Still Hunting / Stalking Tips
 

Does anyone have good still hunting or stalking tips to share?

I' ll be hunting this warm wet week of rut in Central Illinois probably on the ground.
I' m hunting a dry creekbed between 2 untilled corn fields with small woods on either end of the creedbed and nothing but tall grass and a couple of tiny trees in between.

I plan to hunt from the downwind side of the ditch, staying in the grass, wearing my homemade scent free guille suit and will bring a grunt tube to make tending calls.

Any suggestions or tips as I am normally sitting in a tree and not on the ground?

RE: Still Hunting / Stalking Tips
 

Go into the wind, look for any small details, try to keep the sun out of your eyes. Walk slow, slow, slow. And when you think you' re going so slow your gunna die, go even slower. You may want to wrap your boots with wool socks or somethin to make less noise. Other than that, i dont really have any tips. Try carrying a turkey call or fawn bleat so if you step on a stick you can call and make it sound like another animal made the noise(just a suggestion, i hear it works).

RE: Still Hunting / Stalking Tips
 

I will add a few other things to what hunter9022 said, scan the entire area in front of you while standing still for several minutes, pick out a spot that will give you somewhat of a new view of your surroundings within 5-10 steps, move slowly to the new spot and stop again for several more minutes scanning everywhere. Take advantage of any cover, a bush, tall grass or a tree.

RE: Still Hunting / Stalking Tips
 

Well I went out this morning and did my best. I didn' t see any deer until on my way out but I didn' t spook them. I was using binoculars and looking way ahead when I saw a doe.

I got down on the ground and waited. About 3 minutes later I saw the tree behind the doe move! It wasn' t a tree, it was A RACK! I didn' t know Illinois grew deer that big! Must have been 14 points and at least 30" tall with 30" spread. Then a BIGGER BUCK came out from behind him!!!!

Unfortunately, the only came within 50 yards then turned away but I have learned a lot about them on my stalk hunt today. I know where they bed, where they are in the am and saw the scrapes they visit.

By the way, the doe had spotted me and was getting nervous so I used " The Can" and thats when the bucks started coming my way. The damn thing almost worked! At least I got a response.

Fellas, I' m telling you, I' ll be on the cover of a magazine when I shoot this big boy!

Wish me luck!

RE: Still Hunting / Stalking Tips
 

wind in my face, sun at my back if I can. If there is no snow on the ground, I prefer (within reason) windy days. usually only moving when the wind blows and there is a lot of leaves blowing around. Really covers the sound.