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'

[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.

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!  .

Kinda what I was thinking, there's allot of extra movement involved to use a rangefinder, I always move around at my girls house where I have my yote targets setup and try to guesstimate range, Sometimes I'm spot on, sometimes I'm a little off. But rarely have I ever missed entirely unless I'm attempted to guesstimate a 60+ range shot, Which I don't think Ill ever be attempting on the field.
Its not really accurate because I know where point A to point B is as far as range, then I add whatever extra I think I am. But Its still decent practice for now.

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.

Yeah I've kept the whole wind thing In mind, I have that wind powder stuff I think will come in handy also. If I see It shooting away from me I should change my approach I imagine
I don't have a washer and dryer so I don't really have that advantage of being able to wash my cloths whenever I want so that part sucks. I gotta drive 30 miles out to my girls to do it. My Cadillac "Which will probably be my hunting rig" Has never had any smell goods in it, or had anything smoked in it, Its 30 years old and still has the "new car" leather smell to it. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing. I'm sure I can stuff anything but an elk in my trunk considering the size. Don't have a cool truck like most everyone else, Wish I did.

[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.

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.   

As Radsav once told me lol "Any rangefinder is better then No rangefinder, even a cheapy walmart one will do".
But that aside, That's nice of you man you sure? Don't want to put a damper on your golf game
If so I very much appreciate it! Cool to see folks so willing to help a guy out!

[huntnphool]

Once you have the gear it's really going over the basics already mentioned. You will fail often but take the time to think about why after each stalk. Trial and error will be your teacher, persistence will gain you knowledge.

[Smossy]

Once you have the gear it's really going over the basics already mentioned. You will fail often but take the time to think about why after each stalk. Trial and error will be your teacher, persistence will gain you knowledge.

Sounds good, So then its just a matter of getting out there.
My biggest disadvantage is not having any friends or family that hunt or know squat about it.
This is entirely new, this website has been my biggest teacher yet.

[huntnphool]

Once you have the gear it's really going over the basics already mentioned. You will fail often but take the time to think about why after each stalk. Trial and error will be your teacher, persistence will gain you knowledge.

Sounds good, So then its just a matter of getting out there.
My biggest disadvantage is not having any friends or family that hunt or know squat about it.
This is entirely new, this website has been my biggest teacher yet.

Just get out there and get after it, repetition is the mother of all skills!

[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.   

As Radsav once told me lol "Any rangefinder is better then No rangefinder, even a cheapy walmart one will do".
But that aside, That's nice of you man you sure? Don't want to put a damper on your golf game
If so I very much appreciate it! Cool to see folks so willing to help a guy out!

Hahaha, it has helped me in the field just not in my golf game....  It will be in the mail on Friday.  It has brought me luck and hopefully it brings you some too. 

You may use it or not but at least you have one.  I have learned that distances seem a lot different in the field than in the backyard.  Specially in open country.  Even if it just ads another push of confidence it's worth it.   

[Austrian Hunter]

Once you have the gear it's really going over the basics already mentioned. You will fail often but take the time to think about why after each stalk. Trial and error will be your teacher, persistence will gain you knowledge.

Sounds good, So then its just a matter of getting out there.
My biggest disadvantage is not having any friends or family that hunt or know squat about it.
This is entirely new, this website has been my biggest teacher yet.

I was in the same shoes 7-8 years ago, but that said, this is what we here for. 

[Smossy]

Once you have the gear it's really going over the basics already mentioned. You will fail often but take the time to think about why after each stalk. Trial and error will be your teacher, persistence will gain you knowledge.

Sounds good, So then its just a matter of getting out there.
My biggest disadvantage is not having any friends or family that hunt or know squat about it.
This is entirely new, this website has been my biggest teacher yet.

I was in the same shoes 7-8 years ago, but that said, this is what we here for. 

Ever wind up picking up any hunting buddies? Ive only been on here since hmm what January and already Ive had tons of offers to go out here and there. Would be nice to actually pick up a regular partner who will take every chance to get out on something.

[RadSav]

You are going to be bowhunting so first thing is wind.  You might get a dumb doe or a little spiker to stick around smelling your BO, but not many.  So figure out wind direction first and check it often. If weather is warming up or cooling down the thermals will be changing from up to down or down to up often.  If you need to back out and start over that's ok!

Next is probably back drop.  The best camo in the world is not going to do you much good if you get skylined.  So try to pay as much attention to the landscape behind you as you do the landscape in front of you.  And when trying to spot an animal never walk on the top of a ridge always walk below the crest.

Patience, patience, patience would be step three.  Especially when hunting open country muledeer it is often better to try again tomorrow than the spook one rushing a last of light stalk.  Sometimes you just have to camp out for a while and allow the animal to move toward you or into an area giving a better approach.  I spent three years hunting the same single big buck muledeer.  He was such a monster you would mount him under your bed.  I would get one stalk a year at that big boy.  Each year I spooked him and never saw him again the rest of the season.  The last year I was within 40 yards and only had to wait for him to stand up on his own and I would have killed him.  After sitting and waiting for two hours I decided I would move a small rock to get him to stand up.  He went from a sound sleep to 50 mph in about two jumps.  Never saw him again.  Probably one of the things that haunts my dreams with the most frequency.

Three points of contact with the ground.  Seems a little ridiculous but when trying to close the gap that last 30 to 50 yards it's easy to lose balance, move too fast or move a loose rock.  Having three points of contact with the ground greatly improves your odds of avoiding those mistakes.

Count the closing yardage.  Most people are quite accurate at counting five yard increments as they crawl.  You never know when the opportunity for a shot might present itself.  And in stalking you more than likely will not get the chance to range the animal once he gets nervous and begins to move.  So range the target often, but count the closing yardage as you move in case you need to make a faster than expected shot that does not allow the time or movement of using your rangefinder.

Know where your bottom limb is as well as your arrow.  You would be surprised at how many animals are missed, even in open country, because the arrow did not clear the bush the bowhunter was hiding behind or the bottom cam hit the rock the bowhunter was shooting over.  Some hunters worry nonstop about clearing the window of a blind with their arrow yet completely ignore the bushes, rocks and tree branches they hide behind in open country.  I speak from experience here -  you will never feel more stupid than you do that moment your arrow hits a branch before ever leaving the bow.

And lastly probably my biggest pet peeve.  Trust your broadhead and your equipment.  So many bowhunters who fail to connect with their shot do so because they do not follow through as they have practiced at the range.  They are either so worried about getting another shot off or wanting to see where the animal enters thicker brush they forget to finish the shot opportunity they have.  Trust in your equipment being able to make that first shot count.  Trust that your broadhead will leave the blood trail needed to lead you to your trophy.  Trust in the lethality of the bow and arrow and do not rush to get an insurance shot.  Make that first shot just as you would on the range and your lethal weapon will not let you down.

There is so much more that you can learn that is best learned through failure.  Don't get discouraged and never see failure as failure, but only as the negative feedback you need to change course in the right direction.  You can not learn how NOT to do things if you only do things right.  It's taken A LOT of stupid mistakes over the last 30+ years that allows me to help others.  And I'm sure I'll do something stupid again tomorrow

[Dbax129]

Once you have the gear it's really going over the basics already mentioned. You will fail often but take the time to think about why after each stalk. Trial and error will be your teacher, persistence will gain you knowledge.

Sounds good, So then its just a matter of getting out there.
My biggest disadvantage is not having any friends or family that hunt or know squat about it.
This is entirely new, this website has been my biggest teacher yet.

I'm in the same place.  Last year was my first year trying, then I found this site.  I have met some great members on here who have been incredibly helpful.  I have learned just tons from these great members. Hell, they even told me the best way to eat my backstrap for dinner tonight! 

[coachcw]

good advise here , my two biggest inputs are the wind and the wind , the single best way to spot and stalk mulies is to use the wind the windier the better for getting close. one other tip is when you get close , don't get eye contact if a buck alerts to your draw back looking away then pivot and shoot often the think there still hidden .

[jackmaster]

good advise here , my two biggest inputs are the wind and the wind , the single best way to spot and stalk mulies is to use the wind the windier the better for getting close. one other tip is when you get close , don't get eye contact if a buck alerts to your draw back looking away then pivot and shoot often the think there still hidden .

use this summer to get out and try it, its dry and the thermals are unpredictable, no better time than learning how......wind and scent control are everything...good luck to ya, cant wait to see some pics....should be a hoot 

[BOWHUNTER45]

good advise here , my two biggest inputs are the wind and the wind , the single best way to spot and stalk mulies is to use the wind the windier the better for getting close. one other tip is when you get close , don't get eye contact if a buck alerts to your draw back looking away then pivot and shoot often the think there still hidden .

  Thats about all I worry about 99.9% of the time ... I never wated a penny on all that scent eliminator stuff ...Maybe it works and maybe not but I will never know ....

[Smossy]

You are going to be bowhunting so first thing is wind.  You might get a dumb doe or a little spiker to stick around smelling your BO, but not many.  So figure out wind direction first and check it often. If weather is warming up or cooling down the thermals will be changing from up to down or down to up often.  If you need to back out and start over that's ok!

Next is probably back drop.  The best camo in the world is not going to do you much good if you get skylined.  So try to pay as much attention to the landscape behind you as you do the landscape in front of you.  And when trying to spot an animal never walk on the top of a ridge always walk below the crest.

Patience, patience, patience would be step three.  Especially when hunting open country muledeer it is often better to try again tomorrow than the spook one rushing a last of light stalk.  Sometimes you just have to camp out for a while and allow the animal to move toward you or into an area giving a better approach.  I spent three years hunting the same single big buck muledeer.  He was such a monster you would mount him under your bed.  I would get one stalk a year at that big boy.  Each year I spooked him and never saw him again the rest of the season.  The last year I was within 40 yards and only had to wait for him to stand up on his own and I would have killed him.  After sitting and waiting for two hours I decided I would move a small rock to get him to stand up.  He went from a sound sleep to 50 mph in about two jumps.  Never saw him again.  Probably one of the things that haunts my dreams with the most frequency.

Three points of contact with the ground.  Seems a little ridiculous but when trying to close the gap that last 30 to 50 yards it's easy to lose balance, move too fast or move a loose rock.  Having three points of contact with the ground greatly improves your odds of avoiding those mistakes.

Count the closing yardage.  Most people are quite accurate at counting five yard increments as they crawl.  You never know when the opportunity for a shot might present itself.  And in stalking you more than likely will not get the chance to range the animal once he gets nervous and begins to move.  So range the target often, but count the closing yardage as you move in case you need to make a faster than expected shot that does not allow the time or movement of using your rangefinder.

Know where your bottom limb is as well as your arrow.  You would be surprised at how many animals are missed, even in open country, because the arrow did not clear the bush the bowhunter was hiding behind or the bottom cam hit the rock the bowhunter was shooting over.  Some hunters worry nonstop about clearing the window of a blind with their arrow yet completely ignore the bushes, rocks and tree branches they hide behind in open country.  I speak from experience here -  you will never feel more stupid than you do that moment your arrow hits a branch before ever leaving the bow.

And lastly probably my biggest pet peeve.  Trust your broadhead and your equipment.  So many bowhunters who fail to connect with their shot do so because they do not follow through as they have practiced at the range.  They are either so worried about getting another shot off or wanting to see where the animal enters thicker brush they forget to finish the shot opportunity they have.  Trust in your equipment being able to make that first shot count.  Trust that your broadhead will leave the blood trail needed to lead you to your trophy.  Trust in the lethality of the bow and arrow and do not rush to get an insurance shot.  Make that first shot just as you would on the range and your lethal weapon will not let you down.

There is so much more that you can learn that is best learned through failure.  Don't get discouraged and never see failure as failure, but only as the negative feedback you need to change course in the right direction.  You can not learn how NOT to do things if you only do things right.  It's taken A LOT of stupid mistakes over the last 30+ years that allows me to help others.  And I'm sure I'll do something stupid again tomorrow

When your out stalking a mulie, Is there a way you can lure it to come in your direction? Or is it a chance kinda thing...?
And as far as trusting my equipment, If my mentor decides to plant some broadheads on my arrows then I will have nothing but trust in them already knowing they're top notch

With following a blood trail, Do you and or others on here use a RGB Flashlight or whatever they're called for following/muting colors when It starts to get darker? Ive never had any experience with it at all "go figure" but I do own a semi cheap one.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't worry about any of the scent control stuff, or scent eliminator. Don't wear cologne or really strong smelling deodorant, but other than that, just don't waste your money on any of that stuff. The only time I could see it being of any value is if you were hunting out of a tree stand or ground blind, and it was a short enough walk with easy terrain that you wouldn't work up a sweat getting there. But you're talking aboug spot and stalk hunting for mule deer. So you're going to smell like a human to a deer. No matter what. You need to have the wind right to be successful. Simple as that. I think you're making this a lot more complicated than it has to be. The most important thing you need for hunting is patience, and that can't be bought.

[JLS]

Some outstanding advise.  Some I've learned the hard way too RadSav, including the cam hitting the rock , which cost me a P&Y class muley a few years ago.

And yes, trusting your equipment.

Smossy, you can ambush deer going to get food, water, etc, but you're not too apt to lure them in per se like you would an antelope buck with a decoy. 

I just use a regular flashlight for bloodtrailing.

Spot and stalk is just like cooking ribs, LOW & SLOW.  Try and speed up the process and you're guaranteed to screw it up.

[RadSav]

With following a blood trail, Do you and or others on here use a RGB Flashlight or whatever they're called for following/muting colors when It starts to get darker? Ive never had any experience with it at all "go figure" but I do own a semi cheap one.

I tracked a poorly shot bear in the dark a few years ago and the shooter had one of those from Primos.  Took about three minutes before I took it from him and threw it in the pack.  I like most everything from Primos but that thing was a POS waste of money.  Five battery MagLite has been my go to for years.  Haven't found anything better.  Though I did find an insulator about 15 years ago that goes in the MagLite and gives you twice the battery life.  Never seen one since.  I should have bought every one I could find.  Makes no difference in light output yet improves the life of the batteries.  Beyond my comprehension on how it works, but dang is it nice for those long nights.

Until last year I had never used an LED light that was as good as the Krypton (I think that's what it is called) bulb MagLite.  But last year our cardboard supplier sent me a MagLite LED XL50.  Super Small, uses three AAA batteries, long battery life and puts out as much light as the 5D big boy.  It's quite impressive!  I haven't used it to track a real animal yet.  But I did make my own blood trail after tagging my deer last year just to see how it worked.  My eyes don't like the LED brightness as much, but I could follow the blood trail very easily.  I now have one of those XL50's in every car, the RV, every pack and every fanny bag.  Nice thing about them is they use the same battery as my head lamp and I can carry about 20 battery replacements with the same weight as one change of the 5D light.  Sweetest part is I get one free with every $750.00 of cardboard I order   Since we buy about $5,000 in cardbard each year we're sitting pretty on them

[uplandhunter870]

ive read all the posts and as all the info here is great and really spot on im surprised no one has mentioned the one thing i think is key.

plan your stalk route out before you move.

once you spot a bedded deer odds are its knows youre there but feels no threat cause youre at a safe distance, dont rush into the stalk sit a moment or two and evaluate several routes to its location, once you decide on the best route make mental waypoints, sneak to that tree drop over the back side of the ridge (this is where the next paragraph becomes important, keep reading) loop around using the land to hide you and find a draw that will crest near the deers location and make the final stalk to the killing zone.

get to know the land where youll be doing the spot and stalk, know whats on the other side of the ridges and hills, know what draws will crest a ridge and where they crest the ridge, google earth works wonders here you obviously have access to the net and a computer google earth is free and though not as good as time on the ground you can get a real good feel of whats where. im a huge fan of getting out of sight, using the landscape to hide me and loop around hills to pop up above a spotted deer. this technique has proved successful for me in the past (two years ago i bow hunted in NE montana in the short grass prairie and trust me there isnt anything to hide behind but was inside of 20 yards on multiple nice mature mulies), try and sneak up behind the deer from its blind spots, and if possible from a higher point of elevation.

pay attention to the wind and where the sun is your shadow can spook just as hard as a snapped twig. move slow plan every step literally every step be patient and when in doubt move slower and channel your inner ninja. when, yes when, you get busted dont lose the ninja mind set you never know where a deer is sitting that you didnt see, have had this happen to me several times get busted and stand up and start to walk off normally only to spook another deer i never even saw.

[JLS]

Good point on the route planning.  Also, to add to that, use your digital camera and take photos of the route and critical landmarks, or else draw a sketch.  Things look very different when you rotate them 180 degrees and small things like the second rock or the third rock become very important.

[JM]

This is all great advice from people that I am sure have a lot more experience than me. One thing that I would add is don't rush the stalk and never assume that your stalk is blown. Something that many new hunters do is assume that their stalk is blown and they start to get a little careless ( not picking their feet up, not looking where they step, or exposing themselves to see if the animal is still there). So always assume that the stalk is still on until you are completelly positive the animal blew out. It takes alot of patience and discipline, but it will pay off one day.

[Special T]

I know its blackies not mule deer but Boyd Iversons "Blacktail Trophy tactics 2" is a must read for anyone hunting washington. I see WAY more deer after i read that book, becasue I went SLOW!

Some things i really like while bow hunting.
Bino harness, I use a big 10x50 and it never gets in my way
Nikon Rifle hunter range finder... Not too spendy and not too many modes, just an agle compensator.

UV blocker spray, OR wash all your gear un "All Fee and Clear" detergent for babies. It has no extra brightners, or scents and is much cheeper than all the other stuff

1.5 day pack with water bladder, stays out of the way and carries all my gear.

[hike2hunt]

So much great advise here.

In addition to the wind, I found a wearing some knee pads when crawling really helps; as well as when stalking and having the wind in your favor, still try to keep some type of vegetation or tree in between you and the prey. I try to stalk in from bush to tree/tree to tree, etc.