Level of difficulty: Advanced
Effectiveness: Very successful when executed correctly
Terrain: Ideal for hunting in thick-timbered areas where visibility is limited
Still hunting is not the easiest way to hunt and requires a special kind of hunter. To be successful, you need to be able to move through the forest very, very slowly while you scan the timber with your eyes to locate the game before it sees you.
This varies from traditional stalking, which requires you either follow sign or first have knowledge of where the animals may be located. Here are the steps to follow when still hunting.
- Choose the right firearm. This is a critical step that hunters often overlook. For still hunting, choose a lightweight rifle capable of killing your chosen game animal at close range. Because you will be moving very slowly, the weight of a heavy gun can quickly tire you. Your visibility will be hampered by the dense forest, so consider using open sights or a low-powered scope that gives you a good field of view.
- Choose the best time. Timing is crucial in this type of hunting. It is best to still hunt when the animal is moving, feeding or browsing. Try early mornings and late afternoons when the animal has begun to travel towards its feeding grounds.
- Keep the wind in your face. Most animals have a sense of smell up to 40 times stronger than that of a human. Even though they cannot accurately locate the source of the scent, an animal’s sense of smell alerts it to the presence of danger.
- Pick your path. Look down, and pick out an easy path forward. Your path needs to conceal your movements as well as offer a quiet approach.
- Keep your approach quiet. Unnatural sounds and noises will alarm any wild animal. Remove or fasten items to stop them from making unnatural noises. If you do snap a twig or snag a branch, remain motionless for a few minutes. Keep looking into the woods for animals that might have been disturbed.
- Be patient and vigilant. Take a few steps forward while looking into the forest, not down at the ground. Walk three to five metres, then stop and look into the timber for any sign of an animal. Try and stay out of sight by using ground cover, trees and land contours. Stick to the shadows and do whatever you can to conceal your forward movements. Each step you take will uncover a new section of the forest. The trick is to look more than you walk.
- Mimic the sound of the animals. All animals make sounds when they are feeding and moving. The noises you make should sound natural. Game animals are very inquisitive, and some sounds can actually attract their interest.
