Alright so heres my problem, I have a big buck thats crossing a field to get to water. I do not own the field that he crosses but I own the land where the water is. There is know trees or any sort of cover here except a small mound of dirt, maybe 4 feet high. I am worried about the amount of movement it takes for me to draw back. This is a 5 year old deer and is a monster for here in Mass so the last thing I want to do is spook it. Do you know of any tips for bowhunting on the ground. Either something that would draw his attention away, or something that would help put this buck on the wall and meat in the freezer.
Set up a ground blind and leave it there for a couple of days so the buck can get use to it, being there. Then the rest is on you. Good luck!!!
You could dig a hole in the dirt mound, just deep enough for your eyes to see over while sitting. When he comes by (preferably past you), lean up and put one in his lungs! Watched a guy do this on tv once, except he dug into a cornfield!
You in for a tough spot to hunt. I've got a spot just like that. I am going into early this afternoon and making a make shift blind. The deer like hanging around a rock pile out in a disked corn field. No cover what so ever. I am going to make a blind out of rocks/weeds from the rock pile and hunt right in the rock pile. You have some options. One is to setup a blind and let the buck get use to it. Then hunt it later. It is risky as it might be enough pressure to push him out or making him leary so he won't go to water till after dark. Another is to dig out a depression in the mound and make a make shift blind with available material. Keep it low keyed to not disturb the area much and hunt it the same afternoon. Don't walk around other then getting in there to make the blind and hunt it. You could also haul in some material if none is available in the immediate area. This is probably going to be a one time hunt or possibly a few hunts. It is a big gamble. Just depends if he walks on the mound or by it and smell any scent you left behind when he shows up to drink. Again I would hunt it the day you make the make shift blind. Make sure you have the perfect wind. Right now you have nothing to lose. You aren't going to kill him if you do nothing. If you do go in and spook the buck out... get something going for next year. It sounds like a good spot. Make it hunt-able and let the deer get use to it. You could very well have a great spot for years to come. Good luck !! Tim
Thanks Thanks, that depression idea is a really good one. Id build a blind or put one there but I really wanna get this guy before my neighbor does cause I know he hunts that field. I mean it seems like a way to add some cover and hunt it the same day. I appreciate the input and will beposting a picture of this guy when he goes down.
If you have any grass around the water hole you might be able to purchase a ghillie suit. Ghillie suits are simply amazing when hunting on the ground, its the best camoflauge ever made and the deer will never see you, unless they catch you move. I personally have killed a 6x5 wearing a ghillie suit while hunting off the ground and the deer just simply look through you.
Cut off a large Pine branch then place it on the ground away (20 yards) from you. The thought here is, he will notice it and not you. In turn giving his attention on the branch so you can pull back undetected. Same thing works with a pumpkin, or anything out of the norm for this particular location. He will stay focused on this foreign object long enough for you to pull back unnoticed. Editor’s notes: all though dead hookers are perhaps foreign to said ground it is unwise/illegal to use them as a deterrent.
Hide about 5-10 yards behind the dirt mound... using whatever other cover you can find. It really doesn't take much if you stay still. You want the dirt mound between you and the deer and when he goes behind it draw. Wait for him to come out on the other side and release your arow when he does. I would make a small blind of some kind before hand so he can get used to it maybe but don't sit too close to the mound or it will block too large an area to predict when he will come out. I have used this before in an open green field with 6 inch tall grass. It will work great great.
