Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Shooting and Hunting => Topic started by: woodsman1031 on April 27, 2009, 02:37:24 pm
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Hello,
This is going to be my first primative archery season in October. I have always hunted from a 16' stand, but Using a longbow I am going to probably still hunt or hunt stationary on the ground. I know alot of yall use a longbow from a tree stand, but I dont have the means/time to drive to my place in the country to practice from the stand often enough to become proficient. I also like the idea of being close to the game.
Here in my county in Tx you can only take doe in archery season. One day several years ago I still hunted when it was drizzling. I got within 7 yards of a doe, but I could not shoot her because I was gun hunting. It was an absolute rush being that close to her! I have not still hunted since then because I got the tree stands the next season. I am hoping to get that same rush this year.
Tommy
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I hunt from a stand and from the ground. I'll stalk when the weather/wind is in my favor or even during the rut. I enjoy hunting from the ground more and more. I probably spend most of my time in a climbing stand. Do what makes you happy. Good luck this fall.
Tracy
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i prefer to hunt from the truck window, but the steering wheel catches my bottom limb every time.......ok maybe not.... but seriously i really enjoy hunting on the ground, if i am on the ground i like to sneak around creek bottoms where there is a bit of noise, if i am in a stand its a 12ft high latter stand i make from lumber, sometimes here in FL, you just have to get up off the ground b\c its just so flat.
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I hunt out of a tree stand about 99% of the time. I like hunting from the ground, but I feel the deer have a distinct advantage over you on the ground. Its not as much about them seeing or hearing you, its more about them smelling you, and it seems to happen much more frequently to me on the ground.
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Mostly still hunting and spot and stalk for me.. but i enjoy long hours in the stand also... every species is different and terrain allows for different tactics.. good luck brother and shoot straight.. Hawk
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Never tried a tree stand but I've hunted from behind blinds and also stalking on foot. I prefer to stalk...I get REALLY impatient if I'm sitting still and I want to shoot every possum, skunk, rabbit, and snake that goes by. >:D
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I enjoy both methods, depending on the mood I'm in.
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For deer I would agree with Ryan about the advantage's of a tree stand. But when hunting elk witch is most of my season it's a cat and mouse game and all about positioning. When I locate the elk the first thing to do is figure out his situation. Single or with cows, cautious or hot and coming n fast. From there it's studying the terrain and figuring out how to use it to your advantage. Wind direction,cover and shooting lanes are some of the factors but also sun position,and natural known pathways. The out thinking and strategy is the most exhilarating factor of the hunt. Elk are always full of surprises. even after 30+ years of hunting. But and afternoon in a tree stand over a wallow on a hot summer day can be rewarding as well.
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I don't know much about East Texas, but here in the Black Hills of South Dakota it's pretty feasible to ground stalk deer because of the heavy ground cover (ponderosa pine seedlings so thik it's called "doghair") and the broken terrain. I am no expert at ground stalking, but I got a doe a few years ago just by spotting her and sneaking up on her on the other side of a small ridgeline. The last 20 yds I stalked was in the wide open, but I had lots of groundcover behind me to mask my profile and it was a windy day so all the motion around her masked my movements. The other deer I got was a very large mule deer buck, and I was in the wide open in a small meadow with a half dozen does that he was seriously interested in servicing. I coulda approached him in a clown car with a full contingent of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey's best and he woulda ignored me. Stuck him at 15 yds, pure luck, plain and simple. NEVER underestimate the power of luck, spend enough time in the woods and something has to break for you eventually.
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I'm a ground hunter all the way. I like to find a good trail and set up on the down wind side of it, i usually have a few ground blinds made up, so if the wind changes so can i. The first deer i shot was from 5 yards on the ground. Talk about a rush ! Plus it's easier to take a nap on the ground :D
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On the ground. Usually stalking. Actually, pretty much only stalking. My first year I had luck sitting, but since then I've never had the patience. I disdain to hunt from trees- I'm so darn impatient :D.
Getting within range has never been a problem. Getting an arrow into the deer however... :D
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If there is alot of ground coverI tree stand or ground blind hunt there is too much chance of busting deer out of their beds and a nice buck wont put up with that much without hatn up for good.If visability is good then spot and stalk can work and be very enjoyable.If your just out to fill a tag a tree stand is hard to beat for white tail.
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I stand hunt a little but really enjoy the spot and stalk.Nothing like coming eye to eye with your quarry.Last year I stalked to within 10 yds of 2 different bucks but couldn,t shoot because they weren,t legal but it was a RUSH!!Any type of hunting makes me happy.Lloyd
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Rather get busted on the ground, than kill a critter from a Tree stand ;D .....certanly tree stands are much more productive, but nothing beats getting amongst them ;)
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I live in SW washington state. i hunted blacktail from the ground for 5 years- either stalking or in improvised blinds. never got a thing. never even took a shot. . Last september first i hunted from a tree for the first time- (not a real stand, but a 12x24 inch chunk of wood lashed to the tree).At 3pm that day, i took a 15 foot shot into the lungs of a doe with an obsidian point- she went 100 yards . I'd like to get one from the ground one day, but i'd say a treestand is the way to go for beginners like me.
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Although I own two tree stands, I rarely use them.
I build a stick blind and hunt from the ground, eye ball to eye ball and last year I killed two whitetails with my self bow, shooting from my chair.
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Thanks for all of the input everyone.
Just for grins I went out to the woods yesterday about 4p to see if I could creep around in the drizzle and find a hog. I did not see any hogs, but I was able to get shots at 2 cottontails. I missed both of them ;D. The grass was so tall that I could only see the their heads. Both shots were about 10-12 yards. One shot went just to the left of the head(lost my arrow)the second went just over. If I could have seen the whole rabbit and aimed at his whole body instead of his head, I would have had some kills. I still had fun though. It built up my confidence some because both of those shots would have been within the vitals on a hog or deer. I saw some squirrels on the ground really close and I may have taken a shot, but they are out of season in my county. You definitely see alot more of the woods when you are still hunting.
Tommy
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Sounds like a good time Tommy. Next time aim for the eyeball and you will hit em ! aim small miss small !!
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Rather get busted on the ground, than kill a critter from a Tree stand ;D .....certanly tree stands are much more productive, but nothing beats getting amongst them ;)
I hear ya brada tree stands scare the cwap outta me. I don't trust em' that's why I prefer to be on the ground and up close.
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I use a healthy mix of treestands, natural cover on the ground, and stillhunting or stalking. The latter is my favorite method, but conditions have to be right. I've managed to spot several whitetails and slip up on them for a killing shot. Those are the most heartpounding hunts.
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i like the ground, i hunt outta ladderstands on private property thats it, on the ground allows you to see for country and animals and keeps hunting fun and different from sitting in a tree for 8 hours..
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I cant afford a treestand so Ive ground hunted for 8 years now. Last year was my first stick bow hunt and a buck walked right toword me within 10 feet. when I drew he turned to run down hill a I miss calculated the shoot and missed but that was the first time in 8 years that Ive been within 50 yards of a deer in season. And I think its all from primitive archery. Joel
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How do I hunt? As honorably and as often as possible!!! LOL I like treestands and ground hunting.Whatever works for the are I'm hunting.
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Hey Tommy,how are ya? You might want to check your regs again in Anderson Co.,(or was it Freestone?),because, this past season,and every season for the last few years,you can take one buck,and 2 does during archery season.It's the same as in my county.It's changing next season however,to the 13" inside spread for one buck,then a second buck with at least one un-branched antler,and 2 does.I think this will happen in Anderson and Freestone as well,but check the new regs when they come out. As for huntin' east Texas,with our terrain,soil,plant species,(many of them are wearin' thorns),and our wary whitetails,stalking into bow range is not an easy job,but, I still try it where I can.I use homemade,hang -on type stands where it is not feasible to still-hunt. God Bless
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99% of the time I hunt from a tree stand...usually less than 15 foot high. Also the way most people I know in this area hunt.
But for this coming season I have become very interested in a ghillie suit. :-\ Would really like to make that method work!!! Sure would like to hear something good or bad about them by anyone that has used a ghillie?? ???
Have killed deer on the ground but been quite a few years.
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For the last 30 years most of my hunting has been from tree stands. The last few years I have thought more and more about ground hunting and after coming down from my tree stand I try my best to slip slowly and cautiously back to camp with my eyes and ears open. I have had a few close encounters doing this but haven't connected from the groung with a bow yet. As each year passes(I'm 59 now) mortality gets closer and the urge to stay on the ground gets stronger.
In Colorado a few years ago we only hunted from the ground and I really enjoyed the experience.
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I do everything I can. Call me an opportunist.
Tree Stands.
Still hunting.
Spot and Stalk.
Road hunt.
Ground blind or just on the ground waiting in ambush.
I suppose the terrain and critter dictates more than anything else for me. If I have my way with deer then it will be dependent on the species. I prefer to hunt whitetail deer out of a stand. Mule deer I just walk along the hilltops and ridges and through the forest looking around or in open areas to spot and stalk. When I hunt blacktail deer it's all about still hunting. Trying to catch them coming to the bedding or feeding areas.
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I got a shot at a doe this last archery season in mo at 18 yards standing under two arching trees with natural cover.... Ground hunting for me, unless there is a natural stand in a tree. The indians didnt have tree stands. But they probably would have used them if they did.
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double bull ground blind for me.i store mine with some earth scent wafers and then tie on a doe in estrus wafer
when i am in the filed.i have had bucks as close as three feet from my blind.
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Mostly from a tree,about 12 to 15 feet 99% of the time. It gives me time to set and think,on the ground ,especially stalking or still hunting I get to inpatient and move to fast.Plus I like to eat them and the way I hunt on the ground I would get pretty hungry. ;) :) As for the Indans,first I ant one and second I suspect they used any means they could to kill something and I am sure it didn't matter much how. :)
Pappy
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Mostly on the ground these days as I seem to have lost my head for heights :o
Like to still hunt when conditions are right.
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Usually on the ground or hidden in a deadfall. I've shot a few deer on the ground with compounds and firearms close up, but hope to get my first with a stickbow this year, huntin' thru the gun seasons with it like last year.
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Postman,
Dead falls make the best ground blinds!!
I use several of them.
Kevin
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Mostly from a tree,about 12 to 15 feet 99% of the time. It gives me time to set and think. As for the Indans,first I ant one and second I suspect they used any means they could to kill something and I am sure it didn't matter much how. :)
Pappy
I am one.....well 1/4....and I am with you Pappy...I like to eat them too...and I believe thatWhen you are Hungry ....you will take Game from any Advantage Point possible....the Plains Indians used to run Buffs off of Cliffs....so what so bad about a Tree Stand......... ;D
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I like it all. Terrain, weather, cover and deer movement dictates my hunting method. Thick stuff with narrow deer trails, I'll be in a tree to hide me and give me better visiability. BUT, give me a misty day with wet leaves and I'll be a stalkin'. Last season I took my first deer with a bow. It was on a narrow ridge maybe 15 yards across. I was in a treestand otherwise I would have been standing right in the path of the deer with little or no cover. Later in the season, after leaving my treestand and walking to the house, I spotted a deer heading in my direction. I guessed where it would cross the drainage from my pond. I was 12 yards from him when he came up out of the ditch. He was my second deer with a bow. It was a compound bow. BUT, I just finished my hickory bow last week. I look forward to hunting with her this year.
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I've taken a couple from the ground over the years enroute to or from a stand. I like to eat deer and feel like I'm giving them a pretty good advantage by using a self bow. Would like to keep a few advantages in my favor that height provides. :)
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I hunt mostly from natural material ground blinds. Hoping to take my first traditional deer this year. If it gets hard I have a plan. All I have to do is carry the biggest rifle with the biggest scope I have into the woods with me and a 6-7 yard shot wont be a problem. At least thats the way it seems to be every year!
Trey
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Well I usually get up around an hour before daylight, take a shower and put......Oh! ;D I usually hunt from a tree stand. If there's no tree where I want to be I'll just hide on the ground. The best buck I ever killed with a bow, I crawled across a hay field and shot him from my knees.
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I'm usually creeping, crawling, and slipping and sliding,,, oh forgot about wading. ;D
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truck, light, gun. na just bsn. depends on the area. i have some spots i hunt from a tree stand, some in a hand made blind, trees grass and stuff. build your own type thing. and a little spot and stalk. just getting into that real heavy. seems more old school. and a heck of a challenge.