Stalking and still hunting
11-05-2002 | 08:47 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 205
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From: Cibolo, TX
Stalking and still hunting
Being new to bowhunting I have posted many questions lately and wanted to thank all of you who have provided me with a wealth of info to get me started on the right foot.
Now onto my next question. I could use some information on stalking and still hunting. What time of day is best?? General techniques?? Best places to hunt (i.e. scrapes/rubs, areas of high activity like tracks galore, etc.)
I've spent a few days in a stand so far this season and just get bored to tears sitting there. I find myself falling asleep, daydreaming, picking my nose, etc., when I think I would much prefer to be moving on the ground.
As always, any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
Now onto my next question. I could use some information on stalking and still hunting. What time of day is best?? General techniques?? Best places to hunt (i.e. scrapes/rubs, areas of high activity like tracks galore, etc.)
I've spent a few days in a stand so far this season and just get bored to tears sitting there. I find myself falling asleep, daydreaming, picking my nose, etc., when I think I would much prefer to be moving on the ground.
As always, any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
11-06-2002 | 07:43 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Glen Ellyn IL USA
RE: Stalking and still hunting
Dave,
At the risk of not appearing as a true traditionalist, I would suggest the following. I too get bored sitting in a stand all day. What I would suggest is a modified stalking technique. I will start in a stand (Tree or ground) and carry a Nifty Seat. When I tire of the view, I get up and "Stalk" to another location maybe 200 yards away. I sit and watch for a while till I need another change and repeat the process. Anything you can do to stay in the woods will improve your chances of killing a deer. When I scout an area for the first time, I look for good ground blind areas near trails and that's where I move to. It may not be true stalking but it does work. Dick
At the risk of not appearing as a true traditionalist, I would suggest the following. I too get bored sitting in a stand all day. What I would suggest is a modified stalking technique. I will start in a stand (Tree or ground) and carry a Nifty Seat. When I tire of the view, I get up and "Stalk" to another location maybe 200 yards away. I sit and watch for a while till I need another change and repeat the process. Anything you can do to stay in the woods will improve your chances of killing a deer. When I scout an area for the first time, I look for good ground blind areas near trails and that's where I move to. It may not be true stalking but it does work. Dick
11-06-2002 | 12:53 PM
#3
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 282
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From: westport in USA
RE: Stalking and still hunting
Dathein:
I would suggest a book like Fred Asbel's "Stalking and Still Hunting".
Fred has a lot of insight to the art, and you can tell by reading it that he's done a lot of it. You can pick one up at Three Rivers Archery or Kustom King. Probably several other suppliers.
I would suggest a book like Fred Asbel's "Stalking and Still Hunting".
Fred has a lot of insight to the art, and you can tell by reading it that he's done a lot of it. You can pick one up at Three Rivers Archery or Kustom King. Probably several other suppliers.
11-08-2002 | 08:38 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: kaw city ok USA
RE: Stalking and still hunting
Dathien,
Ive found that the trick to stalking is to not sound like a Biped in the woods... i put each foot down toe/heel, toe/heel, sounds more like a four legged critter. I walk 100 to 200 yards. set up my one legged stool set for 30 mins to hr. and then move again.. setting still is the hard part.. 40 yrs old and still got "ants in my Pants" to quote my Cherokee Grandmother!
the woods are full of sounds. critters movin about.. birds singing.. leaves rustlin...Noise is not the problem, sounding like a Human is!!
Good luck to ya
Hedgeapple
Ive found that the trick to stalking is to not sound like a Biped in the woods... i put each foot down toe/heel, toe/heel, sounds more like a four legged critter. I walk 100 to 200 yards. set up my one legged stool set for 30 mins to hr. and then move again.. setting still is the hard part.. 40 yrs old and still got "ants in my Pants" to quote my Cherokee Grandmother!
the woods are full of sounds. critters movin about.. birds singing.. leaves rustlin...Noise is not the problem, sounding like a Human is!!
Good luck to ya
Hedgeapple
11-12-2002 | 10:33 AM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Golden Colorado USA
RE: Stalking and still hunting
I think all the advice is good. I apologize for butting since I'm new here but I'm not new to hunting so maybe I've a thing or two that I can share.
So I would like add that you can't really get this stuff out of a book. Maybe you should try hunting jack rabbits or something like that to get some experience? Jacks are pretty alert and can hear you coming I think like deer can.
I don't know what I sound like because I'm deaf but I know going really slow and stepping high and toe-heeling and staggering the pace helps because, no, you don't want to sound like a human walking or marching through the woods. I think the person is right about there being sounds all the time maybe.
The main thing is to avoid getting scented so always keep the breeze in your face and move very, very slowly and stop often. Look around and try to see, look for things that seem like a part of the animal because it's rare you'll see the whole animal at once and that animal is going look a little smaller than you might think although sometimes, if you got a buck in view, the antlers look bigger than they are.
Stay loose, I know that's hard to do, but it's important because I think the animals can sense when you're nervous or impatient and staring at them. Don't stare, just glance a little and sometimes if they see you first, you can put on a little show and fool them like standing on your head.
It's sounds funny but it works sometimes because by the time the animal figures out what you're doing you can stick an arrow in him. Like if you're supine and pulling slowly back to your armpit you can just raise your arm and let go, but let him get close first, make him think you're dying or something or just going to sleep. No sudden moves, just slow and smooth. Even if he bolts you can nail him if you don't rush but take your time quickly, nice smooth, fluid motion.
Don't wait until hunting day to practice this stuff. Get out in the field and shoot jacks, or groundhogs or whatever. You can freshen the stewpot with them anytime. Groundhogs especially are good to eat although they are mostly guts, but what meat there is is very good. Blue Grouse is another ground dweller you can maybe practice on and the breast is very good to eat. Sometimes they will even stand for shots like deer do although more often they run a little but if they are running straight away as they often do your arrow can catch them.
So I would like add that you can't really get this stuff out of a book. Maybe you should try hunting jack rabbits or something like that to get some experience? Jacks are pretty alert and can hear you coming I think like deer can.
I don't know what I sound like because I'm deaf but I know going really slow and stepping high and toe-heeling and staggering the pace helps because, no, you don't want to sound like a human walking or marching through the woods. I think the person is right about there being sounds all the time maybe.
The main thing is to avoid getting scented so always keep the breeze in your face and move very, very slowly and stop often. Look around and try to see, look for things that seem like a part of the animal because it's rare you'll see the whole animal at once and that animal is going look a little smaller than you might think although sometimes, if you got a buck in view, the antlers look bigger than they are.
Stay loose, I know that's hard to do, but it's important because I think the animals can sense when you're nervous or impatient and staring at them. Don't stare, just glance a little and sometimes if they see you first, you can put on a little show and fool them like standing on your head.
It's sounds funny but it works sometimes because by the time the animal figures out what you're doing you can stick an arrow in him. Like if you're supine and pulling slowly back to your armpit you can just raise your arm and let go, but let him get close first, make him think you're dying or something or just going to sleep. No sudden moves, just slow and smooth. Even if he bolts you can nail him if you don't rush but take your time quickly, nice smooth, fluid motion.
Don't wait until hunting day to practice this stuff. Get out in the field and shoot jacks, or groundhogs or whatever. You can freshen the stewpot with them anytime. Groundhogs especially are good to eat although they are mostly guts, but what meat there is is very good. Blue Grouse is another ground dweller you can maybe practice on and the breast is very good to eat. Sometimes they will even stand for shots like deer do although more often they run a little but if they are running straight away as they often do your arrow can catch them.
11-12-2002 | 02:24 PM
#7
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: California
RE: Stalking and still hunting
Hey Rita, good to see you here and you're not butting in at all. Keep the good advice coming. However, I do have to say that Fred Asbel offers up some excellent advice himself. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Make em sharp and shoot em straight, or leave em home.
Make em sharp and shoot em straight, or leave em home.
11-13-2002 | 09:19 AM
#9
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Golden Colorado USA
RE: Stalking and still hunting
Thanks, Wahya. I didn't mean to imply that Mr. Asbel didn't give good advice. I read his book last night. Seems like he discovered underarm shooting all by himself. Not bad. I did notice that in addition to giving good advice he was also in the bow business. I don't suppose that influenced his advice any?
Which sort of brings up a point I was trying to make before. Reading about it is one thing but doing it is quite another. It might pay to do more and read less even though I recognize that most guys here probably are urban people and don't get out a lot. But maybe it's even more important to make the effort then since you're not exposed to natural world as much. Then maybe you'll come to feel a part of it instead of an occasional trespasser dependent on the advice of strangers.
Just a thought for whatever it's worth to people.
Which sort of brings up a point I was trying to make before. Reading about it is one thing but doing it is quite another. It might pay to do more and read less even though I recognize that most guys here probably are urban people and don't get out a lot. But maybe it's even more important to make the effort then since you're not exposed to natural world as much. Then maybe you'll come to feel a part of it instead of an occasional trespasser dependent on the advice of strangers.
Just a thought for whatever it's worth to people.
11-13-2002 | 03:45 PM
#10
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: California
RE: Stalking and still hunting
Yep, I believe that Mr. Asbel founded Big Horne archery if I'm not mistaken. They produced a real fine bow from what I've heard. Craftsmen have been providing for the people and have been getting compensation for that service for tens of thousands of years. Back before the first Europeans set foot here, the Indian peoples looked to their craftsmen to build their weapons for them and the bowyers were held in very high regard. At least they were by my people. Now, these bowmakers didn't work for free either. Seems they'd take a fine horse, robes, a good pipe, feathers, skins and even a good fat woman to keep them warm at night and the hunters and warriors were more than willing to meet and trade with the bowyer to get the best bow they could. Sure am glad someone invented money. Hate the thought of trading my frying pan carrying, head thumping Choctaw woman for a bow I could just give some paper for. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Which sort of brings up a point I was trying to make before. Reading about it is one thing but doing it is quite another. It might pay to do more and read less even though I recognize that most guys here probably are urban people and don't get out a lot. But maybe it's even more important to make the effort then since you're not exposed to natural world as much. Then maybe you'll come to feel a part of it instead of an occasional trespasser dependent on the advice of strangers.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
I agree. We all need to spend more time with Nature to become more in tune with the ways of Nature. Myself, I spend more time with MOM than I do in my own home. You are also right that many can't do that. Most people spend half their lives going to work, working and then returning home from work again. They practice when they can, but that isn't enough. It's unfortunate, but the time of the village, where hunters lived in close proximity to each other and were allowed to teach the boys to hunt from an early age are all but gone. It is that lack of experience in our lives, that makes us go into the dark and seek out raw information from strangers who are willing to help. If that help comes in the form of a book, or a message board or an email/phone call, it's better than no information to start off with. Then I think it is understood that the information alone won't get the job done. It has to be put to use and practiced religeously for it to work.
Make em sharp and shoot em straight, or leave em home.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Which sort of brings up a point I was trying to make before. Reading about it is one thing but doing it is quite another. It might pay to do more and read less even though I recognize that most guys here probably are urban people and don't get out a lot. But maybe it's even more important to make the effort then since you're not exposed to natural world as much. Then maybe you'll come to feel a part of it instead of an occasional trespasser dependent on the advice of strangers.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
I agree. We all need to spend more time with Nature to become more in tune with the ways of Nature. Myself, I spend more time with MOM than I do in my own home. You are also right that many can't do that. Most people spend half their lives going to work, working and then returning home from work again. They practice when they can, but that isn't enough. It's unfortunate, but the time of the village, where hunters lived in close proximity to each other and were allowed to teach the boys to hunt from an early age are all but gone. It is that lack of experience in our lives, that makes us go into the dark and seek out raw information from strangers who are willing to help. If that help comes in the form of a book, or a message board or an email/phone call, it's better than no information to start off with. Then I think it is understood that the information alone won't get the job done. It has to be put to use and practiced religeously for it to work.
Make em sharp and shoot em straight, or leave em home.