TL;DR
Get emergency and outdoor gear delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Outdoor Life published a report on Sept. 30, 2026, outlining hunting editor Andrew McKean’s case for pursuing whitetails from the ground instead of staying in a treestand. McKean says moving slowly can help hunters adapt to deer activity and create close encounters, but the approach depends on reading deer movement and managing wind; hunters may also bump deer.
McKean hunts in eastern Montana’s Milk River valley, where whitetails commonly bed in daytime cover and move toward alfalfa fields late in the afternoon, according to the report. Rather than committing to one field edge before seeing where deer emerge, he can observe movement and maneuver closer. That flexibility is specific to his account of local conditions; the report does not provide comparative success rates for ground hunting and treestand hunting.
His preferred approach, still hunting, involves moving very slowly and stopping often to scan the woods. McKean says much of the time is spent sitting and watching rather than walking. He also hunts from a seated position or stalks, with close-range encounters among the appeal he describes. The method asks hunters to remain alert to their surroundings and to accept that deer may detect or be displaced by their movement.
McKean emphasizes understanding local deer patterns and tracking wind direction and speed across the entire route. Wind may shift during a hunt, potentially carrying a hunter’s scent toward deer even if conditions were favorable earlier. He also recommends carrying rattling antlers and possibly a grunt tube; he says rattling sounds more realistic to him from the ground. These are his observations and suggestions, not guarantees of attracting deer.
A More Mobile Approach to Whitetails
Ground hunting gives a hunter room to change position as deer movement becomes clearer, instead of remaining committed to one stand location. That can matter in places where deer may approach a field from different directions, as McKean says they do in his Montana area. The report offers his experience rather than evidence that the technique will outperform a treestand elsewhere.
The approach also changes the demands of a hunt. Moving slowly and repeatedly studying the habitat can keep a hunter engaged, but the hunter is closer to the deer’s level and must account for sightlines, noise and scent while moving. McKean says ground hunters should expect to bump deer at times. His advice is to move more cautiously when targeting a particular buck and to adjust risk based on the goal of the hunt.
McKean’s Milk River Routine
The report contrasts the patience of waiting in a treestand during the rut with McKean’s preference to move and make decisions as a hunt unfolds. It describes a local pattern in his hunting area: whitetails bed during the day in cottonwood timber or grass, then head toward alfalfa fields late in the afternoon. McKean says knowing that pattern helps him choose when and where to enter cover.
His comments appear in an Outdoor Life podcast episode discussed in the report. The article also recommends weather apps to check wind changes and cites McKean’s use of rattling from the ground. It does not set out a universal method or report results from a controlled comparison of hunting styles.
““Time loses all meaning when you’re truly still hunting.””
— Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life hunting editor
Limits Depend on Local Conditions
The report does not quantify how often McKean succeeds from the ground or compare his results with treestand hunts. It also does not establish whether his methods transfer to areas with different terrain, vegetation, deer behavior or hunting pressure. The degree of risk from moving, including the chance of bumping deer, will vary with conditions. No specific harvest outcome or forecast for this season is provided.
Assess Wind Before Moving
For hunters considering the approach, McKean’s account points to practical preparation: learn where deer bed and feed locally, check how wind may shift throughout the planned route, and decide how cautiously to move based on the animal being pursued. Hunters can also carry rattling antlers or a grunt tube if those calls fit their plan. The report gives no calendar of upcoming developments; its advice is for readers to weigh against their own conditions during the season.
Key Questions
What does still hunting mean?
In McKean’s description, it means moving very slowly through an area and stopping often to watch and scan, rather than walking continuously.
Why does McKean prefer hunting from the ground?
He says it is engaging, allows him to adjust position as deer move, and can lead to close encounters. Those are his reasons and experiences, not a claim that ground hunting is more successful for every hunter.
What should hunters consider before moving through an area?
McKean stresses understanding local deer movement and monitoring wind direction and speed along the whole route. He says wind can shift and carry scent toward deer.
Will ground hunting cause deer to move away?
It can. McKean says hunters who stalk or still hunt will sometimes bump deer. He describes reducing movement when pursuing a particular buck.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
