Deer Hunting

[PCGS65]

White tail hunting, tree stand-vs-ground. I know a tree stand is better than the ground but how many of you have shot deer on the ground with a bow and how many with a gun(just to keep it gun oriented). Also what odds would you say a tree stand has over ground?

 

[Polishrifleman]

Previous Link

Here is a link that might give some answers. I have never been in a stand so all of my deer have been from the ground.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=143155

 

[Lennyjoe]

Tree stands give you an advantage of being out of line of sight for the deer.

That doesn't mean deer don't look up. I have seen deer look right up at a permanent stand that I was in one time and I didn't move a lick previously. Guess she knew where the danger was.

 

[killzone]

Stand

I think It generally depends on where you are. Here in MN In November, we'll for sure have snow and extreme cold. -25 to -40 F. Believe or not.... Therefore, I kind of tend to stay on a tree stand to keep warm and stealty.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Treestands

I've hunted from a treestand. Archery and rifle. I've also hunted from the ground. Been deer hunting for 45 yrs.

As to tree stands: IMHO, the "built" kind are fine. Have sat happily in a constructed stand. But there, mobility is a consideration. If it needs to be moved, it must be deconstructed and then set up again. And it is true IMX that deer DO look up if there is something strange "up there." The climbing-type of tree stand, or the strap-on kind, makes me feel tippy and unsafe. Happy users of them will no doubt post "Oh, you should try XYZ model, it is really stable, I love it!" Thanks but no thanks. I have tried several, and have yet to be in one in which I felt safe. Then there is the factor that you can't turn from side to side in a strap-on or a climber--you are married to the direction in which you are facing. Murphy's Law says that the Jordan Buck will walk by you on your extreme right (if you are right handed) and in such a tree stand you will do nothing about him except either cry, or fall out of the tree.

Wardens I have talked to say there are 2 kinds of tree stand hunters: Those who have fallen out of their stands, and those who will fall out. I volunteer with UFFDA (United Foundation For Disabled Archers) and some of their members were paralysed by falling out of tree stands.

Bottom line: I'm happiest with both feet on solid ground. I'm OK with a constructed stand. I have done with climbers and strap-ons, and if I never am in another one again in my life that will be just fine thank you. Others are entitled to their opinions. After your fall, join UFFDA and I will push your wheelchair into the woods so you can hunt.

 

[dakotasin]

i hunted from a tree stand before. hated it.
all my kills, archery or rifle, have been from the ground.

i don't do ground blinds either. i hang out on a trail, or stalk, or still hunt, but i have little use for a ground blind, and zero tolerance for a tree stand.

 

[Kingcreek]

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. I've hunted from tree stands quite comfortably and safely. Killed many deer with a bow from tree stands- homemade lumber platforms (years ago and never again), metal stands of several flavors= strap-on, chain-on, climbers. All give you some visibility and scent advantage. I've also killed deer with both feet on the ground- advantage mobilty.
When I leave the ground, I use a good quality safety harness.
I use one with a "lineman's belt" at the waist in addition to a tether from between my shoulder blades. I use the lineman's belt to climb and then the tether above me if I have to release the waist belt for a limb or to climb onto my stand. one or the other or both, never free to fall from the tree. I can shoot a bow almost 360 degrees from most of my setups. 25 years and never a fall. climbed down once after 2 hours of freezing rain covered everything with a glaze. I can't imagine doing that without proper gear.
last Sunday I hunted from the ground because of lightning and storms moving in. stayed off the ridges. There is NO advantage to being 18 feet up a tree, on a metal stand, with a handful of magnesium alloy and carbon during a storm!

 

[adaman04]

I got my tree stand habit from my dad. He is a Picasso when it comes to stands. We only have one portable stand between us and it stays in the woods like a permanent stand. All the rest we built out of quality treated wood. We still deer hunt together and the stand I am hunting in now is in the same forked Oak he hunted out of 20 years ago. Stands have come and gone but the tree remains strong and alive. I think it might be time for a move though, the same old scenery every year gets kinda old.

I have taken deer from the ground as well, but being on the ground is somewhat of a disadvantage in that you don't have the "aerial view" of where you are hunting. Tall grass for example would hinder you somewhat on the ground, but wouldn't be a problem in the stand. Just my .02.

 

[GunGoBoom]

Wardens I have talked to say there are 2 kinds of tree stand hunters: Those who have fallen out of their stands, and those who will fall out

I beg to differ with the wardens. I always use a harness. So if I fall, I'm not going to fall 'out'. I did in fact have a complete climbing stand failure last year, and the harness saved my bacon. What they are saying is probably true about tree stand hunters who don't use harnesses. But if I do fall and maim myself, it's good to know that there are good people like Smokey Joe in the world who will roll me into the woods.

With a rifle, it doesn't matter a great deal whether you're in a stand, but I think with bowhunting it gives you a distinct advantage due to the necessity of bringing them within 35-40 yards, and the smell/sound/movement issues that warn deer. A stand helps with 2 of the 3 (smell & movement) somewhat, by putting your scent *supposedly* up over the deer even if the wind is against you, and making it less likely the deer will see you during the draw (or other movement).

How many archery deer have you guys gotten from the ground? - I'm curious.

 

[Lennyjoe]

homemade lumber platforms (years ago and never again)

Me too. I was out checking stands during squirrel season and climbed up the 15ft ladder. Checked every piece of wood on the ladder. As I got up to the top step I paused and started checking the platform out. As I leaned a bit to the right to check the edge for rot, the wood I was holding gave way and I fell. Landed on my back. Shells went everywhere from the vest I was wearing.

Almost blacked out but finally caught my breath. I laid there for a minute and then started to evaluated the situation. First the feet, yep they move. Then the legs, good movement. Arms, yep they work so I rolled onto my stomach and up onto my feet. Grabbed the shottie, shells and headed to the car. Straight to the hospital I went for x-rays. No damage, only bruises.

I was very lucky that day. The stand I was looking at was at the edge of a swamp and the ground was soft. No roots in the way either.

I won't hunt out of any homemade wood stands anymore. I only use quality factory made stands and have a safety harness attached to the tree the whole time.

 

[dakotasin]

How many archery deer have you guys gotten from the ground?

don't know for sure... but, getting close to deer is easy. its finding them that's hard!

i hunt from the ground because it keeps so many options open to me about where to go, or if i saw a deer i like i can stalk it, instead of hoping it comes down the trail, etc.

one thing you cannot do from a tree stand is slap a doe on the heinie while it wanders around. absolute hilarity! if you decide to try this, be careful, because it will usually get them to kick...

one thing you can't do from the ground is drop things on a little bucks head (like m&m's), or play w/ him w/ your pull string. entertaining, but not real funny...

 

[Mannlicher]

the decision on hunting from a stand or from the ground is best made with information pertinent to the area you are hunting, the time of day, and how good a woodsman you are.
As an example, in one of the clubs I belong to, you can still hunt through the swamp, or you can hunt from a stand overlooking a feed plot, or in the planted pines. Both ways work, but when and where I might be depend on the season, the time of day, and where my scouting has shown recent movement of the deer.
Newer hunters seem to do better 'ambushing' the deer from a stand. Old times often prefer to slowly walk, just listening, and observing, along known deer runs.

 

[Smoke]

I usually hunt from a tripod. (hogs mostly, I really don't hunt deer much) Or walk and stalk.

That doesn't mean deer don't look up

And I have made a noise from my stand and seen deer look everywhere but up. Doesn't mean they do look up either.

Never was a fan of the tree stands, don't like blinds either. Both are too restrictive.

Smoke

 

[dakotasin]

thread hijack... smoke- is that whitetail ranch your operation?

 

[isofluorane]

I've taken quite a few deer, and one fox from a treestand with a bow. Lots of deer, couple of foxes, turkey, a bobcat from the ground with a rifle. I also have an acquaintance and former instructor (a veterinary surgeon) who fell from a treestand when a handhold broke, and lay paralyzed in the woods until he was missed at work. He localized his fracture laying there for hours, agonizing in ways only he knows, and is in a wheelchair for life. I have taken too many risks hanging tree stands, and taking that last step into and first step out of, hang-on stands, and I suspect many do. Many hanging stands are difficult to set up, and driving steps into a tree while hanging on for dear life isn't easy. Often that perfect tree presents challenges to get into, particularly for the range-challenged bowhunter, who needs that perfect tree more acutely. The safety harnesses are worth their weight in gold, but are cumbersome sometimes, particularly for non-climbing (tree step) stands. Climbing stands need the right kind of tree in the right place. Wooden stands and wooden steps are notoriously dangerous, and have to be tested (sometimes dangerous) and maintained. I've never hunted from a ladder stand, as they struck me as heavy to pack in on my feet, and limiting in their placement. Also more visible to the deer. I think they would be my choice today if I had any time to hunt. Too busy earning a living right now. For rifle hunting in our mountains, one can usually park himself on a slope and get some sort of view of the area one wants to hunt, but for flats and dense cover, a tree still has advantages. I've taken deer from the ground with a bow at least a half a dozen times, but it's harder, and you can't be as selective (they can see you much more easily, smell you much more easily, and if you move, you're likely to make too much noise).

 

[mustanger98]

Well, I have artheritis and both hips replaced, and besides that, I just don't like climbing... so... I do all my hunting on the ground. From a blind... stalking... still hunting... hanging around just off the trails waiting... it's all good... Give me Liberty or give me death, but don't give me no stinkin' tree stand.

 

[Smoke]

dakotasin

Yep, I'm one of the partners.

Want to come huntin'?

 

[one-shot-one]

closness

closest i had deer come to me while on the ground 50 feet.
closest i had deer come to me while in an elevated stand 9 feet (directly below me).
shot 1 with bow & arrow while setting on the tailgate of an Elcomino.
but not all deer are that dumb.

 

[JShirley]

I've taken deer from the ground and from a stand.

My first deer was taken at close enough range that I shot from the hip (didn't dare move the SG to shoulder) while sitting at the base of a tree.

I've taken more deer from stands, but I've spent more time in stands than hunting from the ground.

john

 

[Hawken50]

i ground hunt only because i can't sit still for very long. which is probably why the only time i see deer is when they're running away :banghead:

 

[mustanger98]

Hawken50:

i ground hunt only because i can't sit still for very long. which is probably why the only time i see deer is when they're running away

I know the feeling. After about an hour sitting in the blind I'll start squirming; seat gets hard. I can stand still a lot longer than I can sit.

Walking is another story because even if you don't jump the deer, they'll circle around and get behind you. Unless you have wind and cover in your favor and you can walk real quiet, it's hard to walk up on a wild animal and them not know it. My experience anyway.

This reminds me, my Daddy was telling me a few days ago he remembers a guy he met who would use a wristrocket and lob mothballs over in the thickets to run the deer out to him. I don't know whether that legal or not, but with my luck, they'd move off the other way.

one-shot-one closest:

i had deer come to me while on the ground 50 feet.
closest i had deer come to me while in an elevated stand 9 feet (directly below me).

I can recall several times a young deer- maybe yearling or so- would feed to within 25' of me and I was sitting there in the open with my rifle across my lap. My seat was strapped to the side of a tree and no blind. I just sat still and they just fed on by. I was waiting on something bigger a bit further out to the edge of the thick cover.

 

[22-rimfire]

Stand hunters have taught deer to look UP. I view it strickly as a decision on how far you can see when hunting with a gun. Choose which one fits the situation in terms of hunting method. I prefer to hunt from the ground. I feel safer.

I have had deer come so close to me while in a blind that I could have touched them with an arrow. I have also had deer feeding on the foliage that I cut to place on the ground in front and behind me to break up my silhouette (while I was there) while bow hunting.

People who build the permanent wood stands generally maintain them and they generally hunt from those stands year after year. So, that means for you folks hunting private property without permission--Stay OFF the stand! If you have permission, ask about the stand condition and use. Lets not forget about the Minnesota incident last year. When climbing a permanent wood stand, be careful to inspect it as you make your way up the tree as far as stability. Rotten wood or portions falling down... accident waiting to happen.