“Check out this big 10-point,” texted my friend, who last week posted a pop-up blind at the edge of a cornfield where there were no trees suitable for hunting. With our season less than two weeks away, he will be checking his camera, hoping to catch the buck in a pattern. The advantage of posting by the edge of standing corn is the ability to sneak into the blind undetected. Deer often feed in cornfields and travel along the edge, offering a close-range shot.
Back-Up Plan
While sitting on the ground against a tree hunting turkeys, I have had deer walk and feed past me without catching my silhouette, thanks to a complete set of camo and the large tree breaking my form. If your plan for opening day requires a specific wind direction and air currents aren’t cooperating, consider sitting on the ground with the wind in your face. A ground-hunting video concludes this post and recommends wearing leafy camouflage, which improves concealment; however, it isn’t mandatory. My favorite deer “stand” in the entire country is at the base of a medium-sized tree in a thick creek bottom. I took a mid-160’s whitetail at 10 yards there, and I rarely hunt more than a day without tagging out.
Use Natural Camouflage
Hiding behind a blowdown, stump, or other structure may seem the best strategy, yet the moment you peek over or around an object, a buck will catch that movement and spook. Just like with elk, it’s better to sit in front of a structure, assuming your camouflage blends well. It helps if you have a cushion that allows you to sit more comfortably and makes drawing your bow easier. The instant you hear a deer approaching, orient toward the deer. If you are crossbow hunting, raise the bow and let the deer walk into the scope. Don’t pass a frontal shot if the deer walks directly toward you.
Practice Holding at Full Draw
Holding at full draw is essential in a blind or tree stand, but it is absolutely critical when hunting on the ground, so that deer don’t catch you pulling back. How long can you hold your bow at full draw? Have you ever timed yourself? Since most of us have cell phones, set the timer, draw back, and see how long you can maintain your form. With this information, you can decide when to draw on a deer that is feeding toward you rather than walking steadily.