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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: saumensch on February 24, 2010, 09:45:00 AM
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Hi,
a question for all you stalkers out there:
When you get down on all fours to stalk a critter,isnt it louder than stalking upright? I tried it several times but the more ground contact i have the moe noise i make. And also, by moving the bow forward with one hand etc. i think i create more movement to be seen than by going in a low but upright position.
Thoughts please!
Regads saumensch
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i stalk hunt on two legs, not four.
you do what you gotta do, depending on too many things your senses tell you at the moment yer hunting.
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I think it is generally quieter, except for when I put my hand on a cactus. It makes you go slow, and you have to pick your way carefully. The lower profile is beneficial, too. It can be useful in certain situations, but like Rob, I prefer to stay upright if possible.
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You will find the benefits of two-legged stalking, when you come eye to eye with copperhead while on all fours. I hunt upright thank you....and use lots of patience.
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Depends on the terrain I'm hunting,
I've been on me belly doing the army crawl to slip on them Ol' longbeards.
I agree with centaur, it definetly slows you down.
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i have used both . i mostly depends on cover, terrain, conditions(wet/dry), and animal. i use it on pigs at night alot
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Hogs and javelina will let you crawl in sight - they must believe they are seeing another similar critter. Knee pads for rock and thorns is a good plan in Texas.
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Low grass and small brush chasing mulies leads to belly crawling at times. If your making more noise on four then your moving to fast. Slow it down.
I spend 95% of my time on two legs, and only get down on four when it is called for.
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When I was younger I've crawed to gobblers with my ghillie on.Back then I'd do just about anything to get my gobblers for the year.Once had a hen pecking a foot from my head.Wish now I'd grabbed her by the leg.
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Crawling isn't a bad idea under the right circumstance, just don't forget the knee pads.
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I'm like Stiks-n-Strings in a open field I've crawled to get with in my bow range to turkeys and Ive been walking through a field a couple times in different fields when a deer comes out to feed and I hunch over our get on my knees and they come towards me trying to figure me out I'm talkin well within bow range one came in ready to fight so I stood up and stomped back when I think about it I soulda just got out my knife :biglaugh: I wish that would happen to me during deer season. :jumper:
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I have, but I prefer two. In my stalking experience, if you hunch your back over horizontal and keep your arms in, your outline looks like a deer. I've gotten away with alot using this method, but it is not for someone with a bad back.
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I have probably spent more time on my belly and knees chasing speed goats than I have any other way. I have had them almost run me over more than once. Makes for a great day when the dominate buck chases two little ones right at you and all you can do is watch them get bigger and bigger. The only problem is the cloud of dust when they throw on the brakes.
MAP
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When being seen is more of a risk than being heard, I crawl.
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I have belly crawled up on some nice mullies where there was no cover. If you go VERY VERY slow its amazing how close you can get! that is if the animals stay around. Sometimes you can but the bow on your back while you crawl.
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Don't forget also that if you get on all fours and are spotted you look more like a natural predator as well. I don't know how many people have spooked animals because of this but it just seems to reason.
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I think 2 is better than 4 IF you have the cover. No cover - you do what you gotta do. Grass is easier than rocks or thorns. Where I hunt there are only rocks, thorns, and snakes. But to me its what hunting is all about. H
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I have spent quite a bit of time on all fours chasing whitetails here. I'll usually use the terrain to get as close as possible then crawl to get stickbow close. I usually prefer some wind when doing this. Without it the grass is usually too noisy.
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Sometimes, its the best thing to do. In 25 yrs. of hunting whitetail, Iam guessing the 4 leg crawl was in order 1/2 doz. times. 3ft. grass, and patience can get you in close. I once got into group of six Bucks-one of them was beautiful 10pt, I got to w/in 15yds--missed the 10pt- But --Intense, 45min crawl on a razors edge-- allows you to experience the keeness of your predatory instincts at a far deeper level than most hunting situations. I'do it every chance I got, even if chances getting an arrow in one was slim--It really is about the JOURNEY.
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Tweezers hanging on a string around your neck will come in real handy. H
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I will do what is needed two legged stalking or on all four to keep the profile low. High elevations bucks seem to be in the open with very little cover and the low profile is handy. At times I like to do what I call the crab crawl. When stalking down hill I will go feet forward crawling down hill with the bow resting on my thighs and knees. I learned that if you are stalking through cows(beef) it is better to stay on two legs,if you crawl they see you as a predetor and get nervis.
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Belly crawling and crawling on my knees are sometimes the only way that I can stalk our wary and wild axis bucks. It takes forever and it aint easiest thing to do but it's well worth it on certian final stalks.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/IMG_0152.jpg)
Notice the knee pads...
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never used Knee pads but i crawl a lot whilst stalking. It depends on what and where you are hunting. Dont worry about thorns or rocks thats nothing a leatherman and some merthiolate can't fix latter. :D
From my experience you can trick most animals ears but you cannot trick there eyesight this is true for the majority of the animals i hunt.
I think its important that you can switch and change between crawling, crouch and walking depending on the circumstances, TIMING is also very very important.
I think if you limit yourself to just staking on 2... well then your limiting yourself.
I love stalking game for me its the most satisfactory and rewarding way to hunt.
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I've had some success belly crawling into shooting range of pronghorns. Nowadays I'm more reluctant to do it. three or four years ago a four foot rattler struck and hit my longbow as I pushed it ahead of me. I don't know if he struck at me and the bow got in the way or what, but I'm sure glad he didn't hit me in the nose.
Larry
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Mr. Stout that was funny! and I agree,
but have done it before - do whatever the terrain dictates at that point in time?
J
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I prefer to stalk on my good two feet but when cover runs out I go to a belly crawl. The key to not making noise is moving real sloooowwww.
A friend of mine, an ex special forces member, says that if you have to crawl to your odjective to avoid beening seen or heard make sure you have time. He said that if you are moving more than a foot or two in one move you are going to fast, 1" to 6" in one move is even better. His way of thinking is that if you had to go 20-30 yards on your belly it should take you up to 30-40 minutes, longer if in dry brittle/crunchy conditions. His way does work I've spent an afternoon on a hill waiting for him to see how close he could get to a muledeer. I didn't see him until the deer busted out of his bed and my freind stood up out of the grass within 2 feet of the bed. He has a lot more patience than I have.
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Surprised nobody mentioned dropping down and moving on all THREES (One hand and Two Feet). I think it is much faster, easier to keep your head up, and just as quiet because you can still see where you are placing your feet. Also, your bow is always at the ready in your bowhand. You have to be in decent shape to do it very far, but it can pay off bigtime in allowing you to maintain a low profile but move more quickly than crawling.
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I have use all fours to stalk elk out in the sage brush. Elk make noise so being quiet isn't so important. With the diaphram call in my mouth I even kept up a conversation with the cows that could see me clearly as I moved towards the bull. Put your head down occasionally to simulate feeding. They accept you. Just stay down wind.
BigArcher
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Many times. I have my elk of a lifetime because I crawled out into the open grass of a 8000 foot plateau with the elk. They were really worked up. It was dark by the time I hit camp and I couldn't figure out why the outside of knees burned. Turns out I had worn 2 dime sized holes right into the raw meat. Think I was excited???