I first heard the sounds of a deer entering the creek. The soft, gentle sounds of splashing were followed by the sound of something stepping into the muck. My back was to the sounds, the firing lane between a few cattails to my left and slightly going away from me.

The deer would walk beyond me before a shot could take place. I went to full draw before my peripheral vision spotted the deer. The first deer walked through the opening, as did the next two. A mom and her two youngsters. Not what I wanted on this particular evening hunt, but a success to me.

Hunting on the ground offers me a larger target, but also brings a whole new set of problems. Scent can be a problem, and being spotted is a huge concern. You are at their level, and that, my friends, is a huge concern.

So why would you sit on the ground? First, I am getting old. When the archery season kicks off, my 70th birthday will be two weeks past. I hate putting up a stand in the dark. I did that for many years and am sick of it.

For many years, I would put up a dozen stands on state land before the season started. And I kept a climber in the truck for those random chances. For many years, I hunted from a climber. I enjoyed using a climbing tree stand, but I was tired of the pack mule concept. I spent considerable time hiding my stands from other hunters, had stands stolen, and finally decided that I wanted to hunt where I wanted, and when I wanted, without any type of disturbance.

Clearcuts create an edge or two, and many have an old logging trail going through part of it. The old logging trail becomes a runway, and often a slight opening or a clearing. One of my favorite clearcuts has two logging trails cross it. This location becomes a perfect ambush location for a ground blind hunter.

A transition area, where a sliver of terrain is different from two other terrains bordering it, might just be a favorite. Like a swamp or a swale between a thick set of pines, or a sliver of wetlands between a swamp and the hardwoods. Or a section of damp ground between a clearcut and oaks acting as a buffer. All are prime locations for a ground blind hunter.

When I hunt in the muck, I carry a small piece of carpet. I roll this up and bungee it to my small backpack, or to the chair. I can move my feet around without making a sound.

Hunting cattail swamps and thick cedar swamps work out fairly well. When I hunt areas with water, I generally set up a spot so that the deer walk past me. Water and sucking mud make noise, and normally that would be sufficient for me. Luckily, my hearing is still in great order, and I can hear a pin drop.

Cattails and cedars, or thick pines, are my favorite locations. Both provide you with all the cover you need. Carrying a small, hand rose pruner is about all that you need.

When these options are not available, I keep my eyes peeled for a deadfall. A fallen tree creates a place to snuggle into the middle of, or carve out a spot in front of, leaving a fantastic backdrop.

When deadfalls are scarce, I look for a wide tree or a clump of trees. If I can find a few logs to place on the sides, better yet. Understand, I do most of this work well before the season starts. I have dozens of small spots scouted out and marked on my phone.

I do not use a pop-up blind. I tried that route a few times. It’s great for private property, but not for state land. It takes too much time trying to brush it in when it’s dark outside. Turkeys never cared about a pop-up blind. Deer, well, they spot anything new placed in their woods.

I have tried a Ghost Blind, and I shot a few deer with it. My 83-year-old hunting buddy loves the Ghost Blind. The Ghost Blind is a mirrored-style blind that does a fine job of hiding you. It mirrors what is in front of the blind.

I have no issue with the blind, except that I like to travel as light as possible. Let me tell you that, with all the various blinds I have tried, the Ghost Blind worked well and did a fine job, especially when you have some type of background cover behind you.

I did buy the Nukem 3D leafy blind. This blind is made with a leafy fabric and basically sets up in a V-shaped pattern. Your head is exposed, and you can adjust the fabric height easily. The blind weighs next to nothing.

I used the blind a few times this summer, testing it out while scouting and taking wildlife photos. I can see where this blind will be useful. Setting up the blind is a one-minute task that can be done easily in the dark.

During the early portion of the archery season, when there are plenty of ferns and leaves, blending in will be simple. During the rut, it would be best to set up in the shadows or where the natural surroundings can be of assistance.

I wear leafy wear from my waist to the top of my head. This is really important. I own two leafy suits: one in a lighter color scheme, and the other in a darker shade.

I trust my leafy wear; on those occasions when I can hunt from a tree, I still wear it. The nice thing about leafy wear is that it’s super lightweight. It weighs ounces, and it can be worn over just about any color of clothing. Think of the savings, not needing a pile of camo clothing.

Perhaps 80 percent of my ground blind hunting is done with a low-profile turkey lounge chair. This chair puts your butt maybe four inches off the ground, and it has a backrest. My chair weighs under three pounds. I strap it to my small backpack, and away I go.

I use a taller, lightweight chair when hunting in the muck, water, or soft ground. This chair also weighs in at maybe three pounds. I placed tennis balls on the bottom of the chair legs, so it does not sink down.

My shots are nearly always set up for a quartering-away shot. This avoids direct eye contact and helps get your bow in place for the shot. When I set up tree stands, I opted for shoots in the 15- to 25-yard range. When I sit on the ground, I like 25- to 35-yard shots.

As you can see, whenever hunting from the ground with archery tackle, blending in pays dividends. A dark background, two wide trees, anything to help blend you in will make your life easier and your hunt successful. You can move on the fly or adjust to a sudden change in the wind. Get eye-to-eye with the deer and feel the excitement and thrill of the hunt.

If you want to try a hunting a different, exciting species or using a different technique, you’ll find plenty of suggestions in every issue of MidWest Outdoors. Subscribe on our website.