Not stalking as in following a celebrity around like some kind of loser... :( but sneaking up on game, such as deer, using stealth.

Anyone done this style of hunting, or do you have experience in stalking deer etc just a sport???

Well, I have done a bit of the stalking thing, but never really tried to hunt the deer (except a couple of shots with a sling).  I can tell you a few things; a deer's brain is not good at shape recognition, so if the deer sees you, make sure it does not see your arms, and it will not know what you are, and won't run away.  Go in the morning, and try to find out wind direction.  There are loads of things to remember.  And tracking the deer itself is very difficult; it is possible to tell a few things from tracks, like the gender of the animal, but it is actually very difficult to tell when the animal made the track.  Try to find some books on it, or something.

Douglas

Stalking is an art. The term is mostly used to indicate that you have located the animal of interest and that you are attempting to get closer to it.
Still hunting is that term used for moving through an area looking for game which you have not spotted yet. Both share certain techniques. english is correct about keeping the animal from seeing you arms, but in a more general sense use every method to break up your outline. Work facing and moving toward the wind and the game to hide your sent. Use all natrual cover and topography to help hide you as you move. You want to keep the game barely in sight. Never stare at game, somehow they can sense it. And most of all do not walk in a manor that creates any kind of rythme, it spooks game every time. Take a step or two rest take a step rest take two short steps rest take one long step, that sort of thing. If you create a rythme when you move you will spook the game long before you can either see it or get close to it. Listen for all the natural sounds around you when they have stoped everything it that area knows you are there, and you've done something wrong. The best thing to do when getting into an area you want to work in is sit down and listen for 5 to 10 minuets this allows the animals to return to what they normally do and it gives you a chance to hear what that area "sounds" like at that time of day. The basics are really quite simple after that it's a matter of pratice pratice pratice. Hope this helps

WalkingBird

Well put WalkingBird... Tracking and stalking are things that take alot of practice. Also tracking helps when looking for missing sling ammo as well.

There is a deer that comes along some days and eats my mum's flowers.  It just so happened that I was in the house during the day and saw said deer.  I ran outside, and it bolted, but it was evidently a stupid and forgetful creature because I managed to follow it to the woods near the house.  It was a small deer, but it's coat was quite red, so it was fairly distinctive and there was a lot of sunshine.  I remembered all the things said here and didn't stare, didn't make a definite shape and made sure I was never shadowed or silouetted.  I followed it for some time, before realising that I had no weapons to kill it, and that even if I did, it would be illegal etc.  But it was fun just stalking it.

I assume you are in England. Was that a Red Deer or a Roe deer? It's a lot of fun, you feel close to nature when you do that, don't you?

I wonder how you would creep up on a pair of deer, while they're browsing. If one eats, the other could watch... Might make for a real challenge...

Years ago I tracked two deer for about 3 hours. When I was about 20 feet from them I jumped out from behind a tree and yelled "booga booga". I thought for sure one of the pair had a heart attack. Nature paid me back later when I thought I was creaping up on a noisy hiker...Turned out to be a bear. Lucky for me it paniced a ran off leaving me ghost white and wide eyed in the woods. I must have aged 10years in under 10 seconds that day.

There is a good book on tracking. Though I was taught by another guy and IMHO Tom Brown can be a bit preachy...His book "The Science and Art of Tracking" is a pretty good nuts and bolts take on tracking. (ISBN # 0-425-15772-5)

I have killed two deer using the stalking method. Watch were you step, keep the wind in your favorer and you can get pretty close to deer. As for the looking at the deer I think this is wrong. Both of my deer i killed i staired right at them and smiled from ear to ear ( no face mask. there was no time to put one on ) It is a bad habit but everything i have ever killed i smile from ear to ear. First deer was 15 yards a way. The other was 45 yards away both with a bow. Also i have heard that when deer's head are down it is very hard for them to catch you move. That dosn't mean to run at them when their heads are down but move slowly. Watch out for other deer also because their is safety in numbers

Still hunting with a bow is my prefered method. Often I'll use the terrain and folliage to cover my stalk. For instance, if I know where an animal is, I'll move until a large rock or tree is between me and the animal or at least covers its direct line of sight and hearing to me then head straight for him. Another one is if I can see their direction of travel, I'll make a large semi circle around their route to get a head of them. Then I just sit patiently as they walk within range. Deer and other Cervids are amazing animals, completely built to evade predators. They can smell you from up to a mile away, have impecable hearing, and their eyes are sensitive to UV light. Most commercial detergents contain UV dyes to brighten colors. For deer this means you tend to glow bright blue, particularily durning dusk and dawn, prime hunting times.  That's why I like archery, it forces you to really respect the animals abilities and take much greater care to effect a clean, quick, kill.  My rifle will reach out to 1000 yards, but there is just something much more rewarding about playing the game closer to the deer's terms, whether succesful in harvesting an animal or not.

Well put reply Nwmanitou,  my sentiments exactly......it seems you have been applying those same skills to the forum as of late......work projects got you squeezed for time?  ;)    I too have had rifles that will reach out to 1000yrds.......however I was able to bag game out to only 600 or so. :-[  I have loved bowhunting for the same reasons you cited.   When I designed a CO2 powered arrow gun it was out of love for the hunt, yet I quickly became bored as it took all the challenge out of it.   That is why I redoubled my efforts with the sling and other primitive hunting methods.....upon revisiting my old friend, the sling,  I realized just what a mistake it was to have put it aside for so long.   Your particular style has proven just the cathartic shot in the arm I needed to get my creative juices going again.  I hope to produce a video showcasing the effectiveness of the sling for hunting a variety of game.  

Yup, things have been busy. We are still unpacking from our recent move. Which move we had to pause for a week while my brother was visiting. Then two days after he left, my sister stayed for the weekend, and finaly, this weekend we have to fly out to attend my other sister's college graduation. Pile on top of that some tight deadlines at work, and well, not much time to do much. I think I'm getting the bug again though. I may be pulling my bow out and waxing the string soon.

On a side note, I took my brother shooting while he was here. I borowed my friends AR-15 to add a little variety to the usual arsenal I haul out there. We went through about $50 of ammunition and one exploding target (BOOM ;D). Now here's the interesting part; I pulled out my sling and within 5 minutes everyone at the pit stopped shooting and crowded around to watch me sling stones. Nevermind my fancy sniper rifle, or the AR-15 with the 40rnd bannana clip, they were absolutely enthrawled by two bits of string and a leather pouch. This is the second time in as many trips to the shooting pit that the sling has captured everyone's attention.

I am blistering with envy......which would be giving way to weeping pustules if you had only added that everyone had gathered round to watch you set off that exploding target with a single cast of your sling! :)

Maybe next time you could attach your sling and have a sling for your AR. When you run out of bullets take the Sling off of the AR, and sling. Tell everyone that it is you last resort.

it is true not to stare, but also keep in mind that in the class of mammals, predators have both eyes on the front of their heads, (people, dogs, cats, etc.) this is how animals can sense friend from foe(in general) if you only let the animal see one side of your face or quickly scan the area as if you dont see the animal it will not feel as frightened/intimidated
this has worked for me, i have walked up about 10 feet from a rabbit before and it would continue eating/grazing and when i looked straight at it, it froze, and ran away, so this proves as a factor in stalking animals in my opinion

this is after my first hunt here in oregon
I am back from hunting, no deer this time; just a lot of experience. Hunting the pacific north west wilderness is an experience. The top layers of the forest floor are twigs, then moss followed by decaying everything. So you have to walk in a special way heel down first followed by toes pushing twigs out of the way so as not to snap any twigs.
Of all logs you step on, 80% crunch under your weight. Most of the terrain is at a 40-degree incline so often you must use three points of balance to stay balanced.
Then the little antalope squirrels in the wild, they are natures tattle tale. They have a call that sounds like a bird tweet. If they see you, they tweet; therefore to stalk a deer you must stalk the squirrels so they don't see you. So you can get to the deer.
So still-hunting takes a bit of practice. I did find a thicket where the deer were bedding for the day. What is some times called a deer super highway is a high use deer trail going in and out of the thicket. It ran across this plateau on the side of the mountain. There was a natural moss covered bunker above the trail. So I took shelter in this, waiting for the deer as I arrived there late in the morning. I could here the deer in the thicket.
The young buck were rattling their antlers and so forth. They came out that night a good hour after dark. Next morning they went in a good hour before sunrise. Can't legally shoot them in the dark. No way to get in the thicket during the day without running them out. Just a story of not doing enough scouting a head of time, but I learned so much and it was a lot of fun.

I have stalked deer and foxes quite a lot.  Deer tend to be a bit jumpy, but it is easy to get within ten metres.  I have been stalking animals for fun rather than for hunting for quite a while now - I have been close enough to be able to poke deer with a stick numerous times.  It would be so easy to kill one - but of course, that is illegal.  I have followed deer through a whole wood many times - if you make a mistake, then it is easy to follow fresh tracks to near the deer, and once you are near, it is easy to find the deer again.  I like stalking in late autumn, because it is easiest to see the animals, and they are often very active, searching for food and other things.  No broad foliage makes it very easy - but last autumn, I knew hardly any of the stuff I know now.  Can't wait for autumn to start.  My favourite season.

You guy should try to do some stalking in Arkansas. When it turns fall hear all the leaves fall. Then we get one of the arkansas winter days of 85 so all the leaves get extremly dry. So you can't walk in the woods without sound like a bear. I have even notice that deer sound extremly loud when they walk thru the woods. Your best bet is to get some kind of stalking shoe. They slip over you shoe and they work great. I guess they do about the same as moccasians.

Well, however you do stalking, it is still one of the most useful survival techniques to be able to do - weapons are comparitively easy by comparison.  You use a hefty throwing stick for hunting game or a longrifle, but however you do it, you have to have the same skill - that of being able to get close to game.  I'd love a pair of mocassins (I want some deerhide actually, to tan and make mocassins and other things) but it is still fine to do it in regular shoes.

hey if any one knows how to make mocassins let me know i would like to make some. :)

I know how to make moccasins, but the thing is not skill, but availability of buckskin for producing real ones.  Making them out of paper is easy.

i have leather that work?

I have always used rubber slippers with thin souls helps keep your sent of the ground.
I recently saw some amazing things done in bare feet
such as three mile climb up the side of a mountain across loggs and all i was rather impressed. and jealous

Yeah, I'm sure leather would work.  It's better if it's brain-tanned, but vegetable tanned, like most leather is, should be ok, I guess.  There are plenty of designs to use, like the Creek moccasins on www.nativetech.org.  They look quite difficult as compared to other styles I've seen.  And remember that with moccasins, breakages are very common.  The sole will wear thin or rip after about a day of rough use.  Native Americans spent the day walking in moccasins and the evening repairing them.  Keep that in mind when choosing a style to use.

it used to be a common practice to glue on new soles on the bottom of hide moccassins using hide glue

This practise only works for short amount of time as it makes the soles of the moccasins too thick to be of any use - why not just use shoes?  The Apaches glued on another, extra sole with pine resin, which was daubed on in a thick layer to further prevent damage.  Living in rocky country, this was strongly advised.

wow climed a mountan in bare feet...I go in my bare feet alot i can run on rocks and i have very thick calous but i dont think i could do that....

i think moccasins are cool and i would like to make boot moccasins. moccasins as big as boots with a thick sole so i would not have to keep resowing them.  i know i will have to fix them often but not as often.

hey i had a look at www.nativetech.org and they do look hard to make. i have a friend who knows how to make him i think i may ask him. The only reason i asked you guys is that i ask him for alot haha. Oh well thanks for the info

There are some good moccasin designs in "Mountain Man Crafts and Skills", by David Montgomery, I think.

ok ill have to find that thanks.

English,
What are the hunting regulations like in England?  It sounds like it's completely outlawed.  Maybe tags are just hard to get?  

Stalking is something that can't really be explained with words: to become good at it you just have to do it.  The location matters a LOT also: for instance, I like in Nevada, US, where most of the time there's nothing but two foot sage brush and every once in a while some aspen or juniper.  It definately takes some different techniques than Oregon or England.  

Hunting regulations in England would be considered draconian in America.  Bowhunting is illegal, except for hunting vermin.  You have to have a gun, and a good permit for it, as well as the right type of ammunition, and you can only hunt deer with a rifle.  Also, gun ownership is strictly regulated.  But stalking is allowed - it just means that you don't end up with meat at the end of all of it.  I have tracked and stalked foxes and deer for a few miles in the woods and forests, and I think it probably makes it easier to get close to animals if you aren't hunting them because you don't have expectations so high, and you won't be worrying about getting the right shot, that kind of thing, so you will be more relaxed, and relaxation is vital when it comes to stalking.

back to quick moccassins how about two squirrle hides skinned sock style pulled right over the feet
it's in john mccpheasons book naked into the wilderness can't remeber if it's one or two

They would have to be two huge squirrels for me. size 14.

You know what they say about guys with big hand and big feet don't you?
They make good clowns.   ;D ;D ;D

Hhahahha thats what i say too gun. People say i have massive boat feet and i tell them the same thing.

haha very few people get that one.

It is very nervewracking to stalk when your hunting: especially after you've waited for days to find the deer and you know that one mistake could send them bounding off before you get a shot.  

But thats all the fun in it. That also why it is called hunting and not killing because you don't kill something every time you go out.

Yeah, but imagine what it would be like for a stone age hunter - everything hanging on the kill.
 I find that if an animal goes bounding off, it is best to wait a little while, maybe five minutes, for it to calm down and that kind of thing - deer tend not to go very far (foxes do, though) because they are stupid and forgetful, and because they are running faster than normal, they leave deeper tracks, and therefore easier to find.
 Tracking is the bigger brother of stalking - much more difficult, easily confused and sometimes more important.  Some tracks are easy to identify, like deer hooves, dog tracks, foxes (furry, smaller dog tracks), and some other animals like birds and squirrels.  If you can't find the deer (tracking), you can't get close to it (stalking), and can't get an accurate shot at it (killing).  So all these things are inter-connected, accuracy, stalking skills and tracking skills.  (Of course, if you live in a game rich environment, it may be possible to simply come across various animals).