I was hunting at a public hunting area yesterday and for the first time, ran into a traditional idiot. (IMO) I was sitting on stand and at 7:30 in the morning (Sunrise was about 7)and a guy dresses in blue jeans, King of the Mountain jacket, and wool hat come crunching through my area. I heard him coming for 200 yards. I think he was trying to "Stalk." My hunting buddy tried to wave him off to no avail. He just continued to plow through the area. He was making so much noise, he couldn't hear my whistles. The first question that comes to mind is: Why would anyone stalk that early in the morning. Why not sit till at least 9am? Second, if stalking is your thing, shouldn't you learn to be quiet? Does anyone else on the board still hunt that early in the day? I thought that we traditional hunters were better than that. There is more to hunting with a stick and string than reading mags. and romanticising.Pardon my frustration. Dick

PS. Maybe I'm all wet but that's not the way I learned to hunt.


Edited by - dick4bows on 11/04/2002 16:31:02

I'm new to bow-hunting (or hunting for anything for that matter) and am curious as to why still-hunting in the morning is not recommended? I would have probably made the same mistake as the fellow you spoke off, though I hope I would be a whole lot more quiet about it.

Dick- I agree about the ROMANTICIZING. I would kiss someones ROSEY RED if they can come to Mississippi and hunt the places that I hunt and stalk and still hunt and kill a deer. After a rain, during a rain or during a hi wind possibly. But if you think you can go to a place where the leaves are as dry as popcorn poot and stalk a deer! good luck! I know it really blistered your butt, but it also could have been a positive thing in that you could have befriended this guy and taken him under your wing and used it as an opportunity to guide him in the right direction, so that he does not endanger his life, as in if does it to you again? heheehehe. I know, I know, being politically correct sucks, I can not stand it when somebody ruins my hunts either especially since I only get to hunt a couple a times a year anymore.

Mudd- most of the people that I know generally sit a stand from daylight till mid morning and then get up and still hunt/SCOUT more emphasis on scouting, as here in MS it is a little thick for the most part.

I know that there are nay sayers out there, YES I myself have killed deer on the ground while I was SCOUTING, and they will say well the indians did it in MS! well when the indians inhabited MS there were no cutovers and the majority of the forests were old growth hardwoods and pine (READ OPEN WOODS).

I'm gonna go out on a limb here......there isn't a place with whitetails that one can't be killed on the ground. I agree that the guy stomping along wasn't hunting, but it doesn't mean it can't be done. I have killed deer still hunting(not stalking, by the way) on cornflakes leaves, in standing corn, and in an open soybean field. It just takes lots of time and patience. I often still hunt all day, beginning at daylight, but I assure you I would have seen you before I got close enough to hear you whistle, and if I did see you, I'd get the hell out of there, because around here, some of the "hunters" will ground sluice you. Double that in gun season!
You just ran into a tyro, or rather, he ran into you.
Pat, the briars and oak/poplar/maple leaves here are just as thick and noisy as they are in Mississippi and I'd take your bet, if I had two weeks to pull it off. I guess from my post that you see how much I like to still hunt. It isn't as effective, but a lot more fun(to me)

Hey, Mud. Stalking/still-hunting is very difficult. Deer pick up on things very well. One reason you wouldn't want to stalk in early morning is because that's when deer are moving around a lot. Why move around when you can find a good area that you know the deer will move through, and let them do their thing. That's the idea behind hunting from treestands and ground blinds. People find an area where the deer move through, and set up so they can get a shot, yet remain hidden. Then wait for the deer to move through.
To Dick, as Muddler said, he's new to this and could have easily made the same mistake. I'm also quite the greenhorn and have yet to hunt out of a tree stand for various reasons. I understand your frustration, but take some deep breaths and let it out, man. As someone who hasn't been at it long, I sure wouldn't want someone yelling at me 'cause I'm not Fred Bear. I don't reckon you were that great when starting either, so please don't pretend to be. Please don't reckon yourself above a bad day either, 'cause I don't reckon that either. Mistakes are a part of learning; without them we'd all be apes! (That's in no way in reference to evolution, merely a comment of low intelligence.) So instead of looking at the guy as a careless idiot, be gentle and do hunting a favor.

God bless,
Brandan

Don't misunderstand me on this. Yes, everyone has to start somewhere and yes I've made mistakes. I also know I've walked into other hunters while "Scouting." This Hunter has to be experienced with his recurve to be able to pass the qualification test. Second, he was not a "Spring Chicken." (nor am I) My obsevation was that he seems to has paid more attention to his "Traditional Clothing Style" than to his hunting skills. I have also killed a very nice 11 point while stalking. Yes, it can be done. It was 3 hours after sunrise and on wet leaves not 1/2 hour. (My big feet would make too much noise on dry leaves) If this was private land it wouldn't make a difference. This was highly utilized public hunting ground. Everyone has to be very careful not to disrupt another's hunt. Courtesy must be observed at all times. I would love to talk to this guy and help him understand the system we are forced to use on public land. I doubt if I would recognize him in regular clothes. Maybe it's having to hunt public land that has me so upset. Dick

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JohnNail- as you can read in my post there is a HINT of sarcasm. I do not doubt you or anyone elses ability who has taken the time AND PATIENCE to develop your stalking/stillhunting skills. I am pointing out exactly the opposite that if YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SKILL try to develop that skill before ruining everyone elses hunt.

AND NO YOU CAN NOT COME TO MISSISSIPPI AS I HAVE NO INTENTION OF PONYING UP ON THIS BET! HEehehehehe

In this day and age people (IN GENERAL) have gotten lazy and do not take the time to develop the skills necessary. They all want it at the touch of a button or the click of the mouse. When I was younger and lived at home I had access to all the acreage one could ask for and believe it or not I had more patience then also, and did kill deer on the ground in dry leaves etc.... But now with the limited time that I have to hunt I want to increase my chances and FOR ME that means stand hunting.

maybe I sounded a little to critical in my first post, if so sorry I guess I got to comfortable talking with you all.

Right on, Pat.
And the proper word is indeed skill. It takes a long time to learn and everybody today wants instant sucess. I knew you were kiddin'.....pucker-up!

<img src=icon_smile_kisses.gif border=0 align=middle>SMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHH !<img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> ptpttppptttttooooooiii! man nothing tastes worse than CROW!