the thick nasty question

[Damnimissed]

I only hunt the westside and reading this thread is getting me really excited for October. I love tromping around in the thick nasty draws and big timber.

[Stizz]

Ive walked up on a ton of animals just lazily marching through the woods, but for the life of me i cant help but try to sneak when ive got a bow in my hand. Try ditching the boots for just a pair of wool socks or two, and some good fitting soft pants. Youll feel like a ninja! Its suprisingly comfortable in western wa, as long as you stay out of the devils club or blackberry

[TheHunt]

One thing to consider on the West side is to bring a very quiet set of clippers to cut the black berry vines.  Elk do not rip vines like the sound that gives off when black berries get caught up on your pants or boots.

[Johnb317]

Does it hurt to do a little cow mew?

[RadSav]

Does it hurt to do a little cow mew?

No it doesn't.  When we break a twig or make a noise we try to cover it up with elk like noise.  Popping leaves off huckleberry bushes or salal, mewing, even the occasional cough.  Also good to make a turn or two as if you are wandering for available feed.  It can surprise you how close you can get in the thick stuff.

My buddy Channon and I working together one day and killed a cow at about 20 feet.  For about 20 yards we could see her head.  Every time she looked in our direction he would pop leaves and I would calf mew.  I think we could have gotten 10' if we had the patience and were willing to fail. I've killed three or four elk at less than 30' in the thick coastal brush.  But that was the only time we actually stalked up on one I could see the whole way.  It's pretty cool!

It gets really exciting after one of you shoot and they run at you not knowing what's going on.  I've had the bow knocked out of my hand, my brother was knocked backward and another friend had a three point bull run off with his Larry D. Jones Persuader bugle rapped up in his antlers!  You'll never forget those moments, I promise you that! 

[Optimusprime]

So if you guys stumble into a sort of open area with several cows or whatever just kind of staring your way, you try to make some natural sounding elk noises, ie branch breaking, leave pulling, ground stomping, soft calling kind of sounds?

[RadSav]

So if you guys stumble into a sort of open area with several cows or whatever just kind of staring your way, you try to make some natural sounding elk noises, ie branch breaking, leave pulling, ground stomping, soft calling kind of sounds?

Each situation is different.  Really need to read each situation as uniquely it's own.  Even then if you are right 50% of the time you are doing good.  Nice thing about the thick stuff is when you happen onto one of these open areas you are usually in range already.  If you can find a hole shoot first and make noise later

I try never to break a branch or stomp the ground.  Quiet feeding noises and very docile movements seem to be the key in most circumstances.  But, if I think they are just looking without any fear or undue curiosity I try to keep quiet. 

I think the most important thing about hunting the thick stuff is scenario playing as you go.  You can never be successful and in a hurry at the same time.  Just doesn't happen in this type of hunting.  So I stop every step or two looking at all possible places I can get a shot and all possible places one might come through the immediate area.  I ask myself, If they come through here how do I get a shot off?  Do I wait and take him there or try to get an arrow through here?  Any indecisive nature on the hunters part will cost opportunities in thick cover.  So playing these games helps with your absolutes when that opportunity comes.  A half second delay can be the difference between frustration and success!

I also sit down quite a lot when I know I am in elk.  That is when the best opportunities have usually come.

[wooltie]

Thanks everyone for your input.  All great advice.  I think in the past I have been too quiet, to the point of moving way too slow and trying to make as little noise as possible.

What I'm gleaning from everyone's responses is that the right "noise" itself is not undesirable, and can actually be a good thing given the circumstances? 

But avoid being ultra quiet for you might be mistaken for a kitty cat sneaking through...

[RadSav]

But avoid being ultra quiet for you might be mistaken for a kitty cat sneaking through...

If you can be ultra quiet that is always my preference!  However, in that environment it is nearly impossible.  The idea is to embrace the noise you accidently make by trying to make them appear natural instead of frightening to the animals.  Cats are pretty successful killers!  If I could get through the brush like a cat I'd be happier than Tom in a fresh sand box 

One thing I find important as an archer that has spent a lot of time in the thick stuff.  Practice shooting without the use of your sights!  At close range it is often hard to determine the flight path of your arrow when looking through a peep and having a low anchor.  My friends and I found an old screen door someone had dumped in the woods.  We cut a small hole in the screen and practiced shooting targets at close range putting the arrow through the small hole.  It's shocking how difficult that is until you've had a bit of practice.  It's also shocking how effective it is once you get the hang of it!  It's really quite fun to shoot a target at a known distance (say 15 yards) but move the screen distance in 2.5 yard increments! 

[huntnnw]

trying to be quiet for elk is not good...cause u will never be silent they will always hear you.

[RadSav]

I must have a habit of running across deaf elk, I guess

However, I always have a backup plan for those times when my ferret of the furrier skills end up being more like old fart in the brush pile skills   My grandfather would call it "Tool Box Planning".  Meaning - bring the whole tool box even if you think all you are going to need is a pair of vise grips and a roll of duct tape.

[wooltie]

Yeah but back to my original question/answer, which I think everyone's addressed is, being quiet is impossible when going through the thicknasty. 

There is just too much crap in the way.  You can tread lightly, but pushing through all the brush, twigs, limps, leaves, needles, vine maple, thorns,  listening to your hunting buddy whine, the cursing, etc..all generate movement and noise.

So do the best you can, but pause at times, make cow mews, and be "strategic" about how you "break" the things in your way...?

[RadSav]

listening to your hunting buddy whine, the cursing, etc..all generate movement and noise.

So you've hunted with that guy too

[wooltie]

Hehe nah my hunting buddy is a good one.

He's all about the shortest distance between two points--a straight line.  Even if the line resembles playing monkey bars on logs, crossing the creek then going vertical up a hill while army crawling under deadfalls.