Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills

need info for stalking deer for a new guy

<< < (3/3)

Grunt:
When you throw a rock into a pool of water it sends out waves. That's what most people do when they enter the woods to hunt. All the critters feel the waves or vibrations and they hide. With practice you can make smaller and smaller waves as you hunt. It takes practice but you can become a critter attractor rather than a critter repeller. When you get good you will be able to feel the waves the critters make before you see them.

hedgeapple:
Stalking is my favorite way to deer hunt.  Give me wet, quiet leaves on the ground and I won't be sitting in a tree stand.  Here's my method:
A deer's first line of defence is its nose.  The wind needs to be blowing from where to think the deer might be to you.  Wind is face is ideal.  Wind from the side isn't bad, but you loose the down wind side for hunting.  Were clean clothes, shower, use scent inliminating sprays.  RUBBER BOOTS are great.  Avoid touching limbs with you hands.

A deer's second line of defence is sight.  They can pick up movement very quickly.  Wear camo and move SLOWLY.  I call my method of hunting stand-and-stalk hunting.  I never take over 3 steps without stopping to look around.  This stopped time could last as little as a minute or as long as 10 minutes or more.  To cover a half mile it will take me a minimum of an hour.  Just remember the place you're at right now might be as good as the place you're heading to.  Every step gives you a new perpective of the area your hunting.

Remember to watch you back trails if the wind isn't blowing directly that direction.  If you're doing a good job of stalking, a deer might just as easily come from behind you as in front of you.

Listen, listen, listen.  Even with wet, quiet conditions a deer can make noise.  Try to identify the source of every sound you hear. 

Squirrels CAN turn into deer.  Just because you've heard and identified a squirrel as the source a noise don't forget to check it out often.  Squirrel and deer both love acorns.  If a squirrel has found a honey hole of acorns there's a good chance a deer will also.  I can't count the number of times stalking and stand hunting when I've watched squirrels foraging only to turn around the next time and see a deer there.

Squirrel season probably opens before deer season.  At least it does here in KY.  Use this time to get your "wood legs" -- strengthen you muscle to move slowly feeling every little branch under your feet and be able to shift your weight so the limb doesn't snap. 

Jake Levi:
If inexperienced stay on a stand and observe, you'll learn far more that will help in stalking.

If you must stalk pick a day when the leaves are wet, then slow and easy from down wind. 

Did I say slow, and easy ?  Take a step and stop, look ahead and use your peripheral vision as much as possible.

Motion is a give away. Keep it to a minimum.

Hillbilly Deluxe:
     I live on a golf course and get to practice stalking most if the year, it's awesome. The biggest thing that I would say is that you have to get into a totally different mind set. When it is life and death every day as it is with animals decisions are not made near as hastily as in our daily lives. Slow down, way down, and try to become part of the surroundings.

     I shot my first bull elk last season with a rifle but it was at 18yds. (during 3rd rifle season in CO this is a feat) with about eight other cows around him. The wind was right in our face and my friend and I snuck right up on them. It was the greatest hunting of my life.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page