Spot & Stalk Techniques - Help

[Smossy]

Ok so Ive came to the conclusion that most of the hunting Im going to be doing is going to be Spot and Stalk. My question is how does everyone go about doing all this...

I know its a pretty broad question but lets say Mule Deer for example with a bow. What would you do from start to finish?

From looking for an animal, down to coming upon it to start cleaning it. What do you hide around, how do you move, foot step posture, covering scent and sounds, drawing back to shoot with out them spotting you, to camo colors. Any help would be appreciated.
I just want to increase the chance of my first year being sucessfull.

[huntnphool]

I know its said all the time but it all starts with quality optics and quality footwear.

[Bean Counter]

Spot and stalk is about climbing up high and glassing the animals out. Watch them until they bed down. Watch them for a while longer to make sure they're comfortable there.

Then you begin studying the lay of the land. Little hills, small washes, large rocks, etc. If you can, note any vegetation and the direction it is blowing in the wind.  Being too noisy is bad, but being smelled is worse. Work the wind, and go slow.

[Smossy]

"

I know its said all the time but it all starts with quality optics and quality footwear.

Diamond Vortex 10x42 and Rocky Silent Stalkers 6" Gortex.

[washelkhunter]

Spot & stalk is really an open country style of hunting simply because you can see far. If hunting the brush and timber its a still hunting game or take a stand and wait. Ive got itchy feet so i really enjoy still hunting.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Practice practice practice, start doing this in your local area on blackies. Dress  like you are going hunting with your camo. I personally don't spend lots on it, my belief is break up your silhouette with it, missed match like colors work for me. Control your sent with hunters liquid shower soap, laundry soap, and spray yourself with scent eliminator when going into area from vehicle.

Spot and stalk is very slow, when close enough for you to draw, watch the animals tells ie nervous actions, fake feeding head down but watching you with it's eyes, they will look away momentarily then look back at you directly. If they sense you are not part of the natural surroundings.

When you feel like you are in the clear after animal has settled down act like you are drawing your bow slowly, and watch what happens.

Keep in mind that this is best done alone so you know that when you are busted , or successful doing all this that you alone was the cause of success or failure.

Enough for now, don't lose patience if you don't succeed in practice right away.  No body on this site is successful 100% on every hunt or stalk.

Failed attempts leads to lessons learned, which turns into success in the future! 

[Smossy]

Spot and stalk is about climbing up high and glassing the animals out. Watch them until they bed down. Watch them for a while longer to make sure they're comfortable there.

Then you begin studying the lay of the land. Little hills, small washes, large rocks, etc. If you can, note any vegetation and the direction it is blowing in the wind.  Being too noisy is bad, but being smelled is worse. Work the wind, and go slow.

Ive got every DDW product available I plan on using when the time comes. Ive pre washed all my hunting gear with it and its all vacuum sealed individualy stuck in a large tote with a few branches of pine needles to try to mask any scent. The shoes I picked up are pretty quiet and lightweight. Seems like they should do the job. Just want to pick up an extra techniques I can along the way. Ive got some wind powder to check the direction the winds going. Sound like a good start?

[Smossy]

Spot & stalk is really an open country style of hunting simply because you can see far. If hunting the brush and timber its a still hunting game or take a stand and wait. Ive got itchy feet so i really enjoy still hunting.

Where ill be going after mulies is pretty open cutt. Not quite open country but it has valleys that are here and there that are open for miles.

[Austrian Hunter]

Make sure you are aware of the wind!  Try to have the wind in your face.  Like fool said, quality optics is a must for Mule deer.  I think spot and stalk Mule deer hunting is probably one of the most challenging hunts. 

When you found one, make a game plan on how to approach for a shot.  You will need a good range finder.  Know your distance etc....  Luck is as important as knowledge and experience.  Hunt slow, when you think you walk slow walk slower. 

There is a lot that has to fall in place to be able to attempt a shot.  I can go on and on but it's late, lol

[Smossy]

Practice practice practice, start doing this in your local area on blackies. Dress  like you are going hunting with your camo. I personally don't spend lots on it, my belief is break up your silhouette with it, missed match like colors work for me. Control your sent with hunters liquid shower soap, laundry soap, and spray yourself with scent eliminator when going into area from vehicle.

Spot and stalk is very slow, when close enough for you to draw, watch the animals tells ie nervous actions, fake feeding head down but watching you with it's eyes, they will look away momentarily then look back at you directly. If they sense you are not part of the natural surroundings.

When you feel like you are in the clear after animal has settled down act like you are drawing your bow slowly, and watch what happens.

Keep in mind that this is best done alone so you know that when you are busted , or successful doing all this that you alone was the cause of success or failure.

Enough for now, don't lose patience if you don't succeed in practice right away.  No body on this site is successful 100% on every hunt or stalk.

Failed attempts leads to lessons learned, which turns into success in the future! 

Ive got all my hunting stuff pre washed descented and stored away in vacuum sealed bags. maybe ill pick up some cheap stuff for practice. Well all my stuffs cheap regardless, dont got the money to buy sitka style gear. Most my money goes into my weapon. Thanks for the lengthly reply.

[Smossy]

Make sure you are aware of the wind!  Try to have the wind in your face.  Like fool said, quality optics is a must for Mule deer.  I think spot and stalk Mule deer hunting is probably one of the most challenging hunts. 

When you found one, make a game plan on how to approach for a shot.  You will need a good range finder.  Know your distance etc....  Luck is as important as knowledge and experience.  Hunt slow, when you think you walk slow walk slower. 

There is a lot that has to fall in place to be able to attempt a shot.  I can go on and on but it's late, lol

Cool man thanks. I dont have a rangefinder yet, I like to guestimate but Ill be picking one up if I can ever find work.

[Bean Counter]

Ive got every DDW product available I plan on using when the time comes. Ive pre washed all my hunting gear with it and its all vacuum sealed individualy stuck in a large tote with a few branches of pine needles to try to mask any scent. The shoes I picked up are pretty quiet and lightweight. Seems like they should do the job. Just want to pick up an extra techniques I can along the way. Ive got some wind powder to check the direction the winds going. Sound like a good start?

Well the DDW stockholders sure appreciate you! No matter how much scent killer stuff you apply, you're probably going to break a good sweat crawling around like a sneaky *censored* and all. Its good to not be covered in unnatural scents so there is a place for some of it, but at after sweating your body odor will still get you busted by the deer.

I just wash my clothes in unscented soap, use a second rinse, and maybe some homemade DIY scent killer. There's really cheap bar soap out there to take a shower with before you leave for your hunt. Also make sure there aren't any scents in your huntin' rig. Tobacco smoke, air fresheners, etc.

Point is, you must mind the wind. Don't think that spending $45 on scent killer everything is going to let you walk right up to a bedded deer if you weren't minding the wind.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Make sure you are aware of the wind!  Try to have the wind in your face.  Like fool said, quality optics is a must for Mule deer.  I think spot and stalk Mule deer hunting is probably one of the most challenging hunts. 

When you found one, make a game plan on how to approach for a shot.  You will need a good range finder.  Know your distance etc....  Luck is as important as knowledge and experience.  Hunt slow, when you think you walk slow walk slower. 

There is a lot that has to fall in place to be able to attempt a shot.  I can go on and on but it's late, lol

Cool man thanks. I dont have a rangefinder yet, I like to guestimate but Ill be picking one up if I can ever find work.

If you don't have a range finder no worries, practice judging distance on your stalks. 20-30 yard shots first year is all I did comfortably. Just think about how many deer have been harvested with out them before they were invented!  .

[Austrian Hunter]

Make sure you are aware of the wind!  Try to have the wind in your face.  Like fool said, quality optics is a must for Mule deer.  I think spot and stalk Mule deer hunting is probably one of the most challenging hunts. 

When you found one, make a game plan on how to approach for a shot.  You will need a good range finder.  Know your distance etc....  Luck is as important as knowledge and experience.  Hunt slow, when you think you walk slow walk slower. 

There is a lot that has to fall in place to be able to attempt a shot.  I can go on and on but it's late, lol

Cool man thanks. I dont have a rangefinder yet, I like to guestimate but Ill be picking one up if I can ever find work.

I have an older Bushnell rangefinder you can have.  It was my starter and works well, it's actually for golf but works great for hunting too.  PM me your mailing address and I send it to you.   

[huntnphool]

Make sure you are aware of the wind!  Try to have the wind in your face.  Like fool said, quality optics is a must for Mule deer.  I think spot and stalk Mule deer hunting is probably one of the most challenging hunts. 

When you found one, make a game plan on how to approach for a shot.  You will need a good range finder.  Know your distance etc....  Luck is as important as knowledge and experience.  Hunt slow, when you think you walk slow walk slower. 

There is a lot that has to fall in place to be able to attempt a shot.  I can go on and on but it's late, lol

Cool man thanks. I dont have a rangefinder yet, I like to guestimate but Ill be picking one up if I can ever find work.

I have an older Bushnell rangefinder you can have.  It was my starter and works well, it's actually for golf but works great for hunting too.  PM me your mailing address and I send it to you.

Very nice Rene'