So, yesterday was my second ever deer hunt, my first was last week. Without knowing anybody, I hunt public land. But, there is a big park with a recreation are that does not allow any gun hunting, so I'm OK. Anyway, both times I have been by myself and not owning a tree stand, I choose to actually walk around until I find an area that looks good. Well, we had a bunch of fresh snow where I was at, so finding fresh tracks wasn't a problem. I got up there a little later than I wanted to, but was still early. I start my walk and right off the bat I find fresh tracks. I follow them for a bit, but they lead right into a some manzanita that I can't get into. I continue on and follow most of the tracks that seem really fresh to no avail. Later in the afternoon, I find some really fresh tracks, follow them and come to a spot where this deer goes into the manzanita. Anyway, right where it goes into the brush, there are a bunch of rubbed branches, piss marks all over the ground and maybe 6 different sets of tracks. I decided to stay right there. I was right between oak trees with good lanes to shoot if anything came around. I ranged everything out and my furthest shot would have been 37 yards. Just as I was thinking about leaving, here comes a spike. Here in California, they have to have at least 1 fork to take them. It was about 80 yards and was out for a stroll. It didn't really stop, but it didn't know I was there. I couldn't get to my binos fast enough and it was behind a bunch of trees but I could still see movement. I ended up staying there in the same position, standing for almost 2 and half hours, my question, was I right to wait it out or should I have tried to follow that spike just in case it had a fork on it? Although I am new to bowhunting, I am not some trigger happy guy wanting to shoot anything. I spearfish a lot and you have to get pretty close to shoot some of the big fish we have here, so I don't mind passing in a shot if it's not the right one. Thanks.
One thing that sticks out to me in your narrative is that you never mention the wind direction. That's going to be the most important factor in how you stalk those deer. If they get down wind of you you can pretty much right it off. You were right to stick it out in that spot IF the wind was right for you to be in that spot.
Thanks, Rob, I forgot to mention that. There was very little, if any, wind yesterday. When I was posted up there, the wind was in my face. So I guess anything from behind me might have gone the opposite direction. I was waiting for something to come from the open are that would have been up wind from me. Everytime I was out looking, I made sure to keep the wind in my face.
Those light wind days can be the worst for swirling winds. Probably one of the best investments you can make as a spot-and-stalk or still hunter is a little puff bottle of wind indicator (talc). Move little, look lots and always keep the wind in your face. Good luck with those bigger cousins of our blacktails!
I enjoy staliking too. like they said, check your wind often, walk softly, and use all your senses. stalking to me takes a lot of skill and i enjoy moving around, checking the surroundings. if i havent seen anything for a good period of time, i'll start stalking and blind calling. stalked 4 doe the other evening but couldnt get them any closer than 65 yards and half covered in underbrush
ive stalked within range of quite a few does this year just for fun and the trick i always use is keeping something between me and them.. with the wind in your face and a tree or low brush in between you you can get in range super easy.. keep it in mind
Thanks for all of the pointers, guys. I am back at it again on Sunday. Fortunately, turkey season starts on Saturday, so I think I might devote the morning to some turkey and the rest of the day to find a deer. The other day I saw about 40 turkey just kind of hanging out. We'll see if they want to come home for dinner.
