Try a ground level approach to deer hunting

Tree stands are great, but not always the best option

Shooting a big buck incorporates a wide range of factors that must come together nearly flawlessly. Hunters climb high in trees in lock-on stands, two-piece climbers, ladder stands or in elevated towers to gain a height advantage on deer.

Hunting in an elevated position provides increased visibility. And they achieve a deferred scent cone at a higher elevation, but erecting and getting into these stands can cause undue disturbances. A more-simple approach at ground level may not involve the advantages of height. But the ease of ingress and egress may make for a better opportunity to get a shot at a mysterious wall-hanger.

Veteran hunter Jay Garner hunts on a small seat typically used for turkey hunting.

“I first started using my strutter chair when I didn’t have time to put up a deer stand 15 years ago,” he said. “Now, I would rather hunt out of my turkey chair than be up in a deer stand. I use a gun rest and keep the gun up all the time. If they step out, you aren’t fumbling around, and you can be ready to make the shot.”

Remove obstacles before they present a problem

Garner trims out a shooting lane to his corn pile from a spot where he knows deer can’t see him. He will typically place his corn piles at sites that are thicker than where most people generally want to set up.

“Having a thicker place reduces the visibility, but the deer are more likely to come out without hesitation than if they are in a more open area,” he said.

Stand setup for ground-level situations can be quick and less invasive than a traditional stand setup. Hunters only have to clip a few branches around the spot they will be sitting and a few more for a shooting lane.

An issue for many hunters is the noise and visibility disturbances made when entering and exiting an elevated stand. A hidden, on-the-ground stand can reduce the chances of disturbing deer already on a food source for early morning hunts or throughout the day.

For the best results, hunters should rake out leaves and debris around the sitting area and make a clean trail leading to the stand to allow the least amount of noise coming and going.

Click here to read more about killing deer from the ground.