stalking distance

I never have stalked a deer. I have lucked out and waited one out and surprised a few others but in any case about 25 yards is the closest. stalking elk, I was able to get about 100 yards.

I stalked and shot a whitetail with my bow at about 10 or 12 yards once.

Another time I was stalking and I eased up behind a tree that had a "Y" in it that was just about chest height…this put my head right in the "Y". It was cool because the tree covered my body but I could see everything past it through the "Y".

So as I eased up to the tree a bunch of deer got spooked by something on the next ridge and they ran right into my lap. The deer walked right up to the tree I was behind. My head was in the gap of the "Y" and I watched them walk right up to me as they "fled the danger" on the last ridge. It was everything I could do to not laugh…I could've plucked hair off of them as they walked past me.

Several other time I've had them just about in my lap while sitting in the weeds on the edge of a field. I always find it difficult to not laugh when they get that close…I guess the absurdity of the whole thing amuses me…its like "how can you NOT know that I'm sitting right here?!"

So many great experiences.
Love this thread!

This definitely doesn't qualify as stalking, but one time many years ago, I had laid down beside a large fallen tree next to a water hole, early, early in the morning hoping to ambush a fall turkey. I had some what dozed off when I noticed this rumbling, it got louder and louder. Just as I was about to lift my head up to see what was coming my way, a massive heard of elk came running at full tilt and jumping straight over me, and into the water. Scared the heck out of me. I didn't dare move for fear they would freak out and stomp me to death. They played in the water for a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, then they came running straight back over the top of me again, this time I was on their approach side so I had hooves brushing over me. Afterward, I got the heck out of there and decided to change my fall turkey tactics.

GS

Stalking to within a few feet of a unalerted deer is easy if the conditions are right. When the conditions are wrong it is impossible.

My personal best stalk was on a gang of turkeys in the fall. A new snow had left about 2 inches when I came upon their tracks. It was one of those late fall days when muzzleloading deer season and turkey season coincide. I had my deer rifle, a Jim Chambers flintlock longrifle, 44" swamped barrel, .50 caliber. When I found the tracks, they were extremely fresh, the air still, but I could not detect the sound of contented birds scratching for acorns. After an hour of following the tracks (I figured there were about 10 birds), I saw them before they saw me. They were just crossing a low ridge. That last few minutes are the ones I dream about still today. They were talking to each other and scratching. A perfect overcast day with light snow. Crawling on my belly, I occasionally caught a glimpse of a bobbing head and realized they had changed directions and coming toward me at an angle. I lay in the snow and waited. One big hen scratched her way into a spot where very little movement was needed to align the sights at the base of her neck. Distance was about 30 yards. At the crack of the rifle, a lot more than 10 turkeys took flight, obscured somewhat by the cloud of white smoke from my Goex load of 70 grains. I didn't see the one I'd shot at. Didn't know how I might have missed. The spark of the new flint and the report of the rifle was simultaneous. After walking to where they'd been, I saw her spread out on the snow, her neck broken. A 20lb. bird. That was the one and only turkey I have managed to take after a stalk and not using a call. A great day and a tasty meal.

short barrel said:

After walking to where they'd been, I saw her spread out on the snow, her neck broken. A 20lb. bird.

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That would have made her a world record @ twice the weight of most large adult hens.

pre gun season got within 10 yards of a bachelor group of whitetails, just kinda hunched over moved when all the heads were down, pretty sure they were all first yr deer, unmowed powerline a little over waste high, had good cover an had the wind in my face

Originally Posted by short barrel View Post
After walking to where they'd been, I saw her spread out on the snow, her neck broken. A 20lb. bird.

That would have made her a world record @ twice the weight of most large adult hens.

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Are hens really that much smaller than toms? I'm new to turkey hunting and have only shot one tom. He weighed 26 lbs. I've never shot a hen so I don't have any basis (other than eye sight) to compare. Thanks for the info.

Learn something every day. According to the NWTF, hens are normally between 8 and 10 lbs. I obviously didn't know that.

Getting back on track, I'm a newbie hunter. I'm still practicing and the closest I've gotten actually stalking deer is about 60 yards. They knew something was approaching but couldn't seem to figure out it was me. It is the only time I have heard deer call to each other. They were making quite a racket calling to each other. That episode lasted about 10 minutes.

I've had some deer walk to within 20 yards of me. At that distance they seem to notice eyes and one blink sends them scurrying away.

Maybe not 20 lbs. Just an estimate.