Section 1: Types of Hunting
Hunting is as much an art as it is a sport or a hobby. There are literally dozens of methods of hunting and just as many weapons available to those who embark on the adventure. Hunting techniques vary according to the game, its habitat, and in some cases even the regulations of the area of your hunt. They are governed by strict rules on the equipment used and the behavior to adopt.
Methods of hunting land critters are typically broken down into categories: Still Hunting and Stand Hunting.
Still Hunting (Otherwise known to the outdoor-oriented as “Spot & Stalk”) is a common method of hunting used to hunt North American big game species such as deer, elk, bear, and feral hogs. “Still Hunting” (Not calling it Spot & Stalk is a bit foreign) is the process of hunting an animal by sneaking into habitats where the animal lives, breeds, or engages in otherwise typical critter activity and trying to spot the animal before the animal spots you. This is done by tracking animals down by looking for their tracks, droppings, mating signs, etc., following these signs very carefully, locating an animal and then planning your stalk on said animal. This is a very popular method to obtain meat, however does take skill and practice as well as a high-tolerance for frustration.
When following the animal signs, it is important to walk very slowly and very quietly while constantly scanning for movement and wildlife and even taking several hour breaks to perch in a favorable position to scan the terrain with your ‘Knockers (Binoculars for the casual hunter) in a method referred to as “Glassing”. It is also important to stop frequently to watch and listen for wildlife around you as well as being aware of wind direction, because if the wind is blowing in the direction that you are walking, it is likely that the animal that you are hunting will smell you (use the term “Catch Wind of you” if you want to seem seasoned) and scurry or “spook” before you ever come into contact with the animal.
Here are a few quick tips for a (Hopefully) successful Spot & Stalk (or “Still Hunt” if you’re still using that lingo) and really, to some extend, all hunting in general:
1. Elevation.
Find an elevated vantage point, such as trees, rocks or hilly terrain. Check the area thoroughly (Typically 45min at LEAST). If you see nothing, move to another vantage point and check the next area.
2. Fresh Tracks.
Look for fresh tracks and sign, moving slowly, walking a few steps at a time, and stopping often to scan and study the surroundings. Always be ready to shoot, if it feels right. You never know when a critter could present itself to be the next addition to your freezer.
3. Wind Direction.
Know your wind direction to avoid an animal catching your scent as you approach. Stay downwind of the animal (the wind is in your face) to avoid being detected. You can buy fancy gear to help with this, but some dusty dirt thrown into the air does the trick.
3. Walk quietly through the terrain.
Avoid stepping on sticks and other debris that could make noise and alert animals to your presence and spook them. Wet or damp conditions create better stalking conditions because the terrain becomes quieter when leaves, pine cones and other woodland debris are wet, soggy and less brittle. Nothing is worse than getting into shooting distance and leaning on a twig.
5. Clothing.
Dress comfortably in soft, quiet, scent-free clothing so you can move freely with ease and stealth. (Will cover this more in the next section labeled “Gear”)
6. Tune into your senses.
Listen to all the sounds around you, as they might reveal an animals’ location. Animal sounds can indicate other critters are aware of you, such as squirrels chattering, crows cawing, elk barking or deer snorting.
7. Vision.
Look around to detect shapes, colors and movements that identify prey. Peripheral vision — seeing what is off to your sides when looking ahead — also helps quite a bit. Glassing is the best thing a hunter can get good at besides placing a good shot. A good hunter will spend 70% of his Still Hunt watching and looking. When you get really good, you’ll be able to notice a ear-flick of a mule deer in a spruce thicket or be able to see a whitetail’s back-end on a snowy ridgeline.
8. Dress lightly and strategically.
Do not dress too heavily or you’ll make some noise and larger movements. You’ll also sweat, which could make it easier for animals to smell the human stink. Quality boots are a must and a hat with a bill helps shield your face from the sun’s glare.
9. Stay calm and collected.
Let this speak for itself. If your breathing quickens and your heart starts racing, stop and regain your composure before resuming the stalk. As exciting as it is, I promise you; it’s loads more exciting when you walk up on a fresh kill.
Stand hunting is likely the most common form of hunting used today when hunting for most North American big game species. Stand hunting is when the hunter is stationary in one location and waits for the animal to come to them. Hunters often use tree-stands, ground blinds, and tripod stands to make the hunt more comfortable and to make it harder for the wildlife to spot them. The locations where hunters chose to stand hunt varies greatly. Often hunters will set up a stand near a food source that their target animal species is coming to for food (Be careful of this, read your area’s hunting Regulations to be sure baiting is allowed). Hunters will also stand hunt along game trails, and even near water sources in drier climates. The stand hunting method is also the fundamental method used when using baiting techniques or for a first time hunter that may not find it appealing to walk many miles in a Spot & Stalk or doesn’t have all the gear.
Here are a few quick techniques to improve your chances with Stand Hunting:
1. Pre-Season Scouting
Knowing where to set up your blind is likely the biggest factor in scoring on the creature you’re hunting for. For example, a mature deer simply doesn’t travel in the open, and the game trails snaking through dense cover are always a better option for locating trophy antlers or that big meat buck you’re looking for.
2. Set Up Well in Advance
Setting up a blind or a tree stand before you plan to hunt from it can help maximize its effectiveness. Deer, elk, and other animals will avoid new objects in their area until they are proven to be mundane. Setting up your Stand a couple of weeks before the hunting season allows the new smells and outlines to become part of the familiar territory that your desired critter inhabits.
3. Camouflage It
This is important. Don’t just settle for a blind set up on a fence line or ridge top or in a strip of trees. Blend it into the environment with brush, grass, cattails or whatever natural vegetation is handy. Most quality blinds have straps or cords to attach natural camouflage and help your blind disappear. Fresh-cut tree limbs and bunches of grass or straw also help veil the smell of your blind. Some blinds come with carbon odor suppressors, but there are still smells from manufacturing, packaging and travel that take time to dissipate. The best way to make it scent free is to leave it set up outdoors in the elements. Over time it becomes part of the habitat in both sight and smell.
4. Play the Wind and Sun
No matter how hard you try to cover or hide human scent, a critter can still detect it. Seasoned hunters know to stage upwind of their quarry whenever possible to circumvent an animals’ incredible nose. When you locate an active game trail being used by a big buck (for example), try to find a spot to set up your blind downwind with the sun behind you. If the early-morning sun is shining on your face, you will glow like a light bulb when looking out of the windows. This might mean setting up different blinds for hunting the morning and evening, depending on prevailing winds and sunrise or sunset locations. Dress in dark clothing to take advantage of the dark cave you are creating. Wear a facemask or put on some camo makeup to gain yet another advantage.
Calls are another commonly used method of hunting, and maybe one of the most important tools while out there. The technique of calling can be a very effective. Calling is the process of using game calls or some other instrument to replicate the sounds of the animal that you are hunting. Game calls are especially effective during the desired species’ mating season, when the males are hot & heavy and keeping an ear out for a female or another male stepping to their territory. During this time, animal mating calls can be a sure fire way to lure in an animal that is within earshot of you.
The most common calls used when hunting deer are grunt calls, bleat calls, and rattling antlers. The grunt call can be aggressive buck grunts that would attract a buck that is looking to display his dominance, while bleat calls mimic the sound of a doe that is looking for a buck to breed her. Rattling antlers imitate the sound of two bucks fighting and can lure other bucks in to see what the commotion is all about. All game have different sounding calls and different methods of calling.
Here are a few quick-hit Hunting Methods, some covered here already and some short enough to self-explain:
- Baiting is the use of decoys, lures, scent or food to attract targeted animals.
- Camouflage is concealing oneself visually, or with scent, to blend in with the environment.
- Dogs may be used to help flush, herd, drive, track, point at, pursue, or retrieve animals.
- Game drive system was a prehistoric hunting strategy where game were herded into areas where they could be hunted in groups.
- Driving is the herding of animals in a particular direction, as over a cliff or to other hunters.
- Flushing is the practice of scaring targets from concealed areas.
- Spotlighting is the use of artificial light to find or blind targets before capture. Modern lighting also includes IR and other devices.
- Tracking is the practice of interpreting physical evidence to pursue animals.
- Trapping is the use of devices (e.g., snares, pits, deadfalls) to capture or kill an animal.
