Archery only but no crossbow.
No blind other than available brush.
Who does it?
Ultimate challenge for me.
I get close but drawing the bow is my downfall. I probably need to practice holding at full draw longer.
Not seeing the deer until they are "right there" is also a problem.
Might try a decoy.
Any pro tips?
I killed my top 2 archery bucks from the ground without a blind. They go 145 and 161 gross and are the left and right hand bucks in the pic. Center buck was a late muzzleloader kill from the ground and grossed 151.
Tip 1- Choose a setup where you have good visibility for a decent distance. Typically try to position with a high vantage point so you can see the deer first and then hatch a plan to get in range leveraging terrain, wind, and thermals.
Tip2- Depending on the season use grunt calls, snort wheeze, and rattling to your advantage to draw them in.
Tip 3- Draw when the buck is distracted behind a bit of cover or not looking your way. Just remember, if you can see either of his eyeballs, he can see you and most importantly your movement.
Tip 4- The best days for this strategy are those with a decent amount of wind. 10-15mph or faster increases consistency in flatter terrain and also gives you some cover for your noise when approaching.
Tip 5- Stay positive and stay at it. You will learn a ton about whitetail behavior during spot and stalk hunts. Be patient and learn from your failures. IME, movement will bust you before they smell you, so draw early and be prepared to hold full draw as long as possible.
Equipment-wise, I really like a Whisker Biscuit or similar rest that holds your arrow in place when stalking. The last thing you want is your arrow falling off your rest and banging against the riser when you're in the zone.