SLIGHTLY down during combat battlefield chaos. It actually increases your peripheral vision if you are centered slightly lower. We might assume it's best to focus on your opponents eyes. And many sports teach us to focus on hips and shoulders, for cues to movement. But peripheral vision is notably increased, for humans, by altering that angle from a plane parallel to the horizon, adjusting angle slightly down from that Presumably then. Deer lowering their heads increase their peripheral vision further. Specifically beside and behind them.
No, deers vision is not like ours at all, they’re peripheral vision is insane they can see about 300 degrees without moving their head so pretty much directly behind them is the only blind spot
Thanks for posting! I don't have alot of time to hunt and scout right now, so I've been "run & gun" with my longbow and tree stand. The problem with that is if the wind shifts, or I need to make a move for other reasons, its not so easy. Ground hunting could really add some flexibility. Great video.
They also are very familiar with their surroundings. Such as if you are standing there, they may not know what you are but realize you weren't there the last time they came through. They pickup movement very well. If you move they see you, trust me camo or not. They see like 180 degrees with both eyes.
Back in the day - we made our own camo and it worked perfect. BIG TIP Sharpie (black), gray and/or light brown sweat pants (bow season). Block off sections of clothing to make "tree bark" lines. We stole idea from the "Tree Bark" clothing line in 70s. Make bark sections 3 to 4 inches or so .... breaks up outline. Paint face and we washed in baking soda/air dried. In fact, I still use Baking Soda. I can wash all season for a few bucks compared to $100. You are hunting the wind anyway. I wash my hair in BS as well - while leaving a little in my wet hair in case I sweat. I activate the soda with my sweat - helps a little i think.
This is extremely well put together. I’ve been trying to find tips on hunting from the ground for a while now. I’m a new hunter and it just isn’t in the budget this year to get a tree stand. I feel so disadvantaged at times when I’m out there and it’s frustrating. I will definitely keep these tips in mind when I get back out there. Thank you for sharing!
No need to feel disadvantaged. You can set up in front of natural cover almost anywhere, think of it as having the lightest set up out there, just having a small tripod stool.
I’m with you brother, I started bowhunting last year and I only hunt from the ground. It was a challenge I wanted, but almost no one shows you how to do it. I’ve made many mistakes and have blown my chances many times with stupid things, and that’s on top of the many times I sit and see nothing. It is frustrating but I think in reality, people that are honest, this takes a long time to master and start seeing success in. That’s what my wife and family try to tell me when I come in discourage haha.
Hey make yourself a ground blind with wooden stakes and camouflage fabric or burlap. Just tack the fabric to four steaks, and you can stick em in the ground when you find a spot you wanna set but you want the comfort of additional cover.
Sat in a tree stand a handful of times in 30 years. Have had a lot of success and plenty of bow success too. Bow hunting on the ground is the ultimate whitetail challenge.
I recall seeing some animal biologists who studied dear and their findings were that deer weren't just sensitive to blues, but blues and whites lit up like Christmas trees. Especially if they'd been washed in any cleaner that doesn't block UV. Some hunting gear is bade now to specifically block UV absorption so you don't look, to the deer, what is the equivalent of standing under a black light at a disco.
Two hip replacements, vertigo, and age have me hunting from blinds or on the ground these days. My favorite method for ground hunting is with a saddle. It gives you the advantage of using the tree for cover. I can sit or lean and a deer can only see a few inches of you. I can also use the tree to hide the movement of drawing the bow. You're just a blob at the base of the tree. My saddle, which I wear in is like wearing a belt, (CGM Sidewinder), with the tether and knee pads is barely 2 pounds of gear. I got tired of hauling a chair. I bought a used Guido's Web and a JX3 off eBay but haven't used them yet, but man are they comfortable. No need to keep your knees against the tree as they have a stand off. They will bring your total weight to about 10 pounds or so but both serve as pack frames and are very comfortable to wear in. I'll never haul a chair around the woods again, and I'm not sitting on the ground or shooting from a kneeling position, too old for that stuff.
Good stuff, Ethan! Older guy here,trying to have fun, relax and take a couple for the table. The world is your oyster on the ground. Tree stands are past tense for me.
Ethan. I have an archery window, 3weeks, Okanagan Valley and Kootenay Mountains in British Columbia (our back yard) Dec 1st to 21st. And it is already snowing quite significantly. Any advice specifically for archery ground hunting whitetail in December in snow?
I just stumbled upon your channel. I’ve never been a tree stand hunter. I’ve always hunted from the ground, I just never felt comfortable and it just never felt right from a tree stand. Had to step away from hunting due to health reasons, but finding myself being able to go back to hunting. Your video has helped me to remember some of the basics I had forgotten from being away for 7 to 10 years from hunting. Definitely following you and going back to watch your older videos. I have used ground blinds in certain situations here the Mountain State of WV. I’ve even used unprinted cut burlap to use as a blind with thumb tacks cover in the field with success. It takes a lot to cover my 5’ 10” 260.lb frame. Thanks again.
@@EthanPageHunterlook forward to watching them. Currently I shoot a a Ben Pearson Gamemaster, Ben Pearson Collegiate, Bear Ausable Longbow and a Montgomery Ward Warden I believe. Those are all recurves except the Bear. Just getting my gear and practice in and hunt next fall. I’m thinking of buying a Western Fleetwood Knights. Thanks again.
Awesome video!! Thank you for all the great information 🙏 I hunt public land and in order to get deep into the property, the less gear I have to carry the further I can walk and get away from everyone else. I'm going to try your advice for a while and see what happens. PS this is only my first year hunting so I have a lot to learn.
Great video. I have taken many deer from the ground with a bow. My favorite setup is using ground contour to hide me on their approach. You can hear them coming but can not see them and they can't see me either.
Thank you for putting out this video. It is very well timed, I am headed out with my long bow tomorrow in an areas were I do not have permission to hang stands.
You still need a stand. Put up a big ladder stand slip in early, hide off to the side. The deer will see that no one is in the stand and come right on through. Works every time
@@milesclifft8099 you do have a point. In pressured areas it can work. I’ve heard of guys cutting out human silhouettes and painting them black, then leaving them up in their stand all year.
I'm just too hyper 😅. Still hunting requires a lot of ability to be STILL, much of the time. I also just love the field of elevated vision. All that being said, I prefer to be on the ground. I really love it during a light rain. I'll try and learn something from this, thanks
Only my second hunt tonight after work I set up in that 10ish foot area but got busted. Big buck hissed at me and then darted off after about 2-3 minutes. I definitely need to be more in the shadows then I was. I was in a little cove of shrubbery but I may not have been still enough. Never felt such adrenaline before in my life!
@EthanPageHunter It's always worked for me. Unfortunately, I won't be hunting anymore this year. I hydroplaned and totaled my truck, broke my hip, and have to have surgery on the ligaments of my wrist at a later date. Can't put any weight on my right leg for a minimum of eight weeks. So my season is shot this year. Good luck to you this year.
Very informative and timely Ethan, thanks. I was out this weekend after white-tails for the first time since I was quite young. I used a combination of tree stand and natural ground blind, depending on the situation. My biggest problem on the ground is finding a position from which to shoot. I noticed you were on your knees. Can you stay in that position for a long time? I can not. Do you sometimes sit and if so stand or kneel before shooting which would be a lot of movement? I guess I am looking for suggestions on what to do to remain somewhat comfortable on the ground but still be able to shoot.
I stand quite often. I have carpenter knees and kneeling kills me after so long. There are some great options for seats and stools out there that I have been wanting to explore for some time now. I think that would be helpful for you.
@BackwardsHatNation I just picked up a swivel seat at cabellas and it is absolutely amazing. It's not heavy and very comfortable. It's got 3 legs and they have pads so they don't sink far in soft ground. COst me 140 canadian but definitely worth every penny in my opinion. I climb trees for a living so my body is tore up.. I mostly do ground hunting and have had a lot of success, but being comfortable is key to a successful hunt
I hunt from a folding chair that's drab green and I shot a buck 2 weeks ago I noticed that you better be in position for the shot with little movement or they will pick you out thats the hardest thing to over come on the ground in a tree stand you can see the deer coming from a distance on the ground the deer just appears in front of you and you have be ready
Like hunting on the ground, hardest part is being comfortable, legs falling asleep etc. if you can’t get comfortable, you won’t sit still and chances are if you are in a super comfortable position it’s not conducive to drawing your bow so it’s finding that happy medium, a small chair is nice however, your terrain dictates if you can use it or not . Have you had luck using the portable three seats that just attached to a tree?
This is my 2nd season and a treestand just isnt within the budget now… still havent got my first deer feel like i have a lot to learn i feel like i dont know the first thing about hunting the only time i even saw a deer in the woods was in a spot my dad set me up in but hes not going out every weekend like me so its rare that i actually have his help with these things
@@MileytheJeepV2 I’ll suggest some good channels; clay hays, Robert Carter, Jason Samkowiak (samko trad bow), Bill Winky and whitetail habitat solutions. All very knowledgeable men with trustworthy information.
@@EthanPageHunter appreciate that. Right now im pretty much thinking i need to learn how to find spots to sit better and then just spend every weekend out in those spots and im bound to see something eventually
@@MileytheJeepV2 hang the bow up and go walk walk walk. Spend a ton of time just scouting and finding a hunt-able population of deer. Try public or knock on doors for private. Find a population to hunt. Break that area down till you figure out bedding and feeding. Then break it down a step farther to find their travel routes in between. Find pinch points, crossings, what field edges they use and so on. Then find spots on those points to set up close. Play the wind and follow those tips and you will get into deer. But you won’t find them burning time where there’s no game.
I learned to hunt from stands and only hunted that way for years, then someone advised me to just walk around, still hunting or stalking. I’ve had a lot more success after taking that advice, but you have to hunt somewhere that is possible and safe enough.
Great video! I'm new to this. Today I was ground hunting in VT and there was no foliage anywhere. It was just tree trunks and dry brown leaves on the ground. I found 3 trees together and used my camo shirt draped over a string on 1 side and I cut down a small pine tree to block the other side and the 3rd side was wide open and then I sat on a folding stool . It wasn't very good imo. It felt like the camo shirt was a big square blotch that the deer would find suspicious cause there wasn't anything else around like that .Can you do a video for where there is limited ground cover? Also the area I set up was in a low area and the ground was soggy and muddy. Do deer avoid ground that is soggy or will they walk through it?
good video and i could of watched for hours. been bow hunting on ground for many years. like the host said don't give the deers a clean full picture of you. i'll find a tree that gives me shots from three sides and hides me from the fourth. i immediately clear all leaves and debri away from all around the tree so i can quietly reposition myself if need be. theres always downed branches around so i will drag a few to my spot and position them around me to break up my image. now if i see the deer before it sees me i have a good chance of connecting.
I don’t believe in scent products.. deers nose are far more powerful than manufactured gimmicks. I’ve not found rattling to always pay off it’s very situationally dependent and best with a decoy. I don’t call much unless it’s to a deer I see. And that is usually snort wheeze. Those work very regularly.
I agree about scents; they are worthless! However! I have called in many nice bucks using a rattle bag in conjunction w/the Can, and some grunts. Nothing works 100% of the time, but if there is a horny buck around, hears a horny doe+2 bucks fighting... They come looking!! But, back to your vid, I ground hunt because I'm old, but they see my white face from 100 yds away! So, I always use a mask or paint. Seriously, I've had deer come to 10 yds away; they aren't sure what I am-looks like a human, but it doesn't. By then I have the arrow thru them. I even try to use those in gun season
@@charlieliao8021 I have a little folding stool I use in occasion of I sit down. When it’s time to get ready I shift to my knees. A seat of some kind is the better option.
Might sound weird but, Do you have any thoughts on how you actually sit on the ground? Kneeling? Siting cross legged? Open legged? Can never figure it out when I’m out there
I will add a comment for camo and scent control, I was wearing my combination of realtree brush shirt and pants and a mossy oak tree pattern ski/face mask. I'm on public ground with a walking path cutting through it and was going down the path to see what was around the bend before pulling out for the day. In this area, there is practically no low brush and I had one tree about 2 yards from me, almost between myself and a deer that popped out from around a brush pile. I stood as still as I could, bow was on my side, so I had no chance of getting a shot, and the deer decided I looked like a funny tree. I was hoping it would turn and walk away, but instead it looked directly at me and started to come towards me, moving its head to figure out what I was. I had a small chance when it crossed the side of the tree, but wasn't quick enough and had to freeze again. It focused on me a good bit longer before I twitched or something that caused it to spook.
Fun fact: tree stands wasn’t a thing until after ww2 when Marines saw Japanese troops use them to great effect. Only difference is that deer don’t shoot back.
In the 70’s I remember first hearing about hunting out of a tree. No one had a tree stand, but had usually heard of it. The word was “deer do not look up”; it might have even been “deer CAN NOT look up”. And it seemed true at that time. Now they are born looking up, it seems. Selective breeding. Look up, or never live to have babies that look up.
Im worried about my stand placement not because of the wind but because of my silhouette. Just like you said. I knew I blew it when I did it that day. It’s okay if I stay frozen I suppose. What to do? On having whatched your tutorial it hit me! I own my own land so cutting tress is not an issue……cut down a hemlock and run it up beside my tree stand . Thanks Dave
Im going to be hunting with my recurve all season long and strictly from the ground on public land in NWF thick woods and tricky to hunt but it is possible.
As an old guy I don't want to climb, so ground hunting is a good idea for me. However, what do you recommend sitting on? I get stiff just sitting on the ground, because I can't get comfortable. Thank you for the content!
@@williamuhl252 noble savage has pretty good advice. I tend to lean towards sitting on the ground as I still have not found the chair/seat that I like. But I get stiff and uncomfortable as well.
@@NobleSavage44 I will definitely take your advice. Thank you for helping me think outside of the box. I have been a treestand hunter for almost 50 years.
I'm a new traditional hunter. Earned my license late last year and went small game hunting with my Mesa Longbow several times. No success, but had a lot of fun experiencing the public land near me. I've been really racking my brain on ground hunting - I'm the only traditional hunter in my friends. I jumped straight to the longbow and have never used rifle or compound. Thanks for this video - I'm convinced this is my route. Do you take a milk crate to sit on? What do you do about ticks, bugs, etc. when on the ground? Thanks everyone. No one else in my family hunts, so please share your wisdom!
@@kylecarroll4339 sorry I am so long getting back to you I missed your comment apparently. Good on you for dedicating yourself. It is not an easy path but very rewarding. I normally just sit on the ground and shift into my knees for the shot. However, I do have folding stool from Walmart intended for dove hunting that works well. Ticks, chiggers, etc. I normally just roll with the punches. But when deer season arrives in the Midwest they are generally a non issue. I hope that helps.
Not only does all the hunting stuff cost a bunch, it’s a hassle to get used to using and dangerous as well. At 52 years old, I’ll do a ladder stand or a nice tree stand but not a saddle, climber or hanger………..it’s gonna be fixed to the tree with giant nails. I know guys who have fallen, it sucks and takes a long time to heal.
I hunt on the ground 99% of the time now. No more carrying in tree stands and setting up in the dark. And then dragging the deer out along with all that equipment on my back. Just a small backpack and my gun. Sometimes deers come in from behind me. And that's when I freeze myself...sometimes they get sense something is up and they hurry along and disappear. Sometimes they keep walking and I get my tag filled
Ethan, do you have any recommended resources or books on learning to ground hunt? A started using a saddle last year, but am interested in ground hunting for less clunkiness, setup time, and noise
@@dtaylor3275 Stalking and Still hunting by G. Fred Asbell. He was not only a legend in the community but he was a very successful ground hunter. That would be a good place to start 👍🏼
By dissecting their eye balls and disassembling their cell structures we know beyond doubt they see lower blue well, green well, yellow well. Orange very very little (looks more yellow), red no. They think the blue came up from hunting them for hundreds of generations in bluejeans. The survivors tended to see better into the blue.
I’ve only been able to do this on days where it is still with light rain with no wind. I’m in the mid Atlantic hunting hilly forests where thermals change and wind swirls right around prime deer movement time, making it impossible to reliably set up on the upwind side of where I think deer will come from.
I have a similar issue on most public in my area and on my own property. Very hilly, constantly shifting, swirling winds. I still hunt from the ground quite a bit. I just really pick and choose the days to do it.
@@daksskier7416 what conditions do you look for? I’ve only ever been able to see deer still hunting or in ground blind on still, overcast / light rain days like when a cold front comes in. Otherwise the sun warms the hillsides and thermals get moving. Cold and sunny or anything with wind and I use a tree stand.
You’ll know it when you see it. If there are fresh tracks on top of tracks and beaten down, that’s considered a Highway. They most often found between bedding and food sources.
Walked into 2 does this morning and sat right next to them for 10 minutes before realizing they where 30 yards bedded down tried to let my buddy take a shot cause he’s never killed one and he missed and I took a bad shot just trying to get his leftovers lol 😂
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I'm told by reliable sources that almost all hunting was from the ground until the 70's. I don't think Fred Bear or Howard Hill ever hunted from a tree and they killed a lot of game. It's about becoming part of the woods, learning how the wind works and how to use it to your advantage. Just remember, you're in their living room. You'll make plenty of mistakes but you'll also learn something new first hand and have a great time doing it !
Your probably correct
In Fred Bear’s field notes he mentions hunting from an elevated platform a time or two. I think one hunt was for Tigers in India, and maybe another hunt in Africa. But I’ve never heard him do that in regards to white tail or bear
There were a few old wooden tree stands made out of 2 by 4 and plywood usually built by landowners but not always back in the 60s and 70s I grew up bow hunting since the late 1960s with recurve bows and killed a lot of deer things were way different back then and a lot of things I see on the market for hunting now I invented back then talking with my boys and others trying to improve I could have been rich if I would have patented my ideas for bow hunting and fishing back in the even in the 1980s it just boggles the mind to see all of the gadgets they have now that I already invented and talked about and Drew pictures of on paper years ago but I have killed deer sitting on the ground it works in the right time and place I believe in camouflage why not and I believe in a swivel seat which is a huge advantage to being able to move in the direction of the deer without getting up or jerky movements like a swivel seat on top of a 5-gallon bucket for example is a wonderful thing an old office chair from a garage sale with adjustable height in 360° spin :-)
Yup. I decided that I would be above the deer's scent line if I was in a tree as well as less likely to be spotted. That was back in 1964, but with everyone hunting from the ground they thought that I was a bit crazy. How times have changed!
Also, I spent the entire deer season in PA ground hunting wearing great camouflage, but fall I ever saw was white tails flagging me. Then I remembered something about deer seeing well in the ultra violet spectrum. I checked the arrows I had been carrying with a black light and sure enough the fletching I had been using lit up like a search light! 😟
Fred Bear was an asshole who regularly took shots at animals no one should.
Great video. Few people talk about this, but humans hunted from the ground for thousands of years.
Absolutely
Forty years ago, most people were still hunting on the ground !
We also used to hunt from above as well. I don't use a stand lol if the spot is good but to thick and there's a tree in the right spot on the right days I will 200 percent climb it
Try hundreds of thousands.
Been doing this natural ground blind hunting for quite a few decades now, and what I've experienced being the the most important, was back cover and minimum movement.
Both correct
When I was younger and in better health I would pack my climbing stand and gear a mile or so through the woods to hunt. I thought you couldn't hunt without getting way up a tree. I've killed more deer while setting 30-40 ft up.
Couple heart attacks and heart surgery later I just slip in with a small folding camo stool or small folding camo chair .. I use fallen limbs and create a brush blind. I have a nice pop up but hardly ever use it. As long as I hunt the wind correctly, STAY IN THE SHADOWS AND STILL , I still take as many deer as I want.
Thank you for this video. I believe the younger and newer hunters need to know that most of the equipment and gear hunting videos and magazines try to convince you that you need are unnecessary
I agree entirely. Thanks for the wisdom 🤙🏼
I am an Ole timer. I have been ground hunting forever. No blinds, stands any of that. I am not a small person 6'8 349 pounds. I have never not taken a deer. 2 or 3 in some seasons. I wear black and grey camo, I have a leafy poncho. I can play the wind everytime. I sit with my back against a tree and a good cushion. I do not move a lot and have sat all day. I have even put myself in a big mess of a bush and just clear out a lane
@@Johnnywjonesj great stuff!
Can u teach us
Great video, probably one of the single most helpful videos I have seen on hunting from the ground. I wish I saw this video sooner, as I’ve made many mistakes you help people avoid here. Placement and how to camo yourself from the ground to get your draw is something it has taken me a lot of time and failed opportunities to learn the hard way.
Thanks! It’s rewarding in the end!
good old spot and stock. Some of us just love a good old walk and if we get something then great
I love hunting on the ground, that's how I learned to hunt. I've been doing it that way for more than 50 years, and I still do it that way today.
You've got to have a good seat that's quiet when you shift your weight on it, especially when you're bowhunting. I've been using a Ground Effect hunting seat, (it's made by 03 Outfitters), and it's by far the best seat that I have ever used. It's super portable and it makes absolutely no noise even when the temperatures are well below freezing. It easily fits in my backpack too, so where ever I go it goes with me. Check it out.
Seats are a big help.
I've harvested many deer just sitting against a tree or in some cover on the ground.when I first started hunting that was the only way I hunted. Nowadays if I'm ground hunting I prefer my crossbow for obvious reasons,less movement being the main reason, but I've harvested deer with my compound bow a few times ground hunting.great video..
Thanks and best of luck!
How did u know where to sit?
Good video. A key point that is crucial to a successful ground hunt - you must play the wind at all times & ensure you are downwind of where you expect to see deer (on a trail, visiting a scrape, at the intersection of two trails, etc.). Have multiple ground stands/locations pre-scouted and selected prior to hunting and pick the stand that is the most downwind at the time you plan to hunt. If low to no wind speed is forecasted, you must consider the impact of thermals, especially in hilly terrain. A deer’s nose is it’s best defense mechanism to detecting danger & its ability to detect movement is the second.
I do agree with this to a point but I killed my biggest buck on the ground in work clothes never looked at wind direction
Great video! Been ground hunting for 40+ years cuz I'm afraid of heights!! Stay in the shadows!!❤
Glad you like it 🤙🏼
I'm a fairly new, inexperienced hunter learning as I go. I do have a blind and a tree stand, but I much prefer to be on the ground, outside of the blind. Thank you for confirming what has felt intuitive to me.
@@_eimine_ it’s a primal urge I think
Thank you for all the tips in this video. I only ground hunt and this is my 2nd season hunting. Your channel has been tremendously helpful!
That means a lot thank you. Hunt hard and good luck
Just remember you need horizontal cover, vertical cover, over head cover and a back drop to break up the human silhouette. Wind in your face and get you some research on thermals. Try not to hunt with the sun illuminate you.
What I’m understanding is that breaking up the body shape is more helpful than most of the coloring, so I think I will harvest grasses and green twigs to tie them to myself like the jewelry of a mad Druid.
Been hunting the ground as a bow hunter for awhile and had great success. I don’t really want to do it any other way now from what I learned playing the ground game. They come so close and it makes the bow very easy. I seen it in the comments and there is 2 critical things along with wind.. background and timing of your movements. Vision is limited and things happen fast but its very rewarding when ready. Mobility is nice too like you mentioned. I setup places watch the deer move and then relocate to what I leaned instantly. Killed a lot I shouldn’t have because of instant mobility. Great video btw.
It’s hard to go back to a tree once you learn the game. Thanks you and best of luck this season!
Facts! Same to you!
Wow. This was on point. THANK YOU! This is my 2nd year hunting and I have not been successful. I’m excited to use this info for tonight’s ground hunt!
Good luck!
Great video, but I have to say, it really is how you said it: You can get away with much more than you think. And that goes for you too. I've ground hunted for 3 years now, and I've had deer graze 15 yards out for 30 minutes without ever noticing me, sitting next to a tree, after a fresh snow. All with no camo, and in sparse woods. In the same area I shot an 8 point from 60 yards while actively moving. He walked up on me as I was standing in plain sight with no cover. I know the things you say would increase your chances of success, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in. And I'll be the first to admit I'm a relatively inexperienced hunter. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the support
7:37
One note about peripheral vision.
Many people don't know why Samurai, taught students to actually glance SLIGHTLY down during combat battlefield chaos.
It actually increases your peripheral vision if you are centered slightly lower.
We might assume it's best to focus on your opponents eyes.
And many sports teach us to focus on hips and shoulders, for cues to movement.
But peripheral vision is notably increased, for humans, by altering that angle from a plane parallel to the horizon, adjusting angle slightly down from that
Presumably then. Deer lowering their heads increase their peripheral vision further. Specifically beside and behind them.
No, deers vision is not like ours at all, they’re peripheral vision is insane they can see about 300 degrees without moving their head so pretty much directly behind them is the only blind spot
A big tree fell by my stand last year and i decided to sit by it one time and seeing deer come in close. It's beats sitting in a stand any day.
@@HankAaronJoseph19 absolutely
My first archery buck was sitting on the ground. Had a few stare downs 👀 before I could take the shot.
I live for those stare downs. That’s how my first buck was
Thanks for posting! I don't have alot of time to hunt and scout right now, so I've been "run & gun" with my longbow and tree stand. The problem with that is if the wind shifts, or I need to make a move for other reasons, its not so easy. Ground hunting could really add some flexibility. Great video.
Thank you and good luck!
They also are very familiar with their surroundings. Such as if you are standing there, they may not know what you are but realize you weren't there the last time they came through. They pickup movement very well. If you move they see you, trust me camo or not. They see like 180 degrees with both eyes.
One of the best hunting videos I’ve ever seen. Really appreciate your camera angles and great explanations.
@@americansafarico glad you liked it!
Some of the best advice I've heard in a long time.
@@johnmartin9090 thank you!
Back in the day - we made our own camo and it worked perfect. BIG TIP Sharpie (black), gray and/or light brown sweat pants (bow season). Block off sections of clothing to make "tree bark" lines. We stole idea from the "Tree Bark" clothing line in 70s. Make bark sections 3 to 4 inches or so .... breaks up outline. Paint face and we washed in baking soda/air dried. In fact, I still use Baking Soda. I can wash all season for a few bucks compared to $100. You are hunting the wind anyway. I wash my hair in BS as well - while leaving a little in my wet hair in case I sweat. I activate the soda with my sweat - helps a little i think.
@@solocam1962 old school is still cool
This is extremely well put together. I’ve been trying to find tips on hunting from the ground for a while now. I’m a new hunter and it just isn’t in the budget this year to get a tree stand. I feel so disadvantaged at times when I’m out there and it’s frustrating. I will definitely keep these tips in mind when I get back out there. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome. I spent many of my first years bow hunting on the ground and those lessons contribute to my success today. Best of luck
No need to feel disadvantaged. You can set up in front of natural cover almost anywhere, think of it as having the lightest set up out there, just having a small tripod stool.
I’m with you brother, I started bowhunting last year and I only hunt from the ground. It was a challenge I wanted, but almost no one shows you how to do it. I’ve made many mistakes and have blown my chances many times with stupid things, and that’s on top of the many times I sit and see nothing. It is frustrating but I think in reality, people that are honest, this takes a long time to master and start seeing success in. That’s what my wife and family try to tell me when I come in discourage haha.
Hey make yourself a ground blind with wooden stakes and camouflage fabric or burlap. Just tack the fabric to four steaks, and you can stick em in the ground when you find a spot you wanna set but you want the comfort of additional cover.
The bank of a river that is higher than the other side. Or a steep ridge that acts as a treestand above their sight. Shootin through multiple trunks
Awesome info! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am a new traditional bow Hunter.
Thank you. Best of luck out there 🤙🏼
Sat in a tree stand a handful of times in 30 years. Have had a lot of success and plenty of bow success too. Bow hunting on the ground is the ultimate whitetail challenge.
@@mattgohlke8216 absolutely 👍🏼
I have done that years ago me and my grey bark black widow have done it turkey hunting too. Good luck!!!👍👍👍
I recall seeing some animal biologists who studied dear and their findings were that deer weren't just sensitive to blues, but blues and whites lit up like Christmas trees. Especially if they'd been washed in any cleaner that doesn't block UV. Some hunting gear is bade now to specifically block UV absorption so you don't look, to the deer, what is the equivalent of standing under a black light at a disco.
@@Swearengen1980 absolutely
Two hip replacements, vertigo, and age have me hunting from blinds or on the ground these days. My favorite method for ground hunting is with a saddle. It gives you the advantage of using the tree for cover. I can sit or lean and a deer can only see a few inches of you. I can also use the tree to hide the movement of drawing the bow. You're just a blob at the base of the tree. My saddle, which I wear in is like wearing a belt, (CGM Sidewinder), with the tether and knee pads is barely 2 pounds of gear. I got tired of hauling a chair. I bought a used Guido's Web and a JX3 off eBay but haven't used them yet, but man are they comfortable. No need to keep your knees against the tree as they have a stand off. They will bring your total weight to about 10 pounds or so but both serve as pack frames and are very comfortable to wear in. I'll never haul a chair around the woods again, and I'm not sitting on the ground or shooting from a kneeling position, too old for that stuff.
Good on you for still being out there my friend
Good stuff, Ethan! Older guy here,trying to have fun, relax and take a couple for the table.
The world is your oyster on the ground. Tree stands are past tense for me.
@@johnrudy9404 for sure.
Ethan.
I have an archery window, 3weeks,
Okanagan Valley and Kootenay Mountains in British Columbia
(our back yard)
Dec 1st to 21st.
And it is already snowing quite significantly.
Any advice specifically for archery ground hunting whitetail in December in snow?
I just stumbled upon your channel. I’ve never been a tree stand hunter. I’ve always hunted from the ground, I just never felt comfortable and it just never felt right from a tree stand. Had to step away from hunting due to health reasons, but finding myself being able to go back to hunting. Your video has helped me to remember some of the basics I had forgotten from being away for 7 to 10 years from hunting. Definitely following you and going back to watch your older videos. I have used ground blinds in certain situations here the Mountain State of WV. I’ve even used unprinted cut burlap to use as a blind with thumb tacks cover in the field with success. It takes a lot to cover my 5’ 10” 260.lb frame.
Thanks again.
I also see you only use trad gear to hunt. Not many do this anymore. Like to know about your set up.
Thanks for watching and I wish you best of luck.
For sure. I’ve got a lot of videos about my set ups I hope you can get some knowledge from.
@@EthanPageHunterlook forward to watching them. Currently I shoot a a Ben Pearson Gamemaster, Ben Pearson Collegiate, Bear Ausable Longbow and a Montgomery Ward Warden I believe. Those are all recurves except the Bear. Just getting my gear and practice in and hunt next fall. I’m thinking of buying a Western Fleetwood Knights.
Thanks again.
Awesome video!! Thank you for all the great information 🙏 I hunt public land and in order to get deep into the property, the less gear I have to carry the further I can walk and get away from everyone else. I'm going to try your advice for a while and see what happens. PS this is only my first year hunting so I have a lot to learn.
@@robcarr8505 best of luck!
Great video. I have taken many deer from the ground with a bow. My favorite setup is using ground contour to hide me on their approach. You can hear them coming but can not see them and they can't see me either.
@@NatureCam5-WeR5 good tactic 👍🏼
Thank you for putting out this video. It is very well timed, I am headed out with my long bow tomorrow in an areas were I do not have permission to hang stands.
Best of luck
Thank you for this video, i am a avid ground hunter. This was helpful.
Glad you liked it.
Great tips thanks for sharing, I’ve been wanting to hunt more off the ground and think I’m going to give it a go.
Do it. Good luck
Use the terrain features. A deadfall with bushes and briars. But movement is critical. Ive shot 18 yrds. And as close as 3yrds.
You still need a stand. Put up a big ladder stand slip in early, hide off to the side. The deer will see that no one is in the stand and come right on through. Works every time
@@milesclifft8099 you do have a point. In pressured areas it can work. I’ve heard of guys cutting out human silhouettes and painting them black, then leaving them up in their stand all year.
Awesome video. Someday I’ll be out of this crummy desert in Az and in the real woods of the Midwest or east coast and will apply these tips. Thanks
Best of luck!
I'm just too hyper 😅. Still hunting requires a lot of ability to be STILL, much of the time. I also just love the field of elevated vision. All that being said, I prefer to be on the ground. I really love it during a light rain. I'll try and learn something from this, thanks
Great content 👍🏻👊🏻
Thank you much
Excellent video , I learned alot today. Will give it a try.
Goad to help. Good luck
Im going hunting for my first time tomorrow. I’ll be hunting from the ground. Thanks for the video.
That’s awesome. Best of luck
Great Advice, I'm getting older and knees aint what they used to be.
@@mattwinters9790 find a good seat to get you off the ground and have at it. Best of luck!
Only my second hunt tonight after work I set up in that 10ish foot area but got busted. Big buck hissed at me and then darted off after about 2-3 minutes. I definitely need to be more in the shadows then I was. I was in a little cove of shrubbery but I may not have been still enough. Never felt such adrenaline before in my life!
@@jgo8305 good stuff!
My favorite is a fallen tree with a thick background. I seem to hunt more from the ground then I use my stands, lol.
@@danielherring9324 that’s a money combination
@EthanPageHunter It's always worked for me. Unfortunately, I won't be hunting anymore this year. I hydroplaned and totaled my truck, broke my hip, and have to have surgery on the ligaments of my wrist at a later date. Can't put any weight on my right leg for a minimum of eight weeks. So my season is shot this year. Good luck to you this year.
Very informative and timely Ethan, thanks. I was out this weekend after white-tails for the first time since I was quite young. I used a combination of tree stand and natural ground blind, depending on the situation. My biggest problem on the ground is finding a position from which to shoot. I noticed you were on your knees. Can you stay in that position for a long time? I can not. Do you sometimes sit and if so stand or kneel before shooting which would be a lot of movement? I guess I am looking for suggestions on what to do to remain somewhat comfortable on the ground but still be able to shoot.
I stand quite often. I have carpenter knees and kneeling kills me after so long. There are some great options for seats and stools out there that I have been wanting to explore for some time now. I think that would be helpful for you.
Check out the Waldrop Pac Seat. @@EthanPageHunter
@BackwardsHatNation I just picked up a swivel seat at cabellas and it is absolutely amazing. It's not heavy and very comfortable. It's got 3 legs and they have pads so they don't sink far in soft ground. COst me 140 canadian but definitely worth every penny in my opinion. I climb trees for a living so my body is tore up.. I mostly do ground hunting and have had a lot of success, but being comfortable is key to a successful hunt
bring a little fold chair that you can hook to your belt. don't use one with legs that will sink into the ground
I hunt from a folding chair that's drab green and I shot a buck 2 weeks ago I noticed that you better be in position for the shot with little movement or they will pick you out thats the hardest thing to over come on the ground in a tree stand you can see the deer coming from a distance on the ground the deer just appears in front of you and you have be ready
I paint my face up every time I hunt. Have done it for years. A deer can make out a "round human face" in the woods.
@@SPECIALKJ49 for sure
Like hunting on the ground, hardest part is being comfortable, legs falling asleep etc. if you can’t get comfortable, you won’t sit still and chances are if you are in a super comfortable position it’s not conducive to drawing your bow so it’s finding that happy medium, a small chair is nice however, your terrain dictates if you can use it or not . Have you had luck using the portable three seats that just attached to a tree?
I am planning on experimenting with some of those options. Most my experience is just on the bare ground.
This is my 2nd season and a treestand just isnt within the budget now… still havent got my first deer feel like i have a lot to learn i feel like i dont know the first thing about hunting the only time i even saw a deer in the woods was in a spot my dad set me up in but hes not going out every weekend like me so its rare that i actually have his help with these things
@@MileytheJeepV2 everything in time man. Stay the course and you’ll get it done. Best of luck!
@@EthanPageHunter thats what im hoping for man just trying to learn as much as i possibly can from RUclips lol
@@MileytheJeepV2 I’ll suggest some good channels; clay hays, Robert Carter, Jason Samkowiak (samko trad bow), Bill Winky and whitetail habitat solutions. All very knowledgeable men with trustworthy information.
@@EthanPageHunter appreciate that. Right now im pretty much thinking i need to learn how to find spots to sit better and then just spend every weekend out in those spots and im bound to see something eventually
@@MileytheJeepV2 hang the bow up and go walk walk walk. Spend a ton of time just scouting and finding a hunt-able population of deer. Try public or knock on doors for private. Find a population to hunt. Break that area down till you figure out bedding and feeding. Then break it down a step farther to find their travel routes in between. Find pinch points, crossings, what field edges they use and so on. Then find spots on those points to set up close. Play the wind and follow those tips and you will get into deer. But you won’t find them burning time where there’s no game.
I learned to hunt from stands and only hunted that way for years, then someone advised me to just walk around, still hunting or stalking. I’ve had a lot more success after taking that advice, but you have to hunt somewhere that is possible and safe enough.
@@timbaggott7928 it’s more intense for sure.
Great video! I'm new to this. Today I was ground hunting in VT and there was no foliage anywhere. It was just tree trunks and dry brown leaves on the ground. I found 3 trees together and used my camo shirt draped over a string on 1 side and I cut down a small pine tree to block the other side and the 3rd side was wide open and then I sat on a folding stool . It wasn't very good imo. It felt like the camo shirt was a big square blotch that the deer would find suspicious cause there wasn't anything else around like that .Can you do a video for where there is limited ground cover? Also the area I set up was in a low area and the ground was soggy and muddy. Do deer avoid ground that is soggy or will they walk through it?
@@SteelMaceNationPodcast deer tend to follow the cover and within the cover, path of least resistance.
good video and i could of watched for hours. been bow hunting on ground for many years. like the host said don't give the deers a clean full picture of you. i'll find a tree that gives me shots from three sides and hides me from the fourth. i immediately clear all leaves and debri away from all around the tree so i can quietly reposition myself if need be. theres always downed branches around so i will drag a few to my spot and position them around me to break up my image. now if i see the deer before it sees me i have a good chance of connecting.
Well said 🤙🏼
Thanks. Nice video. You use rattling, grunt or bleating calls much? Any scent control?
I don’t believe in scent products.. deers nose are far more powerful than manufactured gimmicks. I’ve not found rattling to always pay off it’s very situationally dependent and best with a decoy. I don’t call much unless it’s to a deer I see. And that is usually snort wheeze. Those work very regularly.
I agree about scents; they are worthless! However! I have called in many nice bucks using a rattle bag in conjunction w/the Can, and some grunts. Nothing works 100% of the time, but if there is a horny buck around, hears a horny doe+2 bucks fighting... They come looking!! But, back to your vid, I ground hunt because I'm old, but they see my white face from 100 yds away! So, I always use a mask or paint. Seriously, I've had deer come to 10 yds away; they aren't sure what I am-looks like a human, but it doesn't. By then I have the arrow thru them. I even try to use those in gun season
I would never underestimate a deer’s vision
I can't climb in a treestand to old so i sit the ground and have good luck and been hunting for 30 years
@@davidkanalos6710 can’t beat it!
Great video. Do you hunt kneeling down or sitting on something? If kneeling down, how do your legs not get numb?
@@charlieliao8021 I have a little folding stool I use in occasion of I sit down. When it’s time to get ready I shift to my knees. A seat of some kind is the better option.
Awesome information.. 👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you!
@BackwardsHatNation lm up in Northeastern Ontario Canada... hunting in Port Loring area. Have alot of of problems with too many Wolves and Coyotes.
Good job brother. There has been plot times where I know I would have got a better shot from the ground under my stand
Absolutely
I’ve always ground hunted. Bought a stand and I just hate it, I just know I’m in a bad spot no matter how well I set it up
Ive hunted both ground and tree seems to get seen more in a tree guess less cover. Only advantage from a tree is seeing farther
Excellent video, my goals for this year, lofty as they may be, is a deer from the ground, natural blinds and with my selfbow
Not lofty at all. Good luck!
@@EthanPageHunterthank you, best of luck to you the rest of your season
Harvested 19 Black tail deer on the ground still hunting.
Heck of a record
Might sound weird but, Do you have any thoughts on how you actually sit on the ground? Kneeling? Siting cross legged? Open legged? Can never figure it out when I’m out there
I generally stand it sit on my legs/knees
What do you all sit on? Being in my late 50s I’m not a fan of climbing anymore and want to ground hunt so trying to learn
@@tonyguerrier2258 are use a cheap folding seat meant for dove hunting
5gal bucket with a cushion lid
I will add a comment for camo and scent control, I was wearing my combination of realtree brush shirt and pants and a mossy oak tree pattern ski/face mask. I'm on public ground with a walking path cutting through it and was going down the path to see what was around the bend before pulling out for the day. In this area, there is practically no low brush and I had one tree about 2 yards from me, almost between myself and a deer that popped out from around a brush pile. I stood as still as I could, bow was on my side, so I had no chance of getting a shot, and the deer decided I looked like a funny tree. I was hoping it would turn and walk away, but instead it looked directly at me and started to come towards me, moving its head to figure out what I was. I had a small chance when it crossed the side of the tree, but wasn't quick enough and had to freeze again. It focused on me a good bit longer before I twitched or something that caused it to spook.
You’ll see similar results with solids and plaid shirt. But that’s a great experience 100%
Great tools and tips!
Thank you
Fun fact: tree stands wasn’t a thing until after ww2 when Marines saw Japanese troops use them to great effect. Only difference is that deer don’t shoot back.
That’s some cool history. Thanks!
new subscriber
sounds like a great channel to learn from
Welcome aboard
In the 70’s I remember first hearing about hunting out of a tree. No one had a tree stand, but had usually heard of it. The word was “deer do not look up”; it might have even been “deer CAN NOT look up”. And it seemed true at that time. Now they are born looking up, it seems. Selective breeding. Look up, or never live to have babies that look up.
All prey animals evolve in ways.
Thanks so much for this video! Questions: what time of day are you typically heading out to your spot and how long are you staying in the same spot?
I like to get in 1 hour before sunrise (half hour before first light) and afternoons just depends. Could be any time but I stay generally 4ish hours
Excellent presentation
Thank you
Watched this with a small window while I did other work. I couldnt see ya half the time. lol
Love the video. Wish you'd have covered being surprised from behind
Happens once in awhile. Hunting trails and crossings it’s very rare
Im worried about my stand placement not because of the wind but because of my silhouette. Just like you said. I knew I blew it when I did it that day. It’s okay if I stay frozen I suppose. What to do? On having whatched your tutorial it hit me! I own my own land so cutting tress is not an issue……cut down a hemlock and run it up beside my tree stand . Thanks Dave
Creating cover is often necessary
Im going to be hunting with my recurve all season long and strictly from the ground on public land in NWF thick woods and tricky to hunt but it is possible.
Best of luck!
As an old guy I don't want to climb, so ground hunting is a good idea for me.
However, what do you recommend sitting on? I get stiff just sitting on the ground, because I can't get comfortable.
Thank you for the content!
@@williamuhl252 a folding “dove hunting” seat at Walmart is a great option and cheep. I’ve got carpenter/concrete worker knees I know all about it lol
Try a small folding seat or tri stool in tall grass or beside a big tree. That’s what I use during archery, during gun I sit on the ground.
@@williamuhl252 noble savage has pretty good advice. I tend to lean towards sitting on the ground as I still have not found the chair/seat that I like. But I get stiff and uncomfortable as well.
@@EthanPageHunter I like the idea of sitting on a small seat with a back, in taller weeds. I'm looking forward to trying that! Best of luck to you!
@@NobleSavage44 I will definitely take your advice. Thank you for helping me think outside of the box. I have been a treestand hunter for almost 50 years.
becuase of my size I don't like to tree stands, I have been quite successful just sitting on the ground next to a tree watching a trail.
I used to hunt with a guy that ground hunted barefoot exclusively,and he did just as well as the rest of us
@@Edaloy27 that’s one way to do it!
I'm a new traditional hunter. Earned my license late last year and went small game hunting with my Mesa Longbow several times. No success, but had a lot of fun experiencing the public land near me. I've been really racking my brain on ground hunting - I'm the only traditional hunter in my friends. I jumped straight to the longbow and have never used rifle or compound. Thanks for this video - I'm convinced this is my route. Do you take a milk crate to sit on? What do you do about ticks, bugs, etc. when on the ground? Thanks everyone. No one else in my family hunts, so please share your wisdom!
@@kylecarroll4339 sorry I am so long getting back to you I missed your comment apparently.
Good on you for dedicating yourself. It is not an easy path but very rewarding.
I normally just sit on the ground and shift into my knees for the shot. However, I do have folding stool from Walmart intended for dove hunting that works well.
Ticks, chiggers, etc. I normally just roll with the punches. But when deer season arrives in the Midwest they are generally a non issue. I hope that helps.
Not only does all the hunting stuff cost a bunch, it’s a hassle to get used to using and dangerous as well. At 52 years old, I’ll do a ladder stand or a nice tree stand but not a saddle, climber or hanger………..it’s gonna be fixed to the tree with giant nails. I know guys who have fallen, it sucks and takes a long time to heal.
@@jasonhinson3812 no sense in getting banged up for sure.
Great video! Although, deer aren’t colour blind.
@@backwooddesignco research would disagree. There are different levels and/or types of color blindness.
Thanks again for another great video. I’ve been trying to kill a mature deer from the ground for four years now maybe this will be the year!
I hope so. Good luck!
Suscribed. I want to do this. Thanks for the tips.
Thank you so much. And best of luck!
Great video. Great tips 👍
Thank you
Do you have issues on cloudy days when there are no shadows to tuck into?
Nope. I prefer cloudy honestly. Everything is darker and moving is quieter.
I hunt on the ground 99% of the time now. No more carrying in tree stands and setting up in the dark. And then dragging the deer out along with all that equipment on my back. Just a small backpack and my gun. Sometimes deers come in from behind me. And that's when I freeze myself...sometimes they get sense something is up and they hurry along and disappear. Sometimes they keep walking and I get my tag filled
That’s awesome!
Ethan, do you have any recommended resources or books on learning to ground hunt? A started using a saddle last year, but am interested in ground hunting for less clunkiness, setup time, and noise
@@dtaylor3275 Stalking and Still hunting by G. Fred Asbell. He was not only a legend in the community but he was a very successful ground hunter. That would be a good place to start 👍🏼
Thanks so much for the reply! Will be checking into this book.
@@dtaylor3275 absolutely
Where you at in Mo.? I'm from SE Ks.
@@FreeRange1234 north
By dissecting their eye balls and disassembling their cell structures we know beyond doubt they see lower blue well, green well, yellow well. Orange very very little (looks more yellow), red no. They think the blue came up from hunting them for hundreds of generations in bluejeans. The survivors tended to see better into the blue.
What if you have to wear hunter orange because you know there will be a good amount of shooters in the woods that day?
@@awesomepumashoes brush in best as you can but I’ve never had deer be affected by orange.
Ok, Movement, wind, backdrop, and luck! Right?😊 If the champion hide and seek master, Sasquatch can do it, we can do it!😂
I’ve only been able to do this on days where it is still with light rain with no wind. I’m in the mid Atlantic hunting hilly forests where thermals change and wind swirls right around prime deer movement time, making it impossible to reliably set up on the upwind side of where I think deer will come from.
I have a similar issue on most public in my area and on my own property. Very hilly, constantly shifting, swirling winds. I still hunt from the ground quite a bit. I just really pick and choose the days to do it.
@@daksskier7416 what conditions do you look for? I’ve only ever been able to see deer still hunting or in ground blind on still, overcast / light rain days like when a cold front comes in. Otherwise the sun warms the hillsides and thermals get moving. Cold and sunny or anything with wind and I use a tree stand.
I believe you meant setting up on the downwind side ?
Yep. Mid Appalachia here. When I hear, and we all hear it a lot, "gotta play the wind!". OK.
My favorite way to hunt! Great video!
@@Nature_Wild_And_Free thanks!
How do you tell when a game trail is worth hunting other than putting a trail camera on it?
You’ll know it when you see it. If there are fresh tracks on top of tracks and beaten down, that’s considered a Highway. They most often found between bedding and food sources.
Wait for rain and check for tracks that have water in them! or looks fresh that have dirt freshly kicked out you will be able to tell
Walked into 2 does this morning and sat right next to them for 10 minutes before realizing they where 30 yards bedded down tried to let my buddy take a shot cause he’s never killed one and he missed and I took a bad shot just trying to get his leftovers lol 😂
Do you use a seat, if so what kind or do you sit on the ground?
@@hollywoodhefner2 I’ve tried a little of everything. Currently I use a folding seat for dove hunting.
@@EthanPageHunter Thanks. Good to know.
@@hollywoodhefner2 absolutely 👍🏼