Spot and Stalk

[In God We Trust]

I was watching a video with Cameron Hanes stalking a mule deer. He gets within 9 yards of the buck and then throws a rock to get the deer to stand up.The buck stands and he nails him. I have tried that 3 different times within 30 yards and they have left their bed running every time. Anyone else tried this?

 

[Kevin Root]

Cameron Haynes is one hard core individual. He is inspiring as well. Bow hunting is a whole different ball game than rifle hunting. I saw the video you mention with Cameron throwing the rock and it was awesome.

 

[wolftalonID]

I have been within a few yards of a deer like that a few times. I have yet to have a buck stand there and just go DUUUUUHHHHH? But the does tend to stand there for a while looking around before they take off. I think Cameron was just dang lucky to get that on camera though!

 

[In God We Trust]

No doubt, every time I have tried that trick and it blew up in my face I was mad as hell. Sometimes if the wind is starting to swirl you have to do something.

 

[Old Hunter]

I never tried a rock, because I have both hands on the gun ready for a running shot. I usually just make a subtle noise to get them moving.

I saw that show too, and thought it was a strange way to do it. He got lucky.

 

[Kevin Root]

Last year one of the guys in my hunting party got a nice 4x4 rifle hunting in Montana with a similar rock throw. He saw the buck walking in the distance and circled to cut him off. He came up to the draw but could not find him. He thew the rock down in the draw and up poped the buck from his hiding spot and then he poped him. I've never been successful with rocks but I see how it could work. Trouble is, they can bolt and run just as easy as pop up and stand.

 

[BKC]

I would not try this with a whitetail. They have a bad habit of bolting from their bed like Secretariat. If I did this I would make sure I was definitley up wind and would not land the rock between me and the deer as I would not want them to stand and face my direction.

 

[dihardhunter]

I've "rocked" canyons in the Hill Country of Texas for whitetails before and it was very successful at revealing deer, very unsuccessful in giving you a good shot opportunity.

 

[HuntWYODon]

I've never done it bowhunting but have many times thrown rocks down canyons to get something to stand up . A few times it has worked for a shot. I've watched that same video. A lucky camera shot for sure !

 

[velvetfvr]

Haven't tried it. Cameron Hanes just got lucky that the buck didn't bolt. I won't try it either


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[packer58]

No doubt, every time I have tried that trick and it blew up in my face I was mad as hell. Sometimes if the wind is starting to swirl you have to do something.

I agree that what Cam pulled off was a risky move but like IGWT stated, if the wind or thermals are unstable you have to make a move or back out.

 

[tdub24]

I have been using a rock for many years and it has worked nicely as long as its done right. I always throw just one rock about the size of a marble a good distance away from the buck or bull, preferrably on the side he isnt facing. That faint sound gets their attention but they normally don't bust. They stare in the direction waiting for movement and when they don't see anything bucks tend to get nervous and stand up for a better view. Bulls can either stand up or go back to sleep which obviously requires a follow up rock. If you throw more than one at a time, they definitely come busting out. Just my two cents.

 

[HuntWYODon]

Do you notice how many friends/hunters frown on doing it or give a hard time about it ? I just tell them it works for me. One guy I used to hunt with always gave me cr@p about it. We were looking down a canyon once and he saw me pick up a rock and got ticked off. I told him there isn't a deer standing up right now and heaved a rock down the hill. A nice 3x3 stood up and looked down hill. I whispered there he is and he popped him. Heard no more from him after that.

 

[dihardhunter]

'HuntWYODon' - it kind of falls into that category of people who think shooting a deer in its bed is unethical. That reasoning makes no sense to me, but chucking rocks is definitely a good way to stir the pot when all is quiet.

 

[hardstalk]

Im a rock chuckin fool. If i see something bed in thick short stuff and know where he is i know my rock must land below him and the wind must be right. I had a forky 5 yards from me last year lookin the complete opposite direction from me. I was in the wide open ridgelined on a huge rock. I came to full draw on him several times and thought long and hard about taking him. "one in the hand is better than two in the bush" but the two in the bush were much larger. And i couldnt see myself packin a forky out 5 plus miles.

 

[Old Hunter]

'HuntWYODon' - it kind of falls into that category of people who think shooting a deer in its bed is unethical. That reasoning makes no sense to me, but chucking rocks is definitely a good way to stir the pot when all is quiet.

I would be one of those, so go ahead and rag on me. Too easy, and easy is boring. Unless you're starving and need the meat. Are you?

 

[HuntWYODon]

'HuntWYODon' - it kind of falls into that category of people who think shooting a deer in its bed is unethical. That reasoning makes no sense to me, but chucking rocks is definitely a good way to stir the pot when all is quiet.

Dihard,
I agree. Sometimes when a you have glassed a canyon and haven't seen anything and it looks too good for not holding deer or a buck, You have to roll or thow a rock, or two. Sometimes that type of noise they are used to hearing in rocking canyons. Rocks are always falling. Sheep especially don't get very alarmed by it.

 

[nvarcher]

You won't see me trying it! Patience is the name of the game!


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[wapiti66]

I've tried it before, and it hasn't given me a shot opportunity. They either ignore the rock or stand and become very "alert" and to me when you are archery hunting very alert animals aren't a good thing. They won't give you good shot opportunity. However, if the winds are switching and it's time to fill a tag and get something for your efforts and investment I'll toss a pebble again.

 

[goindeep]

I've tried it many times and only had it work once. 9 times out of 10 the buck will bolt out of bow range before looking back. With odds that low I would not do it on a large buck unless it was the last day of the season and getting dark. Here's the one it worked on, it took 2 rocks to get him to jump, when he stopped running I thought he was out of range. he looked for the source of the noise for a few minutes then went to feeding! I pulled out the range finder and he was only 45 yards.