Deer hunting on the move

[md7]

Last season I dropped a beautiful 9 point. Great deer, shot him at about 210 yards while he was trailing a doe.

Here’s what I noticed. Taking this buck was robotic. No adrenaline, no excitement, no thrill. Just an automatic response to acquire target, verify he was worth killing, adjust aim on a moving target, trigger press, and pack it up to go and start dressing him out.

It sort of bothered me. Having access to large private acreage and seldom touched public land adjoining the property, I began experimenting with a combo of scouting game trails/rubs, and slowly navigating the woods to find and/or scare up deer. Figured it may inject some enthusiasm instead of sitting in a stand and watching a field.

I found the tactic to be successful and did manage to locate a lot of deer through jumping them up and by observing trails going through hardwoods. Admittedly, creeping through woods in deer season is risky. I’m not here to downplay it or advise it. I made the choice and accept the calculated risk.

What I’m here to ask is do any of you THR hunters hunt in this manner? If so, what tips have you gathered over your experience. What has worked, what hasn’t? Have you, like me, found that this has brought renewed vigor to your hunt? I’m curious to know of your collective experiences.

 

[glockgod]

Back when I didn't have as many aches and pains I hunted deer like I hunt squirrels. Slowly still hunting with frequent stops to look and listen. Was very productive and exciting

 

[mcb]

I love stalk hunting. Most of my bucks have been taken, on the ground, moving through the woods

 

[DocRock]

Very James Fenimore Cooper! Can’t say I’ve had much luck with walk and stalk in the woods. I suppose I’m too noisy. Stalking is THE method of deer hunting in Scotland and in other terrains. The important thing is that it gives you satisfaction and enjoyment!

 

[buck460XVR]

I love still(stalk) hunting for deer. For the most part, for me, it only works for very large parcels. Rain, wind and sometimes snow helps quiet your approach. After opening day in the big woods around here, especially on public land, one has to either still hunt or drive to get bucks moving. Walking with blaze orange is no more risky than sitting.

I too over the years because of the vast improvements with equipment, the increase in deer populations and the increase in opportunities to hunt, that sitting in a blind with a high powered rifle, while being productive, is not much of a challenge. To me the quality of the hunt is actually hunting. Being able to reach out and drop anything within 250 yards quite easily just doesn't do it for me anymore. That is why my primary weapons for deer during the gun season anymore, are handguns.

 

[md7]

I love still(stalk) hunting for deer. For the most part, for me, it only works for very large parcels. Rain, wind and sometimes snow helps quiet your approach. After opening day in the big woods around here, especially on public land, one has to either still hunt or drive to get bucks moving. Walking with blaze orange is no more risky than sitting.

I too over the years because of the vast improvements with equipment, the increase in deer populations and the increase in opportunities to hunt, that sitting in a blind with a high powered rifle, while being productive, is not much of a challenge. To me the quality of the hunt is actually hunting. Being able to reach out and drop anything within 250 yards quite easily just doesn't do it for me anymore. That is why my primary weapons for deer during the gun season anymore, are handguns.

Well said. You articulated exactly how I feel about it. “The quality of the hunt is actually hunting” Man.... you nailed it

 

[md7]

Very James Fenimore Cooper! Can’t say I’ve had much luck with walk and stalk in the woods. I suppose I’m too noisy. Stalking is THE method of deer hunting in Scotland and in other terrains. The important thing is that it gives you satisfaction and enjoyment!

Well, before you think I’m being all Daniel Boone I just gotta say that most of the deer I scared up were from slow walking semi open cut overs and fields. Not quite rustling them up in the midst of the woods.

Now, where I did find success in the woods was slow walking until I found signs of a game trail. Then stopping and waiting a bit. Several wandered below me on a few trails doing that.

Im just trying to be honest. I’m far from a James Fenimore Cooper lol.

 

[jmorris]

Here’s what I noticed. Taking this buck was robotic. No adrenaline, no excitement, no thrill. Just an automatic response to acquire target, verify he was worth killing, adjust aim on a moving target, trigger press, and pack it up to go and start dressing him out.

It sort of bothered me.

What part bothered you? Being prepared, well practiced enough to be certain of the shot or not scaring them off before you got there?

With lots of stuff the excitement fades as it becomes ritual vs new. Why lots of folks might put up the 30-06 and try a pistol or bow, not because they are better but different enough to provide another challenge.

 

[md7]

What part bothered you? Being prepared, well practiced enough to be certain of the shot or not scaring them off before you got there?

With lots of stuff the excitement fades as it becomes ritual vs new. Why lots of folks might put up the 30-06 and try a pistol or bow, not because they are better but different enough to provide another challenge.

I lost the thrill I used to have. That’s what bothered me.

 

[Rembrandt]

I've known hunters that can't sit still for more than 30 minutes in a stand, drives them bonkers. Sometimes terrain may or may not lend itself well to stalking. Guess I've felt comfortable doing both but ageing and multiple broken ankle injuries make stand hunting more appealing. The thing that really makes stand hunting exciting now is introducing kids to the sport.

As for producing big bucks in a short period of time, stalking is the way to go.

 

[md7]

I've known hunters that can't sit still for more than 30 minutes in a stand, drives them bonkers. Sometimes terrain may or may not lend itself well to stalking. Guess I've felt comfortable doing both but ageing and multiple broken ankle injuries make stand hunting more appealing. The thing that really makes stand hunting exciting now is introducing kids to the sport.

As for producing big bucks in a short period of time, stalking is the way to go.

Good points. My daughter asked to go a few times and still hunting was what we did when she wanted to go. It’s a good intro for younger hunters for sure. I’d probably be more stoked about it if she would be interested in going more.

You’re right. That was a rewarding part of still hunting

 

[buck460XVR]

You’re right. That was a rewarding part of still hunting

With new/young hunters, the main goal is success. Kinda why so many states offer "youth" hunts before regular seasons educate the game, and competition is reduced greatly. For most new/young hunters, while they dream of getting a huge buck, any deer, for a first deer, is a trophy.

None of us should be hunting to please someone else. We should hunt the way we enjoy, within the law and following our ethics. We may not want to shoot a deer over a bait station, but if it is legal and someone else enjoys that way, why should it matter to us? I'm 67 years old. I'm just dam happy to be able to get out in the woods anymore. The good Lord has blessed me with good health and a body that hasn't been completely ravaged by time. Still, I could care less anymore about bringing something home. I'd rather one of the kids or grand-kids shoot something. I enjoy watching the bird dog perform and will till the day I die, but I don't get upset when I miss a rooster now and then. I remember the day when I would count down the days till opening day of deer or Turkey season. I'd spend countless hours getting gear ready and practicing calls. Now, come the night before, I pull the old stuff out of the closet and go. I never did get that thirty pointer, or the 5 bearded Tom, But I still have no regrets.

 

[Aletheia]

I, and those I like to hunt with, always say we have the goal of shooting deer that have just stood up in their beds. They need to stand up so you can get a firm idea of where to shoot because bedded deer are often in awkward position for shot placement without hitting meat. Seldom actually perfectly succeeded, but have killed many deer that were leaving just ahead of me, but had waited to find out for sure what was stumbling around, or deer that my partner has moved out from somewhere else in the bush, but were unaware of other hunters. It's sort of driving them by still hunting. I have also passed up many, many shots at deer I saw but I didn't want to kill. If you move slowly enough you can have a marvelous experience hunting the bush, and kill some deer as well. I find stand hunting completely boring.

 

[jmorris]

I lost the thrill I used to have. That’s what bothered me.

The older I get the more things I can add to that list.

 

[Ru4real]

Yes, I like to move around as well. It is my first choice.

However, sitting in a stand is important when area is limited, in my opinion.

 

[archeryrob]

You need to put the gun up for a while and switch to a bow. The extra challenge is what you need.

 

[Chuck R.]

Still hunting is still my favorite way to hunt, but it's getting more difficult to do due to the size of parcels. Annually some friends and I trek out to western KS to hunt the walk in areas even though I have several areas to hunt close to home including my back 40. I just like to put on a back pack and hike in.

Stands, as boring as they might be, are a more practical and successful way to hunt in smaller areas.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Easily 90% of my deer kills have been spot and stalk or still hunting. Even my archery kills. I’m a lousy stand hunter.

 

[wombat13]

Obviously, best approach depends the particular conditions. Thick forest makes still hunting much harder and so does heavy hunting pressure. I will only still hunt when forest floor is wet. Recent rains or wet snow. Otherwise the deer will know I’m there long before I spot them. We need to cut shooting lanes to see more than 30 yards.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I've jumped up and shot several deer over the years, but in West TN, it needs to be damp unless it's a Pine woods. I have slipped my boots off and stalked a time or two. But these days I mainly hunt for the meat, so stands and blinds are more productive for the small amount of land I can hunt.

 

[Captcurt]

Whatever it takes. I have climbers, ladders and blinds and still like to sneaky snake when conditions are right. I take a few deer every year while still hunting or spot and stalk. Love it! As for losing the adrenaline rush, that is when I hang it up.

 

[Patocazador]

I do most of my hunting from a stand but not from a shooting house on a food plot. I'm too impatient to move slowly and carefully through the woods ... and too old.

When I was in a lease that had shooting houses and food plots, it was boring. I shot as many does as needed for the freezer and, if big enough, I shot a buck or two each year. However, it became almost a chore so I switched to handgun hunting. That worked for a few years and then it got old so I started duck hunting. It was much more action and much more fun plus the added enjoyment of a good retriever.

You gotta do what you gotta do to stay interested in hunting. Deer aren't the only game there is. And if it's deer hunting or nothing, go fight the hordes of hunters on public land. Then your skill or lack thereof will show for sure.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I've only ever taken 2 deer from an elevated stand, well 1 was from my sisters kitchen window, he was wounded, broken infected rear leg. All of the rest were from still hunting, or waiting near known paths from years of hunting the same areas. 2 years ago I came face to face with a 7 pointer, we stood looking at each other for several minutes, at 10 to 15 feet. I couldn't bring up my rifle cause he'd spook, do o decided to keep moving, he ran off a few yds and started pawing the ground for acorns again and I moved to a ground position to intercept. A half an hour later I shot him, with his head under a pine tree still looking g for food. He never knew I was there.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Try a different type of firearm, a muzzle loader, even a cap and ball revolver. Will put the fire back into your blood for hunting again.

 

[archeryrob]

I love my guns, BUT Nothing put the fire in the hunt like using a bow. This guy chased a doe past me at 0Dark:30 and thought he was a 4 point it was so dark. He came back at 8:10 and at 30 yards it was too thick. I buck grunted, he looked, and said no fights for me today and turned a away. I went "#@$%" and dial the grunt tube from B to D and long Maaaw doe grunt and he turned and came right to me. Quartering to shots the whole way and not a bow shot. Finally got right under the tree next to mine and making love with his preorbital glands on the Russian olive and I spined him. Not the largest buck but it was damn exciting shooting him!!

The picture was after I tried to pull the arrow but it wouldn't come. Using a HBX broadhead and it won't come out s the expandables are like barbs. Shot two with it last year and going to see how many deer I can kill with the same one. When deer get close you can spook them and then the hunt is one when you start to loose deer from mistakes. It just raises the stakes in the game and makes it more exciting.