How do you get close?

[rumpletown]

I have heard numerous ways to get close to a deer this year ie, let them push the deer to you, spot and stalk, set up in a blind on a water hole or trail, still hunting, tree stand, etc.

What are the ways that you guys get close to deer and what do you feel is the most effective and will get you a closer shot?


Thanks for the replies.

Also when you are sneaking what kind of cover scent do you use?

I have heard leaving your clothes wrapped up in sage brush and then smearing cow crap on your shoes and clothes in the morning works well, anyone tried that?


rumple

 

[BOHNTR]

In one word.....PATIENCE. That goes for ANY type of hunting you do (stalking, still-hunting, stands, etc.) The only thing I'll add is go SLOW. When you think you're slow enoguh, slow down some more.

Cover scents are grossly overrated and do not work in my opinion. Keeping downwind is the only full proof way of making sure an animal doesn't smell you. Their sense of smell is far too sensitive to be fooled by commercially made products.

Good luck and have fun.

BOHNTR )))---------->

 

[MTQuivers]

I agree I have never had a cover scent eliminate human odor. They may mask it but they can't eliminate it especially if you are hiking and sweating. (Plus I am pretty sure that rubbing cow S?@#!$ all over your body is a BAD idea. I wouldn't really want to hunt with the guy who told you that!--just my opinion!) STAY DOWN WIND!

Good luck everyone

 

[Wiszard]

Pattern the deer in the area your hunting. Find out where they feed, where they are bedding, find out what routes they take to get where they want to be. Its taken me 4 years to pattern the bucks where I bow hunt. It was worth every minute because I get deer at close range. And I agree- stay downwind. NO MATTER WHAT scent cover you have. Dont take a chance.

 

[BigPig]

Best way is to watch the buck bed. Then let him get nice and comfortable for at least a half hour. Then stalk from above once the thermals change to blow uphill. At 150-100 yards, take off your boots and sneak in. A buddy cross canyon, giving hand signals helps a lot.

 

[rumpletown]

Thanks for the advice, if you can give me some other advice that would be great too.

With my work I have had no time to go scouting yet. I am going to be able to go the weekend before the hunt and I know thats not enough time to pattern them. But I do know of a few canyons that hold some great bucks, in this scenario what would be the best thing to do?


Thanks
rumple

 

[BigPig]

Class the shady pockets on North facing slopes mid day. This is where the bucks will bed.

 

[4x4elk]

Find'em chase them down on an atv and shot as hard and as fast as you can wait a minute i am not in utah no more??? no really
be very very quiet and sneeky!!!!!!!!

 

[MichaelJ]

What I've read and heard (this is my first year archery too! Can't Wait!) is to watch a buck bed and get down wind of him. Have three check points on your stalk... IE: first one is a rock, 2nd is a fallen log, and the third is a clump of sagebrush..etc Make your way a long the check points and DO NOT PEEK AFTER THE 2ND CHECKPOINT! By that time you should be within 80 yards of the buck and too many guys get busted by checking to see if that buck is still there or not. As stated above having someone there to give you handsignals is great too.

Michael

"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

 

[CAnAZbwhnter]

After all of my blown stalks or hikes over the years I have learned that when I am out there, there is no such thing as going TO SLOW! Take a step or 2 and glass, step glass, etc. Its so hard being patient and taking my time but by doinng this it can really save my butt

 

[Drake]

slow and easy, so so slow! one fast step and game is over, i hate it some times i get going so slow that i wear myslef out, a step can seem like hours if they twitch a ear. keep a eye on your suroundings this time of year if there is 1 there is more close by. had many bucks bust me at over 200 yrds with the wind at my back, they have a very keen sense of smell.

2 rules

Slow
Wind

master these and you can do it with very little cover.


Practice, use doe's, elk, and small bucks during pre season to see just what it takes to get close, last weekend i killed about 20 bucks with my camera at under 40 yrds. easy stalking this year it's lush green and about waist high seems to easy?

 

[polarbear]

Treestand along feeding/bedding trails or rub/scrape lines. Use NO cover scent! Hunt the first and last 3 hours of the day in the stand and sneak through a different area during the day. Do a lot of sitting and watching. Always let the wind be your master!
Eric

 

[lone_hunter]

I do a lot of still hunting. Agree with scent, no other way than to keep the wind in your favor. Obviously, you must see your prey before they see you. I keep one thing in mind - "good things happen when you stop". Move slowly, stop and look all around even behind and to the side. Check out every log and brush. I use compact binoculars. Don't look for an animal but parts, ears legs, etc. My brother taught me a great tip. Trees and bushes don't grow horizontaly. Look for the horizontal lines of the deer or elks back. To keep noise down, I walk in my socks a great deal of the time. It muffles the noise and makes you slow way down and watch your step.

 

[MichaelJ]

Anybody ever try a set of mocassins? Seems like they'd be REAL quiet, light, and would protect ur feet pretty decently...

"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

 

[rabidrattlesnake]

Here is what works for me EVERY TIME. First, hike your but off and get totaly exhausted. Next on your way back to camp or the truck look at you feet the entire way until you hear or sense something to late. When you look up there should be a deer or elk looking at you. You next need to try and nock your arrow. Right about when you get close to getting it nocked the deer or elk should high tail it out of there. Trust me it works every time for me. Granted i never get the critter, but I sure do get close.

 

[BOHNTR]

Now that's funny.....and familiar.

BOHNTR )))---------->

 

[ONHunter]

1. Get a pair of the Sneekee type over boots. Socks can be very painful around cactus.

2. When scouting look for deer "hotels". There'll be multiple beds within one bunch of brush.

3. If you don't see them bed down, they'll be hard to locate, but it can be done. When bedded, you're looking for a "ghost" like deer. They'll be quite dark in color, and have a very vague body outline.

4. Get in position uphill by 11:00, when the thermals should be very strong uphill. Let him move when the sun starts to cook his butt or head. He'll be headed to another bed within the hotel.

5. Don't shoot to high. A laser range of 30 might call for a 20 yard shot. Practice this.