I'm new to bow hunting and there isn't a lot of people in my entire county that hunt with a bow. In fact, only 45 deer were killed with a bow in my county (Tripp County, South Dakota) in 2005. Most of the county is wide open with very few trees, so I know I will have to spot and stalk most of the time. The property that do have tree belts usually have owners that don't allow deer hunting. The vast majority of land owners don't want anyone on their property unless you are hunting pheasants and have a thick wallet. Calls and rattling down seem to work here very well either. Once in a while I hear about someone calling in a deer but not very often. I don't see too many camo patterns designed for open terrain. What open terrian patterns have you guys found to work the best?

Iam also pondering the choice of a fall away restvs. a WB. I'd like togo with a fall away, but don't knowif it would hold up to the abuse of spot and stalk.The area I hunt is steap and rocky with flat grass and crop last surrounding it.Most of the deer come in from the flat area's to bed down. There is no trails that they use so a stalk is needed once you see them bed down. There is a good chance I will slip and possibly fall at some point. Is a fall away a good idea or not in my case. Can some of thefallaways really contain the arrow completely with not much of a chance to fall out? I was thinking about gettinga MZE or QAD ultra. I like the MZE but it looks like it may break if I slip and fall. What do you guys think I should go with?

I swear.. this topic will never end... my grandchildren will be discussing it.

mtfreezer.. I can't help you much on drop away rests. They're great rests indeed. I know all about them, just have not used them yet.. due to my own way of hunting deer.

If you are looking to sit and stalk I will reccomend the WB without hesitation. Your going to want to stay low to the ground during your stalk and your not gonna want to even think about what your arrow is doing. The WB will keep your arrow from ever moving while you steady your next strategically placed foot rest and keep your eyes on the prize.

Stalking a whitetail over earth is like walking on broken glass. It takes specific movements and patience. When I stalk I want to think about how to get from point A to point B. With the WB I never have to think about anything else.

Couldn't agree with you more! However, I will not nock an arrow until I'm prepared to shoot. The possibility of accident aside, I don't want to worry about hitting the arrow against something as I concentrate on the quarry. I developed these procedures during the 30+ years of Trad hunting and before the advent of rests and holders for nocked arrows.I've always figured that thereisn't much sense of carryingan arrowatthe ready until Iget withina solid shooting position.I really like your, "broken glass", analogy.

laxdad

Spot and stalk is as exciting as it gets to me. The WB rest is great for stalking, in the event you need to quickly change your position or whatever. A good open pattern, IMO, is Natural Gear. It works great on the open areas I hunt in CO. Another pattern is Prairie Ghost. That is great stuff for big grassy areas as well. There is no better way to learn than to do it, so best of luck and I hope you have a blast.

Talk to TJF, he lives inand hunts your type of country. He's has a wealth of knowledge in regards to open ground-minimal treewhitetail bowhunting.

I agree with what Duke said above as well. Spot and stalking a whitetail with a bow is like walking on glass most of the time. Rain is quite helpful or a combination of wind and rain, quieting things considerably and dulling a bedded deers senses.

Enigma and predatoror both great open pattern camo, as well as Natural Gear. I agree that if you are spot and stalk hunting would be best, but that is the only reason. Every other is based on opinion.