The Official Still Hunting and Still Hunter Showcase Thread

Fortyneck · Aug 3, 2011

Still Hunting, Spot and Stalk, and Tracking are dying art forms and the only way I hunt. I understand that there may not be many of us left and stand hunters may not like us, but in the spirit of preserving the technique this thread would serve as a place where:

1- Like minds could meet and exchange information (What, How, Where, When, Products/Equipment)

2- Bow hunters new and old can learn and acquire the tools and techniques necessary to become successful still hunters

3- Still hunters can share photos and stories of there still hunting experiences in a place they would be appreciated the most

4- All the above could happen in a place free of bashing or judgement by people who choose to hunt in a different way.

grfox · Aug 3, 2011

I still hunted white tails with a bow for 3 years. I have given it up since. the ratio of success to failure was too astronomical for me. I killed one good buck on the ground in those three years, but I plan on trying again this year.

Fortyneck · Aug 3, 2011

It's not easy I've been still hunting for 10 years and I feel I'm a novice at best. The success rate is low but the feeling experience and memories of close-up face to snout encounters are also worthy trophies. And when everything happens perfectly... there's nothing sweeter imo.

huntnfishnut · Aug 3, 2011

I don't know about you, but I am still hunting to this day... :darkbeer:

I do "still" hunt to my bowstand, though a purist may not think so.

Fortyneck · Aug 3, 2011

To your afternoon stand I hope, or do you use a headlamp?

lardy125 · Aug 3, 2011

Ohh cool thread, I betcha I'll learn lots from you still hunters! Not sure if I have the patience to try it though :wink: . So to those who post tactics/advice/etc - thank you!!

Fortyneck · Aug 3, 2011

still hunting last season I saw a buck cruisin' the one day i left my grunt tube in my pack so got over to a vantage point and was getting ready to get my call out while keeping an eye out to see which way he was going, anyway heart pumping cursing my self doing three things at once, I put my pack down hard on some dry leaves CRUNCH. so I had last seen the buck cruising away 50 yrds away, there I am still cussn' myself diggin' in my pack with one hand feeling for my grunt tube when I catch movement 35 yrds away that buck is walking straight at me on a string head cocked lookin for where that sound came from...Well me droppn' my pack in the leaves must have sounded like a single foot stamp of another buck. I will definitely use a mock stamp again under these circumstances...next time on purpose!

Give it try, nothing more exciting than a riled up buck coming at you for a fight on the ground!

hoebekec · Aug 3, 2011

Still hunting will always have a spot in my arsenal.

Windy/rainy/snowy days when the deer are likely to be holed up, I'm moving. These also tend to be the days when other hunters stay in bed thinking they're not missing anything... until I call them to help me drag my deer out!

Standing corn, unless its the middle of the rut, I'm stalking it.(pardon the pun) Depending on the cornfield, you can hunt it from sunrise to sunset and still not cover the whole field.

Its not something I do exclusively, but it certainly has a time and place.

westen · Aug 3, 2011

I still hunt on rainy windy days only. Early season when the leaves are still on the trees. I move into the thick stuff. I had two does come by me last year and touched one with with my bow. That was very cool. I was also within 10 yds of a big 10 pt but couldn't get the shot. We were looking at each others eyes and he walked away.

Fortyneck · Aug 3, 2011

Windy, rainy, snowy days = Time to make the donuts

My favorite a hard driving snow the kind where tracks can get filled in minutes get on a big track and follow it watching the track being filled with less and less snow till its fresh, it gets to where you can tell when they past by and you can cut around a hill and ambush them.

To give you new trackers some confidence in the technique in my earlier days I once followed a good track in deep snow in the wrong direction for 30 min., realized it, turned around and caught up the good 30 min. later (I backtracked briskly) calm deer move amazingly slowly through the woods it helped that he got hung up by a couple does on a hilltop.

Fortyneck · Aug 4, 2011

prairieboy · Aug 4, 2011

In for the info!

mnbowfisherman · Aug 4, 2011

I like this thread already, I plan on trying to still hunt this year.

Fortyneck · Aug 4, 2011

Good to hear, a little advice, when you think you're walking too slow, slow down. That and stop and look every 3 steps.

JD BC · Aug 4, 2011

Almost completely spot & stalk or still hunting for me. Ever since I was a little kid my dad would get me to try and sneak up on deer and moose to practice. I find it works amazing when combined with calling. Spot & stalk and stillhunting work just as good as stand hunting once you get good at it in my opinion but both have conditions where one is better than the other.

Spot & stalk and stillhunting are more commonly used here in BC than tree stands but this could be due to the variety of species hunted here.

Fortyneck · Aug 6, 2011

JD BC, it's good to here that a place exists that still hunting is used more commonly than stand hunting. I like to do a little bit of grunting and contact calls. What kind of calls do you like to use/work for you in BC?

also,

Sounds like your the person to shed some light on this:

When I think of spot and stalk, I think of glassing the elevations or lowlands for a target and planing a stalk aimed at either intercepting a moving animal or puttin the sneak on a bedded animal, taking into account wind direction, and prior knowledge of patterns of movements.

and while still hunting ultimately you sneak around glassing until you "spot" an animal and plan a "stalk" to get within range.

Do you consider these two different techniques, two aspects of the same technique, or does one technique fall under the umbrella of the other?

25ft-up · Aug 4, 2011

I mix it up between stands, ground blinds, and still hunting. I prefer getting a shot off from the ground, than from a tree. It's a lot more exciting to say the least. Stalking woodchucks in overgrown fields is a lot of fun and good practice. I also practice by still hunt with the camera in the off season. I wish I could have gotten off some pics of the deer I walked up on when I had the bow in hand.
Once, a doe heard me, but didn't see me, so I made squirrel sounds(touch front teeth to inside of bottom lip and suck air in) while skipping acorns across the leaves, and it settled her down. I did this every time she looked up in my direction, and after 4 times, she stopped looking up and I got within 10yds by keeping a big fat oak tree between us.
Here's a few pics from my camera stillhunts and stalks.

Ziman · Sep 2, 2012

Those are some sweet pics!

zestycj7 · Aug 4, 2011

Spot and stalk, still hunting is the only way you can hunt here in So.Ca. Not enough trees taller than 4 feet....LOL.
A trick I learned was to always carry a hand full of leaves while stalking. If the deer nails you, freeze and just drop leaves out of your hand, the deer will think you are a bush and ignore you. I have taken a few nice muilie bucks that way.
Don.

Fortyneck · Aug 6, 2011

hey zestycj7, have you tried that technique on whitetail? Do you pick up the leaves when you see an animal or carry them around all day? also how do you draw and fire with a hand full of leaves?

zestycj7 · Aug 6, 2011

I would grab a handfull of leaves when I would start my stalk. I would always carry them in my bow hand. That hand is always out front when I would do any stalking, that way if the deer nails you, you can just kind of wiggle your fingers and drop a few leaves a little at a time. Once I find the animal I wanted I would block everything out of my mind. All I would see would be a beating heart, no matter what angle the deer was standing, all I would see was the heart. I have taken game at every angle from right down the poop chute to straight down the gullet.
I have never hunted whitetail.
Don.

Fortyneck · Aug 6, 2011

Hey 25ft-up, I guess it goes to show you can't judge a book... I would have never guessed by your AT "handle" that you were an avid still hunter. Thanks for posting those photos, they're amazing. I find them more impressive than harvest photos, they showcase your skill level and dedication to be "out there" and honing your still hunting technique off-season. Particularly like the bedded deer pic, last season was the first time I still hunted my way to a bedded doe. I got to the top of a hump, and there she was 5 yards away! On the down hill side bedded, sleeping, head down. She felt my presence right away and popped her head up and literally did a double take like she was going to put her head back down. She stayed bedded staring at me wondering if she was dreaming is what I thought for about 10 sec. when I decided to conduct an experiment. I tried to see if I could draw my bow and take a shot before she could get up or if she would offer a shot on the way out. By the time I was half drawn she had bounded well out of range. The whole experience was rejuvenating and gave me plenty of confidence in my still hunting technique for the rest of the season.

Fortyneck · Aug 6, 2011

The Golden Rules of Still Hunting

If there were rules to still hunting they would read something like this:

#1- Be invisible to nose- Always hunt the wind, its not always easy but it's the single most important technique involved in getting close to deer on the ground. Take precautions to keep your self and your hunting clothes free of unnatural scents. Wear tall rubber boots to help keep your scent off the ground and underbrush. Do not touch or lean against any trees you pass or use as cover.

#2- Be invisible to eyes- Go slow, go quiet. Take care to make each footstep as quiet as possible. Eliminate upper body/arm movement, minimize head movement, move your eyes instead. When you must move your head, do it super slowly. When you stop and look, always think about your concealing your silhouette. Use blow downs, dead falls, and underbrush to your advantage. Stalk to and from cover as you negotiate terrain. Use back cover, camo works best with back cover. Use camo to conceal large high contrast areas, especially face and hands.

#3- Look- Every 3 steps, stop and look for at least a few minutes. The longer you stand still and look the better. Use binocs to see more and further. Be systematic when glassing. Divide what you see into quadrants, thoroughly glass one quadrant before moving on to the next. Don't just look around standing up, crouch down and repeat the glassing process. You'll be surprised how different the view is from down there.

#4- Listen- Always keep your ears on to pick up on sounds that will give away your quarry's position. Just because you have a lot of squirrels or birds working your hunting area, never assume that the sounds you heard are just squirrels or birds. Deer make a lot of noise when they walk through water, listen for this in swampy areas or around water.

These are the big 4 for me, I encourage other users of this thread to respond to, elaborate on, or add to these "Golden Rules of Still Hunting"

Thanx,

-Fortyneck

25ft-up · Aug 6, 2011

Thanks 40,
I felt like I was standing next to you when you walked on top of that doe.
It makes for a tiring day, but it pays to stillhunt up and down ridges, always anticipating one laying just out of sight as you approach the top. Staying low, one step, look hard and long for an ear or antler tip, then another step. Even if I see nothing all day, being on the edge of seeing something makes for an exciting day.
9 times out of 10 the deer will sense your presents at the same time you see them. Freeze!!! Hopefully your not off balance because you may be there awhile. A lot of times they don't know what spooked them as long as you're not upwind. Waiting for them to relax and turn away, or stop behind a tree, is the only chance you'll get to draw. Make sure their radar is turned the other way, too. In my pics, a few of those doe came toward me, trying to find me and get me to move with head fakes. They would walk away, then come back even closer. Fun to watch. Wish you luck this year!

Fortyneck · Aug 6, 2011

25ft-up said:
.
9 times out of 10 the deer will sense your presents at the same time you see them. Freeze!!! Hopefully your not off balance because you may be there awhile. A lot of times they don't know what spooked them as long as you're not upwind. Waiting for them to relax and turn away, or stop behind a tree, is the only chance you'll get to draw. Make sure their radar is turned the other way, too. In my pics, a few of those doe came toward me, trying to find me and get me to move with head fakes. They would walk away, then come back even closer. Fun to watch. Wish you luck this year!

The closest I ever got to a deer was the time up in VT I was made by a nice buck in the snow, he was nice so I decided to track him till he settled down again up and over 3 ridges, as he's track started to slow and meander he led me to a hollow that was crisscrossed with tons of tracks that's where the crafty bugger lost me. I picked up a big track and hoped it was his. After about 10 min. I heard a twig snap, I crouched down in front of a tree and froze thinking he was doubling back to see where I was... Well I was right and I was wrong. As I waited there out walked a big old doe that easily would have dressed over 200#s, she walked right in her track till she was about 10' away and proceeded put on a show blowing, stomping, and spinning her neck in an attempt to get me to move. This went on for a good 3 min. When finally she took a huge leap like she was gonna bound away but instead stopped perfect broadside for another couple min. She never really knew what I was, just new something wasn't right. This is back when I put absolutely no effort into sent control too.

alay11 · Aug 6, 2011

Thanks for the good info here guys! keep it comin!

mathewsdxtzack · Aug 6, 2011

were only allowed one buck in IN and I usually tag out during bow season so the rest of muzzleloader season I still hunt while scouting since I can only harvest a doe at the time of the year anyways. It's nice to scout during the time when you will be hunting for next years deer and not have to worry bout spooking em. I also still hunt to my stand on the afternoon hunts and have shoot several deer with my climber on my back while still hunting to the stand

bobow2 · Aug 6, 2011

I am appreciative of the information here. I hunt a small area & hunt from the ground, mostly from a pop up blind. I am hoping to expand my horizons so to speak to try to still hunt.

Thanks for all the info.

25ft-up · Aug 6, 2011

Try planning for the day in the woods and stillhunt when you would normally be gone. You may find where the deer are that you are not seeing, and find they are consistently in certain places at certain times of day and season. Even though it's difficult to be successful stillhunting, it will give you a better understanding of how the deer utilize your area. That's also how I find fresh made scrapes for the evening.

montona78 · Aug 6, 2011

if you plan to still hunt the chase phase of the rut you are in for a treat! deer are less worried about their surroundings. ive had alot of fun on the ground! try moving 3 steps and grunting or bleating while walking. ive had many deer come running at me. nothing gets your heart pounding more! works even better if you are hunting where some water lays. you sound like a deer walking in water & the bleat or grunt call added brings them hard. i have lots of good state land to hunt around me . i prefer to still hunt state land and stand hunt my private land.

Fortyneck · Aug 7, 2011

I have been trying for a while to get a shot on a black bear from the ground. Any still hunters out there have experience in consistently getting this done? I will be hunting for bear in the catskills NY, during the reg. season. I know where to look for them, just wondering if calls work in the fall in that region if so would if be rabbit distress? Or should I just keep stalking the hard mast stands?

thanks,

40Neck

25ft-up · Aug 7, 2011

I've walked into quite a few and got charged once. Jerseys season has only been open a few times during the 1 week of shotgun season, so I try to avoid them. Stillhunting in thick cover wears on my nerves. I'm always watching for them when stillhunting deer.
They have an unbelievably good sense of smell. Drag some bacon and donuts behind you, and they will find you. J/K.
If you can find a bear trail (along a swamp, rocky ridge, over a low spot on the mountain, etc.), follow it into the wind.

Fortyneck · Aug 7, 2011

Fortyneck · Aug 10, 2011

:bump2:ttt

mugzzzee · Aug 26, 2011

Whether you spot elk from ridge or in the woods the end is always stalking. I find the process to be exhilarating and heart pounding. For me success requires scouting an area well enough to know where the wallows, meadows and well used game trails are located. I hunt low in the morning and high in the PM. Either wind in my face or crosswind if necessary. Make sure you always look behind periodically. I was still hunting in AZ one time (for bull elk) and turned to have a cow elk cross my path 20 yards behind me. She never saw me. One other time I turned to see a black bear following me. Pretty exciting. Next year I going to buy hunting "slippers" to ensure my footsteps can't be heard. Be quiet, be confident, be stealthy. I head to our spike camp tomorrow for the start of elk season Saturday. Good hunting to all. Cheers, Mugs

mugzzzee · Sep 12, 2011

If your real serious about still hunting go to Crooked Horn Outfitters and look at their safari sneakers. My hunting partner has been using a pair this season and they are effective for walking quietly in the woods.

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