Posted: 8/3/2010 7:40:31 PM EDT
| I plan to buy my first bow in the next week or so. I won't have the money for a tree stand after that. That leaves me on the ground to hunt. How difficult is it to stalk white tail ( I assume pretty tough)? Is there an option I haven't considered? |
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You have to move very slowly and quietly. Sneak a few steps and then freeze and listen. Move your head very slowly when looking. Might take you a half hour to cover 50 yards sometimes if the woods are very quiet. You're trying to spot them way off in the woods before they spot you, then freeze and be silent and hope they move your way. Extremely challenging.
In my experience, the little bit of noise you can't help but make rustling and crunching the leaves doesn't automatically scare them away if it's very subtle. It does heighten their alertness and they begin looking and smelling in that direction, but it could be any harmless animal to them, or even another deer, until they make positive ID. It's when they finally see your movement, or smell you, they will bolt. Or make a tree seat with a piece of 1/2" plywood and ski rope. A big tree will help break up your outline immensely. Wait until the deer is behind something before drawing. And draw silently. The more at ease the deer remains, the less likely it will jump out of the way of the arrow. |
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Quoted:
What shooting position would you use in a ground blind? Standing seems like the only position for bow hunting. Then again, I don't know much about it. I shoot out of a camp chair with a bow from a blind all the time, no problems. I also shoot from kneeling on one or both knees. Just remember when shooting out of the window of a blind. Sight picture does not equal arrow plane! Ask me and the nice little star pattern tear in the side of my blind how I know 
ETA: IIRC's natural blind is probably your best solution. It doesn't take much. I arrowed a fat doe out of this very set up 5 months after I took the bird with the boom stick. I was kneeling on both knees and could rise up just enough to get over it. It's just a little $20 cloth set up you can find at most wally worlds or make yourself out of some burlap and a few 1x1's. It's lightweight, folds up nicely and is easy to pack in. Properly placed with something to break up what's behind you and the right wind it can be lethal. It all boils down to picking the right time to draw if you get the other factors and a little luck on your side. 
Note the portability...hunting should be fun...don't sweat fancy gear or a tight budget. 
Here's a little better picture of the set up. Unfortunately you can't see dad's "damn I knew I should have been here this morning" look.  It doesn't look like there's much behind me, but it drops over a ridge almost immediately and gets dark back there pretty quick, plus I'm facing west so it doesn't silhouette me in the evening.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
What shooting position would you use in a ground blind? Standing seems like the only position for bow hunting. Then again, I don't know much about it. I shoot out of a camp chair with a bow from a blind all the time, no problems. I also shoot from kneeling on one or both knees. Just remember when shooting out of the window of a blind. Sight picture does not equal arrow plane! Ask me and the nice little star pattern tear in the side of my blind how I know +1 on this except for the window part...there aren't any holes in my blind...yet! In most of my stands, I shoot sitting down. When practicing, make sure you also take a chair onto the range and shoot from it as well as standing. |