The Official Ground Hunting Thread

[GeoFish]

What is the biggest deer you have shot from the ground?

Shot at 8 yards with a recurve.

 

[Weldabeast]

I shot 4 critters off off the ground this season and got a couple take aways/thoughts/recommendations .....

u need to be ready to shoot. I read on here lots of peeps strapping there weapons to their packs and u for sure gonna miss shot opportunities cause the ground encounters can happen in a split sec

U need ur windchecker really accessable to ur release hand...unzipping a zipper, reaching in a dump pouch, or having to reach into a cargo pocket works fine up in the tree but not stalking on the ground....IMO u have a little more wiggle room with movement and scent elevated in a tree but down on their level u need ur stuff situated to were u can access and use with as little movent as possible and nothing u need to manipulate. The coin purse stuffed with milkweed, sternum height, on the release side of ur pack/vest/suspenders is the best imo. U can unclip ur release and move ur hand a very short distance and pinch some off, release the milkweed, and clip the release again with virtually no noticable movement and the bow is helping cover that movement

Emotions get high and tempers flair over this 1 but if u gonna hunt off the ground more do urself a favor and shot the most FOC u can achieve with the highest mass arrow that is within ur bow hunting range.....it may be different up in some of the areas some of u guys hunt with open woods, but if u hunting off the ground in thick woods like I do u are gonna have to shoot thru vegetation if u want to get an arrow into the critter sometimes. Higher the mass/foc the less deflection in my "testing"

Piggybacking off that... If u hunting off the ground u should expect to not be presented a nice broadside shot...study the anatomy and practice on ur 3d targets for the weird/extreme angles....high foc and mass is ur friend here too

Crocs are the best spot and stalk shoe....change my mind

I said it before on here before and I say it again....having ur kneepads on during a stalk is super sweet. This year proved it again...almost every shot I've taken off of the ground I've been crouched down on my knees

I said it on here before and I say it again...beef up the arrow system and lower the poundage on ur bow. I had to draw and let down at least 15 times on 1 stalk. Having ur bow set real low draw u can make those movements as subtle and as slow/controlled as possible.

And to wrap it up....this is anecdotal...when I hang and kill a critter elevated I get the shakes...when I stalk and kill a critter off the ground no shakes...what's up with that?

 

[Maverick1]

Elk are easier to shoot from the ground than deer; shooting a bear from the ground can be an exciting adrenaline rush.

 

[Islandshooter]

I shot 4 critters off off the ground this season and got a couple take aways/thoughts/recommendations .....

u need to be ready to shoot. I read on here lots of peeps strapping there weapons to their packs and u for sure gonna miss shot opportunities cause the ground encounters can happen in a split sec

U need ur windchecker really accessable to ur release hand...unzipping a zipper, reaching in a dump pouch, or having to reach into a cargo pocket works fine up in the tree but not stalking on the ground....IMO u have a little more wiggle room with movement and scent elevated in a tree but down on their level u need ur stuff situated to were u can access and use with as little movent as possible and nothing u need to manipulate. The coin purse stuffed with milkweed, sternum height, on the release side of ur pack/vest/suspenders is the best imo. U can unclip ur release and move ur hand a very short distance and pinch some off, release the milkweed, and clip the release again with virtually no noticable movement and the bow is helping cover that movement

Emotions get high and tempers flair over this 1 but if u gonna hunt off the ground more do urself a favor and shot the most FOC u can achieve with the highest mass arrow that is within ur bow hunting range.....it may be different up in some of the areas some of u guys hunt with open woods, but if u hunting off the ground in thick woods like I do u are gonna have to shoot thru vegetation if u want to get an arrow into the critter sometimes. Higher the mass/foc the less deflection in my "testing"

Piggybacking off that... If u hunting off the ground u should expect to not be presented a nice broadside shot...study the anatomy and practice on ur 3d targets for the weird/extreme angles....high foc and mass is ur friend here too

Crocs are the best spot and stalk shoe....change my mind

I said it before on here before and I say it again....having ur kneepads on during a stalk is super sweet. This year proved it again...almost every shot I've taken off of the ground I've been crouched down on my knees

I said it on here before and I say it again...beef up the arrow system and lower the poundage on ur bow. I had to draw and let down at least 15 times on 1 stalk. Having ur bow set real low draw u can make those movements as subtle and as slow/controlled as possible.

And to wrap it up....this is anecdotal...when I hang and kill a critter elevated I get the shakes...when I stalk and kill a critter off the ground no shakes...what's up with that?

agree Except for the crocs!

 

[Weldabeast]

agree Except for the crocs!

What size shoe do u wear?

 

[Islandshooter]

What size shoe do u wear?

11’s…danners, UA, and reef flips.

 

[TradBowGuy]

In early season, I wear the good 'ol uninsulated LL Bean Maine hunting shoe. I find the sole flexible enough for me to feel sticks before I put my weight on them. I have a pair of 200g insulated ones for late season. On dry days, I've also worn moccasins.

 

[Weldabeast]

11’s…danners, UA, and reef flips.

I can't help convince u then.... Big foot

 

[Nutterbuster]

And to wrap it up....this is anecdotal...when I hang and kill a critter elevated I get the shakes...when I stalk and kill a critter off the ground no shakes...what's up with that?

Because you're moving. Adrenaline dumping on cold muscles is a different thing. I get a back ache almost every time I shoot a deer after a long sit. Takes a couple of minutes, but as it wears off it's like I cramp up. Never happens on spot-n-stalks or duck hunts, even though a good shoot in the timber will make blood pound in my ears

 

[Still Kicking]

The worst set of shakes I ever had was on the ground with a 90 pound field dressed doe that I could have touched with my arrow if I hadn't been at full draw. I will never forget that hunt. A buck was chasing her across the bottom and I stepped behind a Red Oak next to the trail. Just as she passed the tree she stopped and looked back and I was ready. It was a 2 foot shot at the most and she only went about 20 yards and laid down and expired within two or three minutes. Pass through both lungs and I had to sit down beside her until the shakes let up enough to trust myself with the knife to field dress her. Still one of my most memorable hunts thirty years later.

 

[BackSpasm]

Because you're moving. Adrenaline dumping on cold muscles is a different thing. I get a back ache almost every time I shoot a deer after a long sit. Takes a couple of minutes, but as it wears off it's like I cramp up. Never happens on spot-n-stalks or duck hunts, even though a good shoot in the timber will make blood pound in my ears

A back ache you say

 

[Weldabeast]

I'm talking pre shot shakes....I think it's because during a stalk ur mind is occupied with maneuvering thru the woods as opposed to being tethered to 1 spot and waiting for them to close the distance so i got more time to get worked up.

I get the anticipation shakes pretty bad but I'm getting better at controlling it

 

[HuumanCreed]

I shot 4 critters off off the ground this season and got a couple take aways/thoughts/recommendations .....

u need to be ready to shoot. I read on here lots of peeps strapping there weapons to their packs and u for sure gonna miss shot opportunities cause the ground encounters can happen in a split sec

U need ur windchecker really accessable to ur release hand...unzipping a zipper, reaching in a dump pouch, or having to reach into a cargo pocket works fine up in the tree but not stalking on the ground....IMO u have a little more wiggle room with movement and scent elevated in a tree but down on their level u need ur stuff situated to were u can access and use with as little movent as possible and nothing u need to manipulate. The coin purse stuffed with milkweed, sternum height, on the release side of ur pack/vest/suspenders is the best imo. U can unclip ur release and move ur hand a very short distance and pinch some off, release the milkweed, and clip the release again with virtually no noticable movement and the bow is helping cover that movement

Emotions get high and tempers flair over this 1 but if u gonna hunt off the ground more do urself a favor and shot the most FOC u can achieve with the highest mass arrow that is within ur bow hunting range.....it may be different up in some of the areas some of u guys hunt with open woods, but if u hunting off the ground in thick woods like I do u are gonna have to shoot thru vegetation if u want to get an arrow into the critter sometimes. Higher the mass/foc the less deflection in my "testing"

Piggybacking off that... If u hunting off the ground u should expect to not be presented a nice broadside shot...study the anatomy and practice on ur 3d targets for the weird/extreme angles....high foc and mass is ur friend here too

Crocs are the best spot and stalk shoe....change my mind

I said it before on here before and I say it again....having ur kneepads on during a stalk is super sweet. This year proved it again...almost every shot I've taken off of the ground I've been crouched down on my knees

I said it on here before and I say it again...beef up the arrow system and lower the poundage on ur bow. I had to draw and let down at least 15 times on 1 stalk. Having ur bow set real low draw u can make those movements as subtle and as slow/controlled as possible.

And to wrap it up....this is anecdotal...when I hang and kill a critter elevated I get the shakes...when I stalk and kill a critter off the ground no shakes...what's up with that?

Ok then, honest question. Do you think a shorter AMO bow offer real advantage on the ground in regards to maneuverability etc? I honestly have not found a 68 AMO anymore difficult to shoot from a stand/saddle. But just carrying a longer bow around just moving from point A to point B add just a little more difficult because my mind is telling me to be more careful due to the longer limbs.

 

[Weldabeast]

Ok then, honest question. Do you think a shorter AMO bow offer real advantage on the ground in regards to maneuverability etc? I honestly have not found a 68 AMO anymore difficult to shoot from a stand/saddle. But just carrying a longer bow around just moving from point A to point B add just a little more difficult because my mind is telling me to be more careful due to the longer limbs.

I have no idea personally but I would think it's "easier" to carry a 3 foot stick vs a 4 foot stick but probably no different in the long run. What does AMO stand for?
I haven't shot enough bows to have any opinion on short ata vs longer ata and accuracy. I just want a lightweight bow that balances well.

Majority of the time I have my bow on my shoulders were the sight is on 1 side of my neck facing forward and if I had a stabilizer it would be on the other side of my neck....bow balances on the shoulders and I can walk hands free or the other way i have the grip in my hand, sight facing the sky and string facing the ground.

 

[GeoFish]

Ok then, honest question. Do you think a shorter AMO bow offer real advantage on the ground in regards to maneuverability etc? I honestly have not found a 68 AMO anymore difficult to shoot from a stand/saddle. But just carrying a longer bow around just moving from point A to point B add just a little more difficult because my mind is telling me to be more careful due to the longer limbs.

Depends on your shooting form. How much do you cant the bow?
I used a LW tree seat, so I could adjust the height off the ground as long as I had a tree.

 

[woodsdog2]

What does AMO stand for?

Archery Manufacturers Organization..... now its the Archery Manufacturer's Association it is a standards group so everyone makes a bow with the same standards for interchangeablility of accessories, how to fairly rate and compare bows via speed and other performance criteria. When bows first started being mass produced and custom mass produced there was no standard on how to rate a bow. So now for trad bows especially, everything is rated at pounds of pull at 28" draw length, standard sight or quiver bushings, stabilizer bushings etc.

 

[Horn]

Depends on your shooting form. How much do you cant the bow?
I used a LW tree seat, so I could adjust the height off the ground as long as I had a tree.

View attachment 84201

That needs to be commercially available! I'm definitely stealing that idea! Unless it is available, then I'll just casually part ways with all of my money

 

[BTaylor]

I'm talking pre shot shakes....I think it's because during a stalk ur mind is occupied with maneuvering thru the woods as opposed to being tethered to 1 spot and waiting for them to close the distance so i got more time to get worked up.

I get the anticipation shakes pretty bad but I'm getting better at controlling it

Just the opposite for me. On a ground approach there is too much time and the slower it passes the more I expect things to go to crap. In a tree I am cool as a cucumber until the arrow clears the bow. Then it is full on Elvis leg for the next 10 minutes.

 

[Jammintree]

Amo: 3” longer than string length

AMO length? Here's What You Need To Know

What is AMO length and why is it important? Learn the best way to measure AMO length manually and how to correctly choose a new bowstring.

archershub.com

I seem to be able to shoot my compound from any position: tree, ground, weird angles etc. my recurve is another matter. I’ve blown kneeling shots cause a limb tip hit the ground after release etc. I practice with both bows in every circumstance I can dream up. But if hunting with the recurve I avoid sitting right on the ground. If ground hunting with the recurve i usually Opt for using the saddle and tether at ground height. Or I’ll sit on a log or stump.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

That needs to be commercially available! I'm definitely stealing that idea! Unless it is available, then I'll just casually part ways with all of my money

Just make a Torges seat. For the cost of some scrap plywood and a nylon boat rope you are in business.