Still Hunting, a lost art?

[WapitiTalk1]

With any mode of elk hunting (rifle, ML, archery) there are times when plain old fashioned still hunting can and should be deployed. What do successful still hunters do to well, be successful? How fast do you move, how often do you check the wind, is quiet clothing fabric important, is personal scent reduction important, what makes you stop and look/listen/smell while still hunting, etc.?  What percentage of your hunts have still hunting tactics mixed in?  Just curious to hear some tried and true methods that have worked after you switch over to still hunting mode. Thanks in advance for the discussion. RJ

[WSU]

I still hunt a lot.  The most important things are, in my opinion, to hunt the wind and go extremely slow.  I check the wind constantly and struggle to go slow enough.  Slow meaning that each step is deliberate and you pause often.  Quiet clothes are important.  I haven't done much for scent control.  I don't really know if it works or not, but have myself convinced I'm screwed if I don't have the wind in my favor.

[WSU]

One other consideration is that only certain locations allow me to be successful.  For example, I can't still hunt quietly enough through dense underbrush like salal.  Some locations are made to still hunt.  One example is a place I hunt with a series of benches.  It's perfect to sneak along and peak over without being detected.  Another is a place in eastern Wa.  It has trails running everywhere and a location with 50 x 50 yard patch of blow down.  I KNOW there will be deer bedded there.  It's perfect to slowly sneak in and spot them either in their bed or before they know what I am.

[buglebrush]

I grew up almost exclusively still hunting.  I would spend hours and hours easing through one little patch of whitetail brush.   Now I am primarily an archery elk hunter, and have most success being super aggressive with my calling and movement. 

I would say that you almost cannot move too slow.  Avoid patches of sunlight.  Have a good pair of Binos, and the most important thing is stay low.  I spend a lot of time hunkering down motionless.  Amazing how many more animals you spot and how much more invisible you are when you stay low. 

As to clothing I personally will always wear wool or fleece when still hunting.  If I am still-hunting it is probably pretty brushy country and it is pretty important to have quiet clothing IMO.   

[OutHouse]

I am just getting into east side elk, but I can comment on how it works for me deer hunting. With still hunting there is so much to talk about, but I will try to narrow it down. 1) If you worry about the wind, it will be hard to go where you want to. Keep windage in mind, but put your eggs in the de-scent basket. Buy de-scent products. Do all of your clothes, socks, shoes etc... and spray it on everything else including bow, binocs, accessories etc..You can even get de-scent tooth paste, but I have opted with not breathing through my mouth. I have had deer down wind and not even know I was there because of my de-scent routine. Wind hasn't ruined me in a long time.

2) Only take two steps, then look up and scan your surroundings. This cannot be emphasized enough. Your scenery changes a lot every few steps (especially in timber) so an animal could come right into view with only a single step. Take light steps, and think about getting shoes or boots that will not make much noise.

3) Where face paint (especially for archery), and as soon as you see an animal you must fight the urge to stalk toward it. When you see the animal, do nothing. Watch and see if it will come to you. If it isn't coming within range, then contemplate how you will close the distance. However, before you move forward, wait and look around to make sure there aren't more animals you haven't yet seen. This has happened to me a lot where you start to close the distance and another bedded buck jumps up and ruins it.

4) If you cannot get close enough, or worry that you will probably spook the animal under the circumstances, then don't move forward. Wait for another day, because an animal spooked by a predator on the ground will run a long way--perhaps out of your hunting area.

5) Still hunting should only be done at a place and time when the animals will be on their feet, and where there is adequate cover for you to move around without sticking out like a soar thumb. Bedded animals are extremely hard to stalk.

Remember that still hunting is extremely difficult. Don't get frustrated if you scare some animals. My most exciting still hunts did not end with an arrow in a buck. Last year I was staring down a big 4 by 4 who just never got close enough. He came within 50 yards but I cannot shoot accurately at that distance. Hope this helps!

[Rick]

Most every one of my hunts involve still hunting at some point. I can't sit and glass for hours on end.  I killed last years bull at 29 paces in the timber.

[singleshot12]

Most everyone still hunted before baiting became the norm. It is a lost art. I enjoy still hunting because I can stay in tune with nature by using all the senses. Nothing more gratifying than harvesting an animal fair chase.

[xXLojackXx]

Move slow, and when you think you're going slow enough, slow down some more. Don't still hunt through a wide open space, but know when to still hunt through good areas. Check the wind often, breeze squeeze bottles are cheap insurance. Use binoculars even in thick timber.

[Special T]

I usually still hunt for archery deer. I wear fleece and only move slowly. If you cant breath through your nose your going too fast!

[grundy53]

Move slow, and when you think you're going slow enough, slow down some more. Don't still hunt through a wide open space, but know when to still hunt through good areas. Check the wind often, breeze squeeze bottles are cheap insurance. Use binoculars even in thick timber.

Exactly. I mostly still hunt. Especially for elk. I have a hard time going slow and it has cost me..... a lot . You can't go too slow.

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[trophyhunt]

Move slow, and when you think you're going slow enough, slow down some more. Don't still hunt through a wide open space, but know when to still hunt through good areas. Check the wind often, breeze squeeze bottles are cheap insurance. Use binoculars even in thick timber.

Exactly. I mostly still hunt. Especially for elk. I have a hard time going slow and it has cost me..... a lot . You can't go too slow.

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and I go with my gut quite a bit, if I have a feeling I'm in the right place, I can sit for hours.  I just trust my gut mostly.

[Okanagan]

My still hunting is sort of a moving stand, except that in poor percentage spots like big wide open spaces, an impossible tangle of brush, or certain kinds of sterile old growth, then I walk quickly till I slow into a primo area.    I carry 8x32 binos and glass a LOT after one step or a few, especially in close thick brush where binos allow you to focus into and behind the near layers of twigs.  Have spotted things like an ear, 2 square inches of elk hair, etc. inside of 40 feet. 

Still hunting is the old traditional way to hunt, but less effective on whitetails especially than boring tree stands if the stand is placed well.   

Oops, got off topic into deer more than elk so deleted some.

[Ingwe]

Still hunting is most fun way to hunt but I think it is becoming a lost art. I grew up hunting deer and elk in big timber. Got most of my deer and elk at 20yds to 100 yds. I was lucky that I started hunting elk when there was still a lot of old growth timber to hunt. If you were still hunting or tracking elk and wind changed you backed out and tried again next day. lots of good memories of those hunts.

[jasnt]

I love still hunting( my most successful method). I prefer silent clothing like fleace. I like low power optics. I don't use any scent reduction as I'm a smoker, playing the wind is my best option. All my deer but one was killed at 40 yards or less with a rifle

[Nice Racks]

100 yards per hour is what I grew up with in Pa. Haven't tried it out here for elk or deer yet, but plan to try it this year.