Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: snohohunter on May 27, 2008, 12:24:42 PM
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This will be my first year archery hunting, as I've hunted most of my life with a rifle.
I'm hoping we can start a thread about archery tactics...stalking, tree stands, etc. Like I said...it's my first year, and I'm looking for advice on how to be successfully with a bow. By nature, I'm usually a hiker. I get out quite a ways, and usually don't like sitting a specific spot for 8 hours a day.
How does everyone hunt, how are you successfully/unsuccessful, etc, etc.?
Thanks!
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For elk I will hike out a trial or in some cases just off through the woods to some spots we know about 5 to 7 miles in and get away from the crowds... Then get on a ridge top and bugle an hour or so before daylight or right at daylight and listen in both canyons or all directions and then get the wind right and make a stalk if we have one answer... If not just start glassing and see if you can spot something. Also sitting on wallows mid-day can be productive if its being hit regularly - treestand or on the ground work good it just depends how deep you are in. Furthermore if you can find a tree that is in a heavily traveled area or rutting grounds and post up in a treestand it can be very productive as thats how I got my elk this year. We have taken 3 bulls over 300 out of the same treestand 3 years in a row! So they do work if your in the right spot! There are many more methods and things we do but those are the basics...
and most importantly - learn how to use your elk calls and understand what each sound and bugle means! That is a huge part of being successful!
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When whitetail hunting - go over in late november in the snow and find the heavily traveled trails and put up a treestand and sit in it all day long... morning till dark and you will kill a buck! If you have 5 or so days and sit in a few different stands over that period you stand a good chance at a nice buck!
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Sometimes hunting pressure can work to your benefit. I sit on a particular game trail for a couple of hours in the am. Then start hiking after that. Killed elk the last two years in a row from the same exact spot. Had two more opportunities in that same spot before each kill. Its definetly a main trail they travel when pushed from other areas.
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I'm in the same situation as Snohohunter so I would like to hear some more tips. Especially some west-side deer on public land.
I am gearing up and practicing at the range so that I can bowhunt in September.
Some questions are-
Do you hunt with a buddy? If so, do they stick with you or go hunt away from you?
Where do you take your deer for processing?
As I was raised in Texas, I have hunted in blinds on feeders but I have also done a lot of spot and stalk but always with a rifle. I am interested in the challenge posed by getting within 30 yards of a deer.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Spot and stalk for mule deer is my favorite. I do not have the patience to sit in a stand all day. Besides, have you ever seen a tree stand in a sagebrush :chuckle:
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I hiked & still hunted the mountains for five years fruitless. Put miles on my boots, saw some animals with most alerted to my presence long before I saw them. Last year I smartened up finally. I found a natural funnel between bedding and feeding & set up on stand. I took extra scent precations, opening morning I missed a spike bull & took my first archery animal the next morning. A 4 x3 mule deer. I saw 14 elk & 3 deer in two 3 hour morning sits. Some years marching around I saw nothing. Hunt smart.
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I think eveyone has their own style. Gotta just figure out your style. Some guys can sneak up on anything and others have a hard time. I personally cannot sit on a stand all day(or even an hour). I'd loose my mind. Plus I get more exercise spot and stalk. I think it really depends on what you are hunting as well. I know the whitetail hunters will say you have to sit on a stand. I wouldnt know because I hunt Mule deer.
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I like to set up a tree stand on a trail leading to a orchard. Then I only hunt the afternoons I've killed bear and deer that way.When I have an area with a good food source I like to have one way in and out of it so I don't leave my scent all over the place.I have had a few bears go nocturnal on me cause once they know your around they smarten up really fast.I tried stalking for blacktails but the problem on the westside is the woods are so thick that you make so much noise getting through the brush that you might as well have a bell around your neck.Also like to hunt the corners of clearcuts .Seems the deer like entering there cause they have a good field of view .I guess the best thing to do is see them before they see you.Good luck this year :hunter:
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I like to spot and stalk. For mulies it works pretty well just spot them in the morning and watch them bed. Be careful though because they will usually get up and move when the sun hits them mid morning. Hunting blacktails can be really hard to spot and stalk in september because of its usually so dry and its hard to sneak through a clear cut when its that dry. Just have to find what your good at and go with it.
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When hunting blacktails I usually wait until late season because they have thicker coats and darker horns. Also I will not hunt on a bluebird day, The nastier the weather the better (when its raining or just after a rain) the deer are moving your scent gets knocked down and the noise level is considerably less. I like to hunt ridges with benches and knobs off of them because this is where you will find 90% of the beds. I start at the tops of the ridges moving really slow and paying attention to everthing. Many times even if they see you they will not move unless they feel threatend. If you do jump them you can do two things. 1- Stay put for a while and 50% of the time they will return. 2- listen or see what direction they went in and make a big circle and try to head them off alto of the times they will not go far so it is pretty easy to do. If you have an area that holds a lot of deer you can find a good trail and set up, I have killed several bucks this way. Rattling also works well for them, last year the only day I got to deer hunt here two buddies and I went out. We were out less than 20 min. when we jumped a deer in the heavy brush. I took out the grunt tube and gave a couple baaas on it and a minute later he showed up and took one to the chest with a rifle not a bow. Most of the blacktail I have shot have been with bow. I prefer to bow hunt them because you get better seasons and longer at that. Once you get them figured out and find a good spot you should have it pretty easy.
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Thanks for the great replies and keep them coming.
Another question...after you field dress the deer, do you drag it out or carry it out? I'm not exactly sure how much a field dressed mule deer weighs.
Given your comments I think I will put in a few miles of hiking in August to see if I can find some promising trails or funnels.
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Depends how far in you are. My mule deer was easy to drag last year but I was two miles in so I quartered him. If your with someone pretty easy to drag up to a mile, over that I would cut.
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One thing I do as well, is if I need to use the bathroom (1 or 2) I will dig a small hole and go in there and then bury it with as much dirt, needles, etc as possible to help cover the sent up. Not sure if it helps too much, but last year, I really had to go, but didnt want to leave my blind (naturally made) and just dug a small hole, took a whiz and covered it up with dirt, needles (a little away from the blind, so I wasnt sitting in it)...had elk within yards of the blind several times (wind in my favor) after that.
Just a trick...nothing special. Of course, ideally, you would go well before you get to your blind, etc...but sometimes...coffee or water just creeps up on ya.
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I went to the jacobsen elk calling seminar and would highly recommend it to all you new guys. Not only calling but set ups and strategies. I came away with a lot of good information. Ask around for the next one and go. Also get some of the calls, they are Bugling bull game calls. No charge for the class, lasted three hours. Also good videos on setups & calling. ( $12 ) Check it out
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Rockie put on a great show down at Teds shop on thursday! Went off with out a hitch... I will agree that you can always learn something from his shows and video's that he put's out. Very knowledgable guy when it comes to hunting and calling elk. You guys can visit there website for more information on the calls and to purchase them.
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Early season white tail I hunt from a tree stand on a good trail heading to a field, or sit in the
brush on a fence line. Late buck, during the rut, I still hunt...moving inches per minute, and sitting or standing for 5 min to an hour at a time in key locations. There is nothing quite like
having to freeze in mid step for a half an hour while a buck looks around and sniffs and trys
to figure out what doesn't quite fit, all within 10 feet of you! You can't move, your back aches from holding your foot in mid air for so long, and even though the deer is close enough to touch, you have zero chance at getting him because if you blink, he's gone. Oh, that is another trick, when deer are close and looking at you, even if you have a mask on, squint your eyes so you can barely see out, that way if you do blink, it is nearly undetected.
Fun stuff!
