Do you prefer to hunt from the trees or the ground for deer?

[Goshawk]

Do you prefer to hunt from the trees or the ground for deer?

Where I like to hunt is very thick in the October season. I don’t think I could shoot 15yds while standing on the ground w/o going through brush, leaves, branches and trees. I like to position myself over the thick stuff at this time of year.
This is a picture that kind of shows what I mean when I say small openings. When sitting in my tree stand, the small flat area is located in front of me on the side of the hill. Circled in red are some of the small openings where I can shoot at deer. The red arrow shows a path that the deer use to move to and form the fields. The Pic was taken 3 OCT 09. Below is a video of the deer walking through that exact area where the red arrow is, ground level.

This is what you would see if you were standing on the ground. The doe are moving along the path of the red line in the above picture. Taken by my trail camera. 15 OCT 09 The snow definitely helps.


Even though I might have a shot or two at 65yds while hunting from the trees, it’s a very small window of opportunity, even while the deer are walking slowly. (and especially when I am napping)
The rut did not start yet where I hunted in Oct. The buck are not chasing the doe all over the place yet and there is no pressure from other hunters so the deer are just meandering around, following their trails to and from there bedding and feeding areas (as in the video). While there are still leaves on the trees I like to hunt from an elevated position, especially just below a ridge, the side of a hill or mountain. At least from this position and can get a shot at something moving in and out of the small open areas.

When the leaves fall and the buck start chasing the doe around that is a different story! I switch to the ground.



Good Hunting
.690RB

 

[410-er]

Alot of guys hunt the farm I hunt.They are in the woods and complain about no deer.I hunt in the cornfields as see deer.
I wash my brown coveralls in baking soda then hang them around a good smoky wood and leaf fire.Before goin out I wash hair and body with Ivory soap.Also brush teeth good and keep a peppermint in my mouth.Had deer many times at 10yds in the corn even with wind blowing at them.
Late season in Dec. I usually go to the Tree Lounge in the woods.

 

[flyfisher76544]

Here in the area I hunt during most of the season you have to use a tree stand. Too much under brush and the leaves stay on the tree a lot longer. Sometimes though when I can find a nice clean open area, I will definately set-up on the ground.

 

[Turbojet 54]

I prefer to hunt from the ground. Deer don't climb trees. :blah: Actually, I look for a blow down & sit on it. It gives a little cover, a place to sit, & usually a decent branch to use as a rest. I clear the leaves, about 3' by 3' on both sides of the main trunk. I can quietly move to one side or the other when I hear an approaching deer. The noise it takes to clear the leaves sounds like a deer scratching around for acorns. :thumbsup:

 

[bobman]

I do both but as I age I find the ground more comfortable. I often just sit at the base of a tree in a shadow and kill deer regularly but the tree stand does give good advantage.

I can catch some ZZZ's on the ground without falling out or dropping my weapon, sometimes thats nice too.

 

[larry wv]

Tree for Bow. Ground for gun. This season I had some inner ear trouble start of the season and was on the ground more. I seldom get picked out in a tree but do more on the ground. This is not being winded but being eye balled to death. You hunters know what I mean. Larry wv

 

[RonT]

Here's a suggestion. Somehow click up "tree seat Dean Torges" and get specs.
R

 

[broknaero]

Before discovering the wonders of black powder I did a lot of bow hunting. Spent a lot of time in trees. Now due to injury I dont bow hunt anymore. I carry a little 3 leg folding stool in the woods with me, hangs on a shoulder strap just above my possibles bag. I do have some tree stands in areas where the terrain requires, but my favorite spot is on the edge of a big swamp a few hundred yards from a neighbors corn field. The deer and bear get pushed off his property when the hunters walk in and filter down into my swamp. The Mountain Laural is so thick if I was in a tree stand I wouldn't be able to see the ground. At ground level I have a 30 to 50 yard shot at my lucky spot.

 

[rabjr]

Nine feet off the ground is my limit. The back of my CATV. :wink:

Or on the ground in a tent blind, no trees for me.

 

[MikeC]

Bow hunting I prefer to be in a tree.

Muzzy hunting on the ground.

 

[Trench]

I'm a ground guy. I like to move every couple of hours. I got my first deer that I spotted while creeping through the woods.

 

[texcl]

I do both, I find that a stand is better for my area when hunting corn because the added elevation exposes the deer you would otherwise not see. I prefer to spot and stalk later in the season partially because it gets so darn cold, it is the only way to keep from freezing up.

 

[roundball]

Ground is always my first choice...safer, warmer, more comfortable, thermos & food right there beside me, better visibility through the woods if leaves are still on the trees...ie: I've seen deer legs moving towards my area when I never would have seen the deer from above the understory.

I have one place where I also have a ladder stand up in case the wind is swiring like it often does there...but Saturday morning, I sat in my little natural ground blind, just 5 feet away from the ladder stand because I had the wind in my favor...

 

[gmww]

I've hunted ground blinds, and tower blinds. Climbing into a tree blind is a bit nerve racking for me.

Lately I hunt a farm with a lot of fields. I'll sometimes set up a blind on the edge using a pop-up blind. Other times I'll stack hay bails. I even used hay sheds and sit looking out the cracks for deer as they walk by.

 

[PreglerD]

Hello from Germany!

Here it is very common to hunt from treestands. There are several reasons:

1) Germany is very dense populated so it is a fact of safe shooting when you can shoot from up to down and have a secure bullet catch in the ground

2) When sitting in a treestand you have a better overview, especially when hunting in forsts with brush areas where you can't look inside from a ground blind (roedeer like this thickets).

3)Wind and hunters scent is not so fast to mention for deer because you sit 2-3 meters above them.

Regards

Kirrmeister

 

[fyrfyter43]

Germany is very dense populated so it is a fact of safe shooting when you can shoot from up to down and have a secure bullet catch in the ground.

I prefer hunting from the ground, but this is the one reason why I find myself using a tree stand more and more.

 

[longcruise]

I fell once while climbing up to a tree stand. Been more on the ground since then. :haha: But, have still on occassion taken to a tree.

Tree stand hunting is not as popular here in the west. It's done mind you and in some certain conditions it is the best way to go.

I have a portable blind but am afraid to use it during any firearm season, including ML.

 

[bigbore442001]

For me, it is 90% treestand. Here in Southern New England there isn't enough room in my opinion to properly still hunt deer. You can but you run the significant risk of pushing deer into other hunters. I have done it enough times to realize that I am better off to hunt from some sort of stand.

 

[Flintlock58]

I still hunt, use ground blinds, and also have an enclosed stand made 8 ft off the ground on a old fuel drum stand. Shot deer using all of them but like the enclosed stand in our late Nov. gun season.

 

[Wolfbane]

I have never even seem treestands for sale over here. Guess we have more room. I still hunt because that is what I know, though some of the terrain in the pictures above would present great challenges to quiet movement.