Still hunting advice

[NYArrow]

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.

[Charlie Lamb]

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.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Originally 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.

[straitera]

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.

[achigan]

^^^^^^^^^
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.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

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.

[Phrogdrvr]

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