How fast is too fast for still hunting?

[Getembearsomeday]

I want to make sure I'm not wasting my time going too slow while still hunting for bears. I've been taking three steps, pause for 10 seconds or so, then another three steps. Its tedious and very slow going. How fast do you guys move when you are walking the forest roads vs in the thick brush? Or is sitting and waiting at a promising site the only good way to get a bear?

[7mmfan]

Thats a loaded question.  If I'm in really good sign, or area that I've had encounters in the past, then I move quite slow. I will stand in one spot for 5-10 minutes or more to listen and watch. Move 10-20', do it again. If I feel like i'm in good ground but not seeing sign, I'll move a little faster. It's not worth spending your time in a spot with no sign just hoping to see one.

Bears tend to be pretty noisy, but can also be quiet as a mouse. I remember listening to one for 5 minutes nibbling berries not 15 yards from me and thinking it was a squirrel. It finally did something that caught my attention and made me realize what I was hearing.

They can also be curious. If they hear you, or sense your presence, and then you go silent for an extended period of time, they might come investigate. Blacktail deer are notorious for this as well.

This isn't square dancing, there's no rules to it. Be adaptable and base your movements on your current situation.

[nwmein199]

I am by no means any expert but my goal when still hunting is being completely silent. Go as fast as you can with still being completely silent and wind in your face. Stopping frequently to scan and observe like you are doing. I still hunt for elk on the west side. Sometimes you are in-between "good" elk areas and I wouldn't want to waste any time in the in-between spots only taking 3 steps every 10min. So I pick up the pace through the "in-between" spots but still remain silent.

Type still hunting into the search bar too, there have been some really helpful topics on it in the past on here.

Good luck!!

[300rum]

A good rule-of-thumb that I have always used is that it should take me about 15 minutes to get across the distance comparable to a two lane road. 

[Alchase]

I have found as much game with my ears as with my eyes still hunting.
Can’t hear a whole lot when I am moving to much.

[Jellymon]

If you’re not covering the brake pedal, you’re moving too fast. You want to be moving just slow enough to be able to slam it into park so you can keep a good shooting lane. 

[greenhead_killer]

Oh buddy, this is my style! Like said before it’s a loaded question. Depends on the scenario. A lot of times I’ll stand in the same place for 20-30 mins and just listen, while slowly looking back and forth. If you’re in sign, treat it almost like a sit. Moving as little as possible. Those critters live there, eventually something will come around. I’ve killed the majority of my deer still hunting and have only killed one of 20ish deer over 100 yards, majority on the east side of the state or out of state. Nothing on west side. But same style would apply.

[greenhead_killer]

Sorry realized was in bear section, but same rules apply

[bornhunter]

As soon as you think you are foing slow enough, slow down.

[Bango skank]

As soon as you think you are foing slow enough, slow down.

 
If you have to ask, youre going too fast.

[bearpaw]

If you see the animals before they are seeing you then you are going slow enough. If the animals are already looking at you or running when you see them you are going to fast.

[dreadi]

Last weekend I covered 3 miles in 6 hours while sneaking up on elk to observe them within 20-60 yards. Seemed slow enough.

[WAcoueshunter]

If you see the animals before they are seeing you then you are going slow enough. If the animals are already looking at you or running when you see them you are going to fast.

I think that’s a good way of thinking about it. Yes, you need to go slow, but you also want to cover some ground. More ground = more opportunity, just need to make sure you are slow, quiet and observant enough to not blow it out before you get there.

[Seabass]

If you see the animals before they are seeing you then you are going slow enough. If the animals are already looking at you or running when you see them you are going to fast.

That's the ticket right there! It's not more complicated than that. Of course, you have to be around animals to know that's true.

[boneaddict]

If you see the animals before they are seeing you then you are going slow enough. If the animals are already looking at you or running when you see them you are going to fast.

About as simple as that , or just assume you are going too fast, because 9 out of 10 times, you probably are.

[buckfvr]

99.9% of hunters arent patient enough to go slow enough........even in the timber, use binos as you proceed to each new view, no matter how small.  Look for ears/horns of bedded animals as that is often times all you will see at first.

[birddogdad]

If you see the animals before they are seeing you then you are going slow enough. If the animals are already looking at you or running when you see them you are going to fast.

  yup if your bumping more than you are seeing your too fast...

[steeleywhopper]

When you think you are going slow enough go slower

[Magnum_Willys]

In my 30's it was cover a lot of ground and bump and shoot - worked well.   As eye-sight fades and hearing drops off its really simple - you are only hunting when you are stopped.  Find a spot or go spot to spot.  No reason to waste a lot of time getting from spot to spot because you aren't hunting when moving anyway. 

[300rum]

Proverbs 17:1