So I took a couple of weeks of leave, and have been spending a good deal of time out in the woods trying to develop my still hunting skills.
Those crispy leaves on the deck are so dang noisy. I am wearing nicely broken in Dyer moccasins on my feet, but no matter how carefully and slowly I move, I can't help but make noise. I might as well be walking on unopened potato chip bags with tap shoes.
And don't get me started on the tattle-tale squirrels. As soon as they identify me, they start wagging their tails in defiance and barking their alert to every other living thing within a 50 yard radius. I am absolutely sure that they are screaming to the deer,"He's over here, he's got a bow in his hand, run away now". And the deer speak squirrel language. If I thought I wouldn't loose an arrow and damage a nice Bear Razorhead, I would separate that squirrel from his wagging tail.
I have read a number of books, old and new, and try to apply the lessons learned, but it always seems like the deer are 5 steps ahead of me. I sure know what just out of range white flags look like. I feel like everyone knows something I don't know about still hunting.
Any advice will be humbly received and greatly appreciated.
Tom
My experience... you have to pick and choose your days... still dry days are next to impossible... better off finding a likely place and waiting... days following a rain are made for slipping around...
Jonathan
Also -do not walk with heels hitting ground first
Sound like your traveling a little fast. You should be able to sneek past the squirrels with out putting them into high alert. Even with the dry leaves. Providing your clothing blends in ( I seem to do better with neutral shades of wool plaid or camo than with the dark stuff.) And your clothing has to be quiet. Your foot wear is a excellent choice.
The hardest part of still hunting (imo)is realizing you don't have to get far even if you have all day. A good day is hard on my eyes with all the searching then make a step.
Highly rewarding though! I probally average seeing a half a dozen tightly bedded deer during the season now. Some really close at the edge of thick stuff that offer no shot. But still makes a successful day.
Good luck, jeff
Toes first. Feels odd but gets more normal as you do it more. A good still hunter told me that the "still" part is the key. Most unaware game is spotted when stopped.
Deer have fulltime jobs staying alive and the tools to accomplish it. When they lose, they lose everything. When we lose, we get to try again tomorrow.
I don't have the patience to be good at it. After an hour or so I'm going too fast and unfocused.
Agree with all of the above. Some days just aren't conducive to still hunting. Pick your day wisely.
Another thing is that some areas are easier to still hunt than others. Pines are one of my favorite places to still hunt.
As for speed. Well, if you are covering a hundred yards in less than an hour or so. You could be going too fast.
Still hunting is something I don't do if I have any time constraints at all.
Ken
"walk little, see much." I try to work between locations from which I think I might get a shot that I could make without stalking after spotting.
here is what I learned last year, anxious to continue my education this year.
do not take steps long enough to see light between your legs from the side, shuffle your feet, the object is not to be silent, just not to sound like a man. when doing this right I have passed bushy tails at 5 yards in dry leaves and they do not stop what they are doing. I also learned not to make predator moves, do not squat down when you see a deer, don't hide behind a tree, continue as normal, you will be amazed. tried this last year, killed a coyote at 12 yards sleeping, missed a buck (same day) Killed a 146" the next day. will find out this year if it was luck.
Get you a doe bleet call on those dry days and blow a couple light bleets every couple minutes. If your gonna make noise might as well make them think your a deer. You might just make them come take a look.
I always gauge my still hunting pace to the sign I'm seeing. If there don't seem to be much going on then I move a bit quicker. If its hot and heavy I move real slow and careful. That way you don't have to stay focused the whole time.
Another thing is a good set of Binos can help slow you down by giving something to do while you stalk.
When I place my feet I have my weight on my back foot and land my toes first then transfer my weight forward. Watch how deer walk. That's basically what they do. They can move quick and quiet because they are good at it.
My 2 cents.
Learn to use a diaphragm call and make turkey sounds. Also mimic how turkeys sound when feeding and walking through leaves.
It's better to sound like a turkey, deer or squirrel putzing around than a man sneaking around.
Be out after a rain when possible or on windy days. Just don't let it keep you from trying when it's still and dry.
THE woods are never silent Lots of things making noise all the time Turkeys scratching squirrells chip=monks, birds etc deer dont get spooked by the slight rustle of leaves a by a step or two MOVE SLOW watch more than you move! take binoculars and scan constantly! the corn flake leaves wont spook anything if you are only doing a step or two at a time the diaphragm call for turkey sounds is a good idea I have done that many times watch the wind walk into the wind or cross wind other than those things not much to worry about LOL
Read Tom brown's book on tracking, great info in it on moving in the forest effectively.
I love learning how people still hunt. This will be my third season doing it so I'm learning after many many white flags. Great thread thanks! :campfire:
Slow, Slow, Slow!!! all creatures make noise as they walk through the woods. the difference is the cadence. I rarely take more than 2 steps at a time and I also either use a turkey call and make squirrel sounds. works great, I had a buck appear in heavy cover in front of me at 6 yards. I was making noise because its impossible not too but I was moving in a cadence that doesnt alarm deer if they hear it.
Slow, Slow, Slow!!! all creatures make noise as they walk through the woods. the difference is the cadence. I rarely take more than 2 steps at a time and I also either use a turkey call and make squirrel sounds. works great, I had a buck appear in heavy cover in front of me at 6 yards. I was making noise because its impossible not too but I was moving in a cadence that doesnt alarm deer if they hear it.
Binocs are key. You're REALLY looking then.
To me still hunting is mostly about being still. Couple of steps, lots of looking. As above be super slow in the heavier sign. When stopped be by some cover, not in the open. Dry, crunchy is tough. lots of stillness on those days.
Be careful on the damp days to not be moving too fast. Movement is as bad as sound.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/Stalking_M.jpg)
I just spent nearly 2 weeks stalking and stillhunting elk in Idaho. I didn't kill an elk, but I sure learned some lessons.
If I made a noise, I squeaked a cow or calf call. I moved insanely slow. Standing still for 10 minutes was not unusual. Like any hunting, the wind is everything. I wore out 4 pieces of dental floss on my top limb tip.
I was constantly using my talc powder "puffer". One positive, I realized that no matter how thick or crunchy, if you move SLOW enough, you can get through it. Don't look at your watch. If you think "I need to be through this ridge by 4:30".....you will rush and screw it up.
Fred Asbell points out in his book, that proper still hunting isn't just a walk in the woods. You need a route plan, you should be creeping through country you are at least sightly familiar with to be effective.
Tom,
Like Charlie Lamb's advice, I never go into the woods without a turkey diaphram call. A few yelps now and then while moving to/from my stands has worked wonders.
Best regards,
Todd
That's a good point about the watch, Roger.
That's a big advantage the game we pursue has - they don't have to get to the mall before it closes...
Take a look at G. Fred's write up on deer-walking. It works.
And just as others have said, SLOW, SLOW, SLOW down! If you're covering 50 yards in 15 minutes, you are moving way too much!
Interesting stuff but I don't know if I would have the patience.
Woke up this morning, thanked God for the steady rain falling and headed out the door. Thanks for all the advice Tradgangers, made a big difference today. I headed out with resolve to put the still back into still hunting. Took tiny steps, toes first and more stopping/looking than moving. I'm going to try to make a turkey diaphragm call tonight.
I seemed to have developed a new rapport with the squirrels, not one alarm the whole morning. I did take a bit of pleasure watching one squirrel fall out of a tree. He hit the deck, bounced once, landed on his feet shook his head and off he went. I if had a tail I would have wagged it at him.
I did still manage to spook couple of deer. Once when I was high-stepping over a branch, too much movement and I spooked a doe within 10 yards. I had no clue she was there, I was looking so hard too. I've a lot to learn but it's a great challenge and good fun.
Best part of the day was when a chipmunk actually hopped onto my foot. I had to double check to make sure I didn't accidentally leave the house with my fuzzy animal slippers on and he was trying to make friends with them. Nope, had my Dyers on- he must have thought I was a slow moving tree.
Thanks again Tradgangers.
Sincerely,
Tom
Congratulations on the satisfying day!
Keep at it and the dry leaves won't matter much. At times I'll "sift" my foot through them instead of compressing them. The little bit of noise doesn't seem to draw as much attention. Snap a trig -- wait 15 minutes. A near by deer will watch where he heard the noise for a good while.
They have a knack for being exactly where you don't anticipate them. LOL
All the advise above is on target.......but Slow can not be stressed enough......YOU CAN NOT MOVE TO SLOW!!!!! Also the use you binos a lot........Best of luck in your hunts!
Tom... Congrats on a great day in the woods. Like most things, the more you do this the better you'll get at it.
Keep at it. The first time you get a shot at one of those deer that you saw first will be special awesome.
If it was easy, everybody would do it.
:archer:
Tom....I admire your "stick-to-it" attitude.
One other thing I noticed out west.....a slow HIGH step is much quieter than a low step. I am not a tall guy, and I realized the advantage a long legged person would have when creeping through fallen timber. Balance (or lack of) and single leg strength were obvious too.
I have done yoga while working out to the P90X program...I see a ton of application to that type of training. Many times you will be 1/2 way through a step and need to freeze on one foot, upper body at an odd angle.
I'm definitely not the one with loads of experience, but I have a drop. One of the absolute best things I have done is take 2 steps and stop for a few minutes. There is also a method in the way I step. I used it for a super successful stalk last week on a big doe and its fawn. What I do is walk in almost a T stance. I take a small step with my left foot setting the toe down first and dropping the heel down. I bring my right foot right up behind my left foot, making a "T" with them. I sit the right down exactly like the first. I am a right hand shooter and I want my left foot leg in front at all times if possible. This way of walking allows me not to get in a odd position that I can't make a good shot. Also, when you take those small steps and bring you rear leg directly behind your front leg, it reduces the appearance of the tree trunk opening and closing.
Other than that, keep your eyes and ear open, very open!
Question for you still hunters. When you see a deer first, and try to stalk up to it, what is the process. I always get busted around 40-50yds. If I move super slow, the deer walk off before I get to them.
Another thing to do is put the bow in front of you so it "splits" you in half. I had a small mulie buck at ten yards last night and couldn't quite figure me out. I've done this with whitetails and it works equally as well. Good stuff guys! :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by snakebit40:
Another thing to do is put the bow in front of you so it "splits" you in half. I had a small mulie buck at ten yards last night and couldn't quite figure me out. I've done this with whitetails and it works equally as well. Good stuff guys! :campfire:
you reminded me of something else I do. I use an old cheap Kwikee Kwiver clamp on style. I'll snap off a small branch os whatever is handy that has plenty of leaves on it and put it in between the quiver clamp and upper bow limb. Makes it appear more like a tree and sort of hide your face a bit too.
Great stuff guys, i can say with confidence I'm an archer, but still an infant as a hunter. While i have taken small game, i have yet to log a big game kill. I feel I've learned a lot about stalking this year from time in the woods, even more from this thread. It's great to have such a wealth of info available here. I'll keep practicing until i get it.
Austin
JJ, Stalking and still hunting can be worlds apart. With stalking being the most difficult. Alot depends on the terrain and cover you have at hand. Alot of times its more of watching the deer and trying to head it off.
In open woods with dry leaves get into position and try a little calling, grunting, etc. A buck tending a doe can be alot of fun stalking but that doe will still stay very alert.
Last year I snuck into some cover (old tree top down) with a buck tending a doe thirty yards ahead. You just can't predict their moves and the buck came past a couple of times in my range. He just wouldn't give me the shot I wanted. One more grunt out of him and the doe ran a little circle and jumped into the tree top with me.---BUSTED! That was one of the seasons highs.
I will be on the ground only this year as well. I have killed all but one of my rifle deer still hunting but none with a bow yet. All of my bow kills have been from a stand. I just have not learned to be slow enough with a bow. This year I will make it happen. i have until the middle of January.
If you think you are going slow enough, slow down more. Look and be still 95% of the time, and move 5% of the time. Always maintain a positive attitude that game is just around the corner. You need to spot the game before game spots you. When I have thought to myself, move a little faster because there is nothing in this section, well I spook game.
Most of all enjoy the experience of moving slow through the wilds, this is the very essance of bowhunting. Patient attitude will go miles. If you find a likely spot where game moves through to go from feeding to bedding, may be a spot to find a place to hide and hang out see what comes by. Hunt from groud blind to ground blind, I do this when I am having a day that I cannot seem to calm down and go slow enough, or when the conditions are such that it is difficult to move quiet.
Good hunting to you,
PS: If you do not have a copy of Hunting the Hard Way by Howard Hill, that book has alot of info.
It'sall relative brother- some good advice here.
Great thread. Keep it up
I'm working on stillhunting this year too. I've been reading Fred Asbell's Groundhunting Bible. He talks about silent walking when the terrain is not too crunchy/dry, then "deer walking" when it is. That means making each foot strike sound like 2 legs of a deer, then pause, then move your other foot.
Having said that, I feel like a rhino in there...and I'm just a 5'4" tall lady! :) Keep trying. That's what I'm going to do!
My advice, take off your boots, wear an old wool sock, and give her a go. Your body will teach you how to walk, what cadence is good, etc...
Until your feet toughen up and walking becomes more natural, You will be forced to slow down and pay attention.
Slow down. Use the squirrels to tell you how you're doing. If you are going slow enough, they'll just hop along about 20 yardsish ahead of you and keep pilfering acorns and whatnot. They know you are there, but aren't worried. If you make even a bit of a fast move, they'll scatter and start barking at you.
Keep chugging! It'll come. Don't be afraid to actually hunt the small game you happen across. If you get a chance, put the sneak on a squirrel or rabbit. It's good practice.
This is an awesome thread! Great info - I've taken many deer from a tree stand with my compound, but the switch to trad gear has me itching to still/stalk hunt only. This will be my 1st yr to bow hunt since 2011 due to injury - can't wait to apply some of the advice from this thread.
Sometimes I think the key to still hunting is more mental than physical.
Say you are sitting/standing by a tree on stand hunting. Now you step away from that tree a few quick steps after checking to see if the coast is clear.
That's what you simulate when still hunting. Every time you stop imagine you are on stand right there and waiting. After watching/looking for a while, move away from that "stand" a few steps.
That's still hunting.
Move where the deer move. Follow trails or parallel them. When approaching thickets or densities look them over carefully. Especially the downwind side.
On sunny warm days hunt the shady (cooler) northern slopes of hills.
On days after cold and wet spells hunt more open sunny (often south facing) places.
QuoteOriginally posted by hawkeye n pa:
With stalking being the most difficult.
Hey Hawkeye, I'd have to disagree there buddy. I have WAY more patience when I know I am actually moving in on an animal, versus walking through "empty woods". Confidence is key. When I have it, I am on my game, otherwise I blow a lot of animals out because I doubted the terrain.
Stillhunting is way fun. All the animals will tell on you however including birds, squirrels, & especially other deer. Couple with sticks breaking & leaves and (in my case) hearing loss, it's a wonder we ever see anything at all. My advice, when those bad things happen, chill for awhile in one spot until the dust settles preferably in the shadows near brush. Animals soon forget especially if they can't perceive the threat. 5 minutes or so is an eternity in the woods. Resume as normal afterwards. Good luck.
^^^^^^^^^
Plus, use your binocs to pick everything apart each time you've moved a little. 5-10 feet on your part has made you visible to a WHOLE new set of bedding points. Look for deer parts, not whole deer. You'll be slipping into or across the wind right? I try to go from sapling to sapling, finding a place to lean makes standing still easier on my old feet.
The only advice I can add that has not been given is:
Get to an area you want to still hunt, then Still hunt it. Walk in when its dark or mid day, get to where you think a good starting point is, then start hunting.
Try to plan a route based on wind direction but also I try to keep cover close by. sometimes I hunt through thick cover just to keep hidden. Still hunting through open woods will make it easier to be picked off.
dont spend time in areas you can get busted like ridge tops, dont silouhette yourself and try to stay in shadows. I try to stop by trees. this way I can lean and try to give my legs/feet a break but also give a little cover.
Tom, It sounds like your second attempt was much better, as Charlie said, you will get better wth practice.
Also, dont forget to look around close to you. you will be surprised how many deer you can slip into 15 yards of before they bust out and make you poop your pants.
Noise is OK as long as you are not a Human or Mountain Lion.
Yup! I'll be back at it come Saturday. I remember last year how close I got to deer without even knowing they were there, only to spook them by some careless movement. Not this year, I'm going to be on my game the WHOLE time I'm in the woods.
Tom