Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Rob Allen on December 08, 2015, 08:01:57 AM

Title: being quiet.
Post by: Rob Allen on December 08, 2015, 08:01:57 AM: This was my first year of deer hunting(rifle) and although i was unsuccessful I had a ton of fun. I loved hunting in the more open forest areas. I spent a LOT of time being as quiet and slow as i possibly could but never say anything. Then there were times when I simply could not be quiet at all, like heading downhill through brush so i'd be making all kinds of noise and those are the times i would actually see animals, of course they were running away and I never got a shot but at least I saw something right?
When i was being quiet I would take 3 steps look and listen for 5-10 seconds then take another 3 steps. If I heard something I'd stop for 5-10 minutes. maybe sit down and watch.

so is there such a thing as too quiet and too slow? is it better to spook an animal than to pass by without even knowing it's there?? would you attempt to follow a deer once you spooked it even if it got out of sight??
would love to hear peoples thoughts or just general discussion about this.
Title: Re: being quiet.
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on December 08, 2015, 08:11:20 AM: Blacktails? Yes you can many times catch up with them and get a shot. But you need to do it very slowly, quietly, and calmly.
Title: Re: being quiet.
Post by: lokidog on December 08, 2015, 08:20:05 AM: I think if you reread your post, you will answer your own question....

Open area - quiet walking - no deer OR open area=no deer

Brush - noisy - deer OR brush=deer

Figure out a way to be quieter when you hunt the area where the deer actually are. :)
Title: Re: being quiet.
Post by: rtspring on December 08, 2015, 08:28:54 AM: If your seeing fresh sign, but no deer your moving to fast.
Title: Re: being quiet.
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 08, 2015, 08:41:27 AM: Elk will sometimes stop running after 100-200 yards in thick cover.
Title: Re: being quiet.
Post by: Jonathan_S on December 08, 2015, 09:00:24 AM: Sometimes you have to be gentle and quiet. Other times you have to know when to get aggressive. That goes for any prey.

Whitetail hunting with a rifle or MZ in thick brush: I have killed deer by bumping them and while they are running their 100 yards before stopping to look back, I've charged forward to where I know I'll have an unobstructed shot. In that situation, you're already busted and they can't hear you moving because they are running too.

This year elk hunting, there were a few times when I waited to see what would happen and it cost me multiple shot opportunities on a nice bull.

Too often it's easy to be passive when things are happening and it's tough to make a decision to be aggressive.

Quote from: rtspring on December 08, 2015, 08:28:54 AM
If your seeing fresh sign, but no deer your moving to fast.

Or you're in a nocturnal area (depends on terrain and species)

Quote from: pianoman9701 on December 08, 2015, 08:41:27 AM
Elk will sometimes stop running after 100-200 yards in thick cover.

:yeah: especially when playing cat and mouse with a bull w/ cows. Talk about frustrating!