salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 6,099
- 8,899
Another question for all us hunters: Favourite method?
- Thread starter Blkram
- Start date
beautiful . that looks like bino country . shoot em where ya see em .
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 6,099
- 8,899
Yes, lots of glassing but also looking for other hunters moving on a far ridge. Use their movement to push elk. Most of the time I still can get within 300 yards with a little effort.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,296
- 8,706
"Spot and Stalk" as I've practiced it means getting to a place from which to glass... Spend time there watching likely areas, routes that the game animals are likely to use. Then when one is seen and selected, moving to where the shot can be taken. That movement is the stalk part. I try to mask that movement by dipping below a ridge, behind a tree-line or moving carefully through brush. Sometimes the stalk is pretty much a sprint to get to a firing location. I've used this very successfully on mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk and bear. It's a favorite of mine for sure.
Time to time I've tried hunting from a blind, either ground blind or elevated. It works well. What's interesting to me is how much wildlife can be observed from the blind. The wildlife seems blissfully unaware of my presence. While bear hunting over bait from a ground blind in Idaho I watched dozens of whitetail deer and one good sized bull elk pass near my blind with no clue that I was present. Even got a few photos of them. Worked well and I got a bear. 2023 in the same area, I sat in different blinds every day for a week and didn't even see a bear! Hunting from a blind can be rewarding. Must stay pretty still and quiet and be ready for things to develop quickly.
Pheasant - my favorite by far! I've hunted them two ways - with a group of us pushing through agricultural fields, and some other guys serving as "holders" at the end of the field. Sometimes there were dogs to help, sometimes not. It was a very successful way of taking game and exciting as well.
Hunting with a friend, or one of my sons, and a dog or two is also fun and rewarding. Basically follow the dog's nose, watch for the point... Close with the bird and be ready. My son and I will often alternate flushing the bird and we're pretty good on bringing them down. Once in a while we each shoot twice, emptying our double barrels and the bird flies away. The dog looks at us pretty disgusted with our performance! That's pretty funny. Sometimes we can go after that bird again. Having the dog along adds so much to the hunt.
It's been a long time since I hunted for tree squirrels but I loved it. Take the little Marlin 22 39M or 39A, often loaded with 22 shorts, and move slowly through the fall woods watching ever so carefully for the furry rascals, then take the shot when presented. Did this with my recurve bow and blunt-tip arrows too. I'd like to do that again someday.
It's been fun reading everyone's description of their hunts. I like trying different areas, different ways of hunting. ENJOY!
Guy
Time to time I've tried hunting from a blind, either ground blind or elevated. It works well. What's interesting to me is how much wildlife can be observed from the blind. The wildlife seems blissfully unaware of my presence. While bear hunting over bait from a ground blind in Idaho I watched dozens of whitetail deer and one good sized bull elk pass near my blind with no clue that I was present. Even got a few photos of them. Worked well and I got a bear. 2023 in the same area, I sat in different blinds every day for a week and didn't even see a bear! Hunting from a blind can be rewarding. Must stay pretty still and quiet and be ready for things to develop quickly.
Pheasant - my favorite by far! I've hunted them two ways - with a group of us pushing through agricultural fields, and some other guys serving as "holders" at the end of the field. Sometimes there were dogs to help, sometimes not. It was a very successful way of taking game and exciting as well.
Hunting with a friend, or one of my sons, and a dog or two is also fun and rewarding. Basically follow the dog's nose, watch for the point... Close with the bird and be ready. My son and I will often alternate flushing the bird and we're pretty good on bringing them down. Once in a while we each shoot twice, emptying our double barrels and the bird flies away. The dog looks at us pretty disgusted with our performance! That's pretty funny. Sometimes we can go after that bird again. Having the dog along adds so much to the hunt.
It's been a long time since I hunted for tree squirrels but I loved it. Take the little Marlin 22 39M or 39A, often loaded with 22 shorts, and move slowly through the fall woods watching ever so carefully for the furry rascals, then take the shot when presented. Did this with my recurve bow and blunt-tip arrows too. I'd like to do that again someday.
It's been fun reading everyone's description of their hunts. I like trying different areas, different ways of hunting. ENJOY!
Guy
Vince
Handloader
- May 26, 2012
- 4,810
- 1,558
If you want to hunt South Africa I know a guy that can accommodate you.
Every year he has a client from Ireland that can’t walk come and hunt. If you’re interested give me a PM.
Vince
- Thread starter
- #26
Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,601
- 4,663
Yes, you see more and more outfitters figuring out how to get disabled and others with verry limited mobility into the field to hunt, even in country with hills and ravines!
Very neat and exciting to see these new hunters smile and laugh, not only after a successful hunt, but in just being in the field with great people, having a great time!
On our hunt in SA, even with Susan's mobility issues, the PHs gother into the night shooting chair in the back of the truck (or bakkie as they refer to them) to gout for her jackal. For her black wildebeest, we found a nice thick bush besidE an old watertank out on the open plain near where the wildebeest were bedding regularly during the day. We got there early one morning while they were in a different area, and set up a great ground blind, and cleared it of loose rock for easier walking for Susann, and then brushed it so they could move positions within the bush blind so animals nearby couldn't see their movements. From a spot 500 yards away, you could only find Susan inside that blind if the sun moved and hit her blond hair just right through the branches...but it took my Leicas to pick that up. She got her shot opportunities from that blind. And while waiting was entertained by yellow mongoose, warthogs, guinea fowl, and springbok playing near her in the brush blind. None of them picked up Susan or the PH in the blind, or got their wind.
Very neat and exciting to see these new hunters smile and laugh, not only after a successful hunt, but in just being in the field with great people, having a great time!
On our hunt in SA, even with Susan's mobility issues, the PHs gother into the night shooting chair in the back of the truck (or bakkie as they refer to them) to gout for her jackal. For her black wildebeest, we found a nice thick bush besidE an old watertank out on the open plain near where the wildebeest were bedding regularly during the day. We got there early one morning while they were in a different area, and set up a great ground blind, and cleared it of loose rock for easier walking for Susann, and then brushed it so they could move positions within the bush blind so animals nearby couldn't see their movements. From a spot 500 yards away, you could only find Susan inside that blind if the sun moved and hit her blond hair just right through the branches...but it took my Leicas to pick that up. She got her shot opportunities from that blind. And while waiting was entertained by yellow mongoose, warthogs, guinea fowl, and springbok playing near her in the brush blind. None of them picked up Susan or the PH in the blind, or got their wind.
Wolfshead
Handloader
- Feb 5, 2022
- 375
- 978
That country is absolutely beautiful!
Here in the northeast, I’m in the “FLAT” lands and lucky to see 75 yards, so still hunting or sitting in ambush is the way.
If you’ve spotted them here, you’ve done the stalk already!
The beauty of North America is just breathtaking from east to west!
8mm Enthusiast
Beginner
- Jul 6, 2025
- 115
- 153
Well put! Same here. There's no "stalk" only "spot".That country is absolutely beautiful!
Here in the northeast, I’m in the “FLAT” lands and lucky to see 75 yards, so still hunting or sitting in ambush is the way.
If you’ve spotted them here, you’ve done the stalk already!
The beauty of North America is just breathtaking from east to west!
Ambush for life.
Yep. Here in the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic, ambush style hunting generally produces the best results. I do a lot of "still" hunting to get to my stand or blind but don't move much thereafter. I like being able to view transitioning environmental features and travel corridors while having a favorable wind. Pinch points, natural funnels, etc... Usually land parcel size doesn't foster the spot and stalk method here. We will conduct "drives" towards the end of the season after the rut is over and the traditional agriculture food sources have dried up.
@Wolfshead , where's home ? I live about dead center in PA . locally my terrain is a mixed bag . I can go from big open timber , to extremely thick , so thick a dog doesn't want to go through it . swampy , and of course there are some openings too . it can go from fairly flat , to rolling hills . it's a nice mixed bag .
I deer hunt here at home . I don't hunt small game at all , seldom hunt turkey anymore . so for deer , I ambush , or stand hunt , however you want to call it . I try to get on stand early , and stay put . IF I'm going in during shooting hours , I'll slow walk my way in watching for game . I use funnels , heavy trails , food sources , and deer sign in general , for places to make my stand . I prefer to hunt from a treestand , but it's not mandatory . my big problem with setting up a " semi-permanent " ladder style treestand , is I get lazy , and depend on it too much .although it is nice , if I'm running late , to have a ladder stand set up to go jump in quickly . using my climbing treestand I stay more mobile , and don't fall in love with an area as easy . I usually have a few places in mind that I'd like to spend time at , and try to rotate through them . always try to play the wind in my favor . rifle , or archery , I hunt the same way.
I was in a lease . we planted a lot of food plots . the food plots were the draw for the deer . I sometimes hunted the food plots , or trails to the food plots , when the other guys were not on them . I know the food plot was the easy button , but I mostly hunted the woods .
I deer hunt here at home . I don't hunt small game at all , seldom hunt turkey anymore . so for deer , I ambush , or stand hunt , however you want to call it . I try to get on stand early , and stay put . IF I'm going in during shooting hours , I'll slow walk my way in watching for game . I use funnels , heavy trails , food sources , and deer sign in general , for places to make my stand . I prefer to hunt from a treestand , but it's not mandatory . my big problem with setting up a " semi-permanent " ladder style treestand , is I get lazy , and depend on it too much .although it is nice , if I'm running late , to have a ladder stand set up to go jump in quickly . using my climbing treestand I stay more mobile , and don't fall in love with an area as easy . I usually have a few places in mind that I'd like to spend time at , and try to rotate through them . always try to play the wind in my favor . rifle , or archery , I hunt the same way.
I was in a lease . we planted a lot of food plots . the food plots were the draw for the deer . I sometimes hunted the food plots , or trails to the food plots , when the other guys were not on them . I know the food plot was the easy button , but I mostly hunted the woods .
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 6,099
- 8,899
Amoung all that steep ground there are flats and benches I very much gravitate to flat ground now! I do think hunting pheasants, quail grouse and chukar over pointing dogs is the best use of day there is. Molly and Sugar are done, Both going on 15. Sugar had a mild stroke two weeks ago but has shaken off most of the effects however she’s not the same dog. Molly is down to a one mile walk around a 40 acre pasture every day then she sleeps. I’ve hunted over shorthairs with the occasional lab or golden thrown in my whole life. These two have been the two best dogs out of all of them.
No finer way to spend the day
No finer way to spend the day
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It depends on the on what I'm hunting and the day. For small game (squirrels) it is spot and stalk or at daylight just set and wait. Upland game is hunting with a dog but I've not done that since my Springer passed. Turkeys are run and gun and a blind if it is raining. Varmints are setup and call. Deer can be either spot and stalk or from a blind. These past few years more from a blind as my reflexes and hearing doesn't lend itself to spot and stalking like it use to.
