Gettin' Down to Bag Your Deer

By Todd Amenrud

As a Midwestern whitetail hunter, I do the greater majority of my deer hunting from a treestand. But, what happens when you find the perfect spot and there’s not a tree around? Or, perhaps there’s not a tree large enough to hang a treestand. How about hunting animals like mule deer, elk or pronghorn where sometimes there’s not a “treestand tree” for miles? Archers should be prepared to get down out of their treestands and hunt from the ground.

A year ago I broke my back and suffered a spinal cord injury. This left me with no other choice than to hunt from the ground. In a way I enjoyed the challenge that hunting on the ground can offer. But on the other hand, I missed some opportunities that I could have had if I would have been hunting from a treestand.

I have made great progress since last season and I’ll be climbing treestands again this fall. However, I have learned that sometimes hunting from the ground can be an advantage. When the opportunity presents itself, I’ll be ready.


Practicing realistic situations is important. Not often in a hunting situation is an archer standing flat-footed, on the ground, in perfect archery form. Usually the situation calls for a hunter to be kneeling, sitting, or crouching, and possibly contorting to shoot around an obstacle. A bowhunter needs to practice these shots.


Different muscles may be used when you shoot while sitting or kneeling. That’s another reason a bowhunter should practice these shots. I’ve witnessed hunters that draw and shoot with no problem while standing, that when kneeling, and during the heat of the moment, could not physically draw their bow.


A tool that will come in handy is a bow-holder. I carry two in my pack, one screws into wood and the other pushes into the ground, either will hold my bow upright with an arrow nocked. This leaves my hands free to use calls, or possibly ready other equipment.


Hunting from the ground really puts your equipment to the test, especially your camo and system of scent elimination. The one thing I have learned is that when hunting whitetail; you want to look like anything but a human. A camouflage that breaks up your human form is of the highest importance.


A blind can also be considered. If you’re hunting whitetail, I suggest “brushing it in” good and setting them up in advance of the hunt. Heck, for turkey you can set up a blind in the middle of an open field and the birds will walk right up to you. Don’t expect that to happen with a mature buck. Blend it into the surroundings.


When hunting any species of North American big game, a hunter must learn to play the wind and keep themselves as scent-free as possible. I’ve found the Scent Killer system of scent- eradication to be most effective. I wash my clothes in the clothes wash, shower with the soap and use Scent Killer Spray on just about everything that I carry into my quarry’s domain.


Carry a wind detection device, some unscented cotton or a goose down packet with you to test the air currents. When hunting big game we need to use the wind and thermal to our advantage. I suggest a wind detection device that puffs small “dust like” particles into the breeze. By puffing fine particles of this light mixture into the air you can see what the wind and thermal currents are doing for some distance. When you are able to actually see this dust float, it gives you a much greater insight as to what the wind is actually doing and it helps you to understand “why”, “when” and “how” whitetail or other big game do certain things.


When shooting from the ground in a kneeling or sitting position, you must consider the axle to axle length of your bow. If you’re in a ground-blind, or have the time and/or cover to rise up, then a longer bow will work. But a shorter bow is much easier to handle, especially if you like to spot and stalk. I shoot a Reflex Super Slam and it’s only 35 inches axle to axle and very easy to use from the ground, even when sitting right on the ground.


When going mobile, and stalking or still hunting, keep the weather in mind. I prefer to stalk during a harsh wind or rain. Obviously because it’s going to hide the noise you’re making and possibly help conceal some of your movement as well.


Most people would not dispute the fact that the greater majority of whitetail taken with a bow each year are harvested out of a treestand. Obviously, in a treestand your scent isn’t concentrated at the whitetail’s nose-level, your movement is concealed somewhat, and you are usually able to see further. However, if a hunter pays attention to a few details and practices shooting in different positions, hunting from the ground can be possibly more comfortable and safer, and just as fun, exciting and successful as hunting from a tree.

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