Stalking deer requires consideration of the season and weather, knowledge of the area, and safe methods. Early season stalking requires a slow, steady walk and green camo, while mid to late fall requires dark colors and noise suppression. Windy fall days are good for stalking in crops, and late fall and early winter are best for hunting in bedding areas and travel corridors.
There are many ways to stalk deer while hunting, each with its own particular advantages and disadvantages. The best tip for stalking deer is to consider the season and weather patterns before heading into the deer woodlands. It is also extremely important for the hunter to have an understanding of the area in which they are being hunted. Knowledge of terrain and wind patterns is also instrumental in deer tracking. Perhaps the best advice when stalking deer or hunting any kind of game is to use safe and sound methods on each hunt to ensure there is another hunt in the future.
When hunting and stalking deer, the weather plays a very large part in the methods used to sneak through the woods. In most areas, early hunting tactics can be slightly more aggressive due to heavy foliage and the naturally dampening effect a green wood has on sound. A slow, steady walk with periodic stops to observe movement is key to early season stalking. Whenever possible, keeping the sun behind the hunter as he walks into the wind is the absolute best case scenario in any type of stalk. Where local laws permit, wearing a very green camo will help keep the hunter invisible to deer.
In mid to late fall, camouflage colors should change to dark browns and grays to match the dying trees and grasses. Moving through litter areas and the perimeter of food plots will often yield the best success when stalking deer at this time of year. Noise suppression is key, as sound is easily carried over long distances in barren wood lots. This time of season also dictates long periods of inactivity as you observe signs of deer in the surrounding woods. It’s important that the hunter not only look for deer, but visually examine the area for parts of the deer that peek through the foliage, such as ears, backs, antlers, and tails.
Windy fall days are perfect for chasing deer in corn and standing crops. The rustling of the wind in the crops will help muffle and mask any sounds the hunter may be making. The hunter’s scent also dissipates through the wind, making the deer’s most valuable weapon, its nose, a non-factor.
Late fall and early winter also bring the rut into play when pursuing deer. Bucks in the rut often act carelessly because they only have one thing on their mind: mating. During this season, stalking deer should be concentrated in bedding areas and travel corridors through the woods. By hunting later in the morning and early afternoon, the hunter’s chances are greatly increased.
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