Outdoors - Deer Stalker

   The most common way to hunt deer with a bow is from a tree stand, though this is not the only way it can be done. A few people like to hunt from a ground blind and even fewer will attempt to stalk deer. There are advantages and disadvantages to all types of hunting.

   The tree stand provides the maximum amount of concealment. Deer rarely look up in the trees for signs of danger. A person’s scent is usually carried up and away, so deer are not spooked. The disadvantage is that a tree stand must be placed where the deer are going to travel. It is a waiting game to see if the deer you wish to harvest will pass by in range. A tree stand has the added point of fear if a person is afraid of heights. Climbing into a swaying tree in the pre-dawn darkness of a windy morning can make a person consider the sanity of their chosen sport.

   The ground blind has the safety of being on the ground rather high in a tree. If a person falls asleep in their ground blind, they just miss any deer passing by rather than falling out of their tree and killing themselves. There is a greater chance of deer scenting a person, and it is not easily moved if the deer are not passing by within range.

   Stalking is basically walking through the woods in attempt to get into range of unsuspecting deer. Stalking requires skill and a large measure of luck. Stalking has the advantage of being mobile and able to go where the deer are located if they are not coming to you. A person stalking loses the advantage of concealment. Deer have better senses of hearing, smell and sight than do humans. A person must learn to move quietly and slowly downwind of the area they wish to hunt, watching intently for any sign of deer.

   I recall one hunt several years ago, I was hunting from a ground blind. After a few hours, a nice buck and two does finally appeared well out of range of my bow. I waited for another half hour or so for them to come closer, but the does bedded down where they were. I decided to put on the big stalk.

   Closing the distance by carefully keeping trees between me and the buck, I was moving into range. When I eased around a large oak, drawing my bow, the buck spotted me. He was not sure of the danger I represented and just trotted away into the pasture. The does got up and walked off to my right unaware of my presence. I knew there was a weedy draw in the pasture just over the first knoll. Since he was not scared, he may go hide in the tall grass. With the wind still in my face, I moved slowly and quietly out of the timber and into the open pasture. I crawled on all fours to the top of the knoll to where I could stay behind a small cedar tree. Slowly peaking over the edge. I searched for any sign of the buck for several minutes. Suddenly, I saw sunlight flash off a polished antler in the tall grass. He was perfectly camouflaged against the background of dry weeds. When he turned his head away, I quietly rose, drew my bow, and let the arrow fly. With a solid hit to the chest, he ran a few yards and crumpled in the pasture.

   I was lucky in that the wind was in my favor and most of the final stalk was in the pasture where I was walking and crawling on grass rather than snapping twigs and noisy leaves. It is not always successful, but when it is, stalking a deer is quite a rush.