Stalking tactics

[ando_31]

I am curious what you guys may do, that may not seem obvious to others, to help your stalks be successful.

I am a fan of taking off my boots when I get close and go barefoot to quiet down my footsteps. I have stepped on more than my fair share of cactus through the years and have since invested in a few super cheap water shoes with thin flexible soles. They seem to work quite well, but I still prefer walking in my socks when the weather permits. I also roll up my pant legs when I get close so brush doesn't make any noise against my pants.

Does anyone have any advice for stalking in crunchy/loud snow? I have a hunting trip planned next week and the weather is very cold making the snow very noisy. Any suggestions for closing the distance in these conditions?

 

[kidoggy]

well , the obvious ones .like..keep something between you and your prey when possible. approach from downwind side not just so they don't smell ya but also to help mask sounds you may make.they can't see looking into the sun any better then we can, so use that ,IF possible.

I, certainly ain't gonna walk through cactuses or snow in my bare feet but A big kudos to you ifn yer willin to.

keep in mind , if you can't be quite , neither can they, SO , sound may not doom you but sound unnatural to nature will.

I have walked right up on game by just crouching and moving very slow right in the open. get busted more often then not and would only try it if no other options are open to me but it does(can) work.

 

[mallardsx2]

This is just me. And my opinions often times are not the best ones but having said that I am NOT a fan of taking off my boots EVER. Taking off you boots and leaving you feet unprotected is a potential for disaster and could ruin your hunt if you step on something. ( Dont ask how I know this)

If you know your are going to be stalking to get close the following items have helped me get a lot closer over the years. (An I like to get as close as possible because I wont shoot at n animal over 50 yards with a bow)
ALWAYS BRING YOUR SAFARI SNEAKERS. ALWAYS.
ALWAYS BRING YOUR KNEE PADS. ALWAYS
ALWAYS WEAR FLEECE. ALWAYS.

Both of these items will help in that crunch snow. But nothing is going to completely silence you.

Leave the rock shielded boots at home if you are stalking animals. They are great for hiking but they ARE NOT BUILT for effective stalking.

I wish someone would have told me this a long time ago. I would have killed a lot more animals...Instead, I learned these things the hard way.

 

[Hilltop]

Use of a decoy can help with a stalk when there is lack of cover. A cow decoy is a good all round option... and no worry if you crunch some snow while doing so. Cows aren't exactly quiet.

 

[kidoggy]

Use of a decoy can help with a stalk when there is lack of cover. A cow decoy is a good all round option... and no worry if you crunch some snow while doing so. Cows aren't exactly quiet.

and hopefully ,with a cow decoy ,no one will shoot an arrow or bullet in your petookie

 

[Maxhunter]

In crunchy snow I mainly still hunt. You walk a a feet yards then stop and scan for at least 5 minutes. You'd be amazed how close you can get using this method. Also get one of these decoys.

https://ultimatepredatorgear.com

 

[Hilltop]

In crunchy snow I mainly still hunt. You walk a a feet yards then stop and scan for at least 5 minutes. You'd be amazed how close you can get using this method. Also get one of these decoys.

https://ultimatepredatorgear.com

Just don't use one of those decoys on a public land hunt! Good way to end up the butt of one of kidoggy's jokes or worse...

 

[ando_31]

Thanks for the tips. I like what I hear so far. Lets keep them coming.

I do like that bow mounted decoy. That would have made several stalks successful earlier this year. It is difficult to draw back on a mature deer in prairie land without them bolting. I had several 160+ inch deer bust from their beds earlier in the season. I don't think I'd use it while the rifle season is on, but I would surely use it during bow season.

Have you used the cow decoy yourself hilltop? Do they hold up in the wind very well? Have you found that mature deer will let you get within bow distance with it?

 

[mallardsx2]

I used a black umbrella to sneak up in a bunch of geese one time when I was a kid. Got me a bunch of them lol

 

[Hilltop]

I have used a cow decoy for a few different animals but never on a deer. Anything that big and flat is going to be a pain in the wind. I'm not sure how the newer ones you buy are but our old homemade ones required 2 guys. I think for big game, they make the most sense during rifle hunts. There are a lot of videos out there of guys taking antelope with a bow from behind one but can't find any other examples.

 

[Daubs]

Two man Muley spot and stalk in Sandhills of Nebraska. Using a doe silhouette as cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL5z8ztPlPE

I like the idea of this!

 

[Horsenhike]

Two man Muley spot and stalk in Sandhills of Nebraska. Using a doe silhouette as cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL5z8ztPlPE

I like the idea of this!

I've watched that video before. It looks to me like a second guy waving around a decoy on top of having to dial for yardage cost him a great buck.

He was at 30 yards, had time to range it. As a new archery hunter my mindset is to make everything as simple as possible. The fewer pieces of the puzzle I have to deal with the better. The bow mounted ones look awesome, but a part of me is just not comfortable with dressing up as something people are trying to shoot.

 

[87TT]

OK. So first, I am a new elk hunter and bow hunter at that. I have hunted deer all my life and have taken a couple of cow elk with a rifle years ago. This fall I came up on two young bulls feeding in a large clear cut. I dropped my pack and started to stalk quickly as I only had maybe a half hour of shooting light left. I got to within about 75 yards when the closest one alerted and was staring right at me. I was behind a large dead tree trunk. I froze. There was no way I could move without being spotted. Then I remembered there were some range cattle behind me on the far side of the clear cut. I figured I had nothing to lose so I mooed like a cow. I did it twice and the bull relaxed and went back to feeding. I was then able to sneak up to a small bunch of trees within range for a shot. I'm not sure if it is a good tactic but it worked that time.

 

[conibear]

Dwight Schuh's "Hunting Open Country Mule Deer" is a great source. Can't emphasize enough the importance of ditching your boots and stalking in socks. You will not get injured because you are looking at everything before you consider where to place your hoof, and you are feeling what's there before you pivot and apply your weight.

p.s. always leave some surveyor tape on your boots when you ditch them, searching for your boots is not fun.

 

[Daubs]

My feet are super tender, and there is no way I would ditch my boots while hunting. I do have a pair of Under Armour speed freaks that are pretty much like tennis shoes. That's as far as I will go.

 

[tdub24]

I never found the need to drop the boots even though I understand the philosophy behind it. This past season I was able to stalk within 20 yards of a 190" buck and his little buddy with boots on. Only got busted cause I could not find the little buddy while waiting for the bigger buck to present a shot. Little buddy ended up finding me at 12 yards....what a rush!! Two weeks later I stalked in to 16 yards on a 180" bedded buck in light wind with boots on. I had to wait 20 minutes or so for him to stand, but when he did my arrow was true.

 

[tdub24]

My feet are super tender, and there is no way I would ditch my boots while hunting.

Same here sir.

 

[ando_31]

I ditched the boots on a number of stalks this year. My last stalk of the year involved shin deep snow. The snow on top was very crunchy so I toe punched my feet under the frozen part then when my feet were past the crunch I could flatten out my feet. It was about a 2 hour stalk but it was a nice day. My feet did get cold, I did get within shooting distance with almost no wind. I however did not get the shot off which is how my whole bow hunting season went this year.

 

[DanPickar]

I try not to take my boots off but have in the past. I have a pair of shoes from from Hawaii called Tabis. They are felt soled and made for walking on the reef. They are super thin and light and make stalking easy. Probably no good for the snow though. Crunchy snow is as tough as it gets!

 

[hoshour]

http://www.tokunagastore.com/Menu/FishingTabis.htm