How many have snuck up and killed a deer on the ground? Saw it first, moved in, shot it. Maybe even while it was bedded? Some say it is impossible. Some impossible in the eastern woodlands. I’ve killed 2 that way this year. Several others also in my past. Please post up. Some think this is impossible. I say it just takes practice and gets easier the more you try. I sit in a tree sometimes too. Sometimes o go after them.

I have killed one on a stalk. A spike buck in the middle of the day . It was very windy. He was eating acorns. I will say it was one of the thrills of my hunting life. Also the quartering away shot is awesome way of getting it done.Thats what got him.

Twice on Deer and once on a black bear

each time there was a light misting rain and forrest floor wet

dont think skill on my part though -think I was just very lucky

some sneaking on my part but mostly they came by me

Never, I have shot several deer on the ground but to spot and stalk one , can’t say that just blunder into them close enough.

I have killed two in standing corn while working it across the rows if that counts………… Nimrod

I was hunting squirrels and watched a gray run out ahead of me. It ran past a brown lump that turned into a bedded deer! I glassed and discovered it was a button buck. Wind right, facing away, 50 yards.

I moved like molasses. I was 10yds behind it and still didn't have a shot. No idea what to do next.

Then the twig snapped.......

It stood, I shot, drilled it good. It was then I looked at my watch and was astonished that 1-1/2 hours had passed during my stalk! I was exhausted!

Absolutely the most thrilling hunting experience of my life!

With a rifle yes. Under 50 yards but not stickbow close. I want to start trying more. I only had an hour and half the past two days from 1-230 and went still hunting a small piece of property both days. Saw 3 does The first day, no shot. Saw two the second day and was able to start drawing before getting busted. A lot of fun!I think this time of year perfect for it when the ground and leaves are moist,a little wind to break up noise and no snow. Think it'd be a lot harder if not impossible in early fall

I did. A big bodied 8 point, right here in Pennsylvania. Used a 62 inch 65 pound longbow, tapered hardwood shafts with a 160 Grizzly up front. 30 yard recovery. As I stood at the top of a hill looking down on rolling fields of alfalfa and corn that stretched from the nearest woodbine to the other, several hundred yards away. Thae day was rainy, everything was wet but it made for quiet walking. Looking to my right at the woods, deer were exiting the trees and feeding above the corn in the alfalfa. Down the slope I went until I came to the corn. Sneaking along the edge, I stood up and spied the eight point I mentioned feeding below the does. Very slowly I crept closer. Using the last few stunted corn stalks as cove, I got to within about 15 yards, the bucks attention was focused on the 4 or 5 does upslope from him. I drew my bow from a half squat position. Straight through the boiler room. He ran thirty yards and fell dead. Lucky for me it was a downhill drag to my waiting truck.

Murph, I agree, maybe early before the leaves get off and if it was after a rain / wet and really windy, maybe it could be done around here but those conditions are few and far between.

I've shot several movining through the woods. A couple nice bucks. these days I only blind hunt.

Only once.

Only once. And it spotted me first. I walked into my hunting spot early that day. Around noontime. Where normally I’d head out around 2:30ish. As I was walking to my spot I got this feeling something was watching me. I turned around and looked up the hill and spotted a fork horn buck bedded down. I slowly put an arrow on the string. And Drew my bow while turning around. When I came to full draw I had a small tree in my way. So I let down slowly and took a side step to the left. Then drew my bow again. When I came to full draw this time the buck got up. At that moment I released the arrow. I watched the Buck fall over less then 50 yards aways. One of my quickest bow kills. That deer stayed bedded and let me walk right by it. I have to wonder often how many deer have I walked by and totally missed seeing.

I saw this one lay down. I knew exactly where he was laying. After about a hour I stalked to where I knew he was laying.

I couldn’t see him at first but I knew he was lying right there. Then I saw a narrow opening in the weeds and some brown fur. Then his head blended in with the weeds.

He was looking away from me. I was wishing he would stand up . Even thought about making a noise but he didn’t have a clue I was there and I wanted to keep it that way.

I stood up over the weeds and at the same time came to full draw and let my arrow loose.

Shoot him laying down from about nine paces. He went about 80 yards and I watched him fall hard

My favorite Osage selfbow “Simply Orange “

Bjrogg

I've snuck up on does in the rain with bow in hand, still hunting, saw them, got close enough, I drew to anchor but I let down.....did not shoot, was 15-18 yards, NOT A CERTAIN KILL, but close enough to feel confident. I did not feel it that day. It was a nice October day in the rain in the timber. Perfect.

Got this guy last year October 22. Got to 15 tds

Tomorrow I am going to have the conditions Tembo62 posted. Raining and windy tonight with high winds predicted for tomorrow. Going to give it a try. Beats staying home.

Have only tried it a couple times. No success, just a couple of flags.

Only once shotgun deer in NJ decades ago. Tiny patch of woods along Rte 130. Misty and foggy, almost no wind. Moved with the light wind in my face. A clear patch formed and I was looking at the butt end of a buck as he walked away, no shot. About three minutes later an older guy popped him broadside. Had I followed that buck I may have gotten shot. Foolish to stalk him in that fog. But I was young and anxious. Foolish too. Had he even turned slightly it would have been a 15 yard shot.

I also had a very interesting encounter that didn’t end up with a kill.

I was kneeling down looking at my field trying to see if any of my rye had come up. I stood up and saw a buck running across the neighbors field to the corner of the one I was in.

It stopped standing about 175 yard from me straight across an open bare field. I slowly moved back to my tractor. I got my bow out and strung it. Notched an arrow and very very slowly move towards the buck.

I was standing straight up and moved straight towards him. Much of the time he was looking right in my direction but right through me like I was a post.

It took me 2 1/2 hours to slowly get to about 30 yard from from him.

At one time he laid down and started licking himself. I noticed when he was licking himself he was very concentrated on it. I could move maybe thirty feet each time he licked himself.

After I got to about thirty yards I just couldn’t hardly move anymore. I was really starting to crap up. I decided to take a shot but I wasn’t able to get to full draw because I was so stiff. My arrow was low and passed right under his chest. He ran off about 70 yards and still didn’t know I was there. Standing thirty yards from where he just left.

I walked over to retrieve my arrow stiff and clumsy. As I crossed the creek to where my arrow was I jumped a doe I didn’t even know was there.

Was very interesting

Bjrogg

Twice, both bucks. The first one was a seven point eating acorns totally preoccupied. Had my treestand on my back and I just kept sneaking closer at twenty yards I shot.

The other stayed bedded real tight in a grown up green briar field during rifle season. I was sneaking along a mowed path and his rack glistened in the sun giving him away. He sprung up to flee but it was game over, the arrow was on its way.

I have not done a successful stalk on a spotted deer. But I have killed deer walking, or shall I say still-hunting with the bow. I did do one stalk and kill with an iron sighted Winchester .348 leveraction to about 30 yards, right at dark. I used the terrain to slip up over a small bench to get a shot.

But I have killed several deer while ground hunting at close range, most with a gun but bow also. I think I am going to start bow hunting more with that on purpose, as opposed to sitting in a tree.

I was doing it with a rifle at the time, but I loved still-hunting briar patches, in the Texas Hill Country on a couple of occasions when I got to hunt that country, but that was not spot and stalk. I would love to go out west and hunt spot and stalk.

1X. Hard driving rain and heavy winds. I'm talking 40 mph+ so I stayed in the small pines to avoid the big branches in the big woods. Loose bricks were getting blown off buildings kind of wind. I walked downwind slowly. Deer will lay so they watch their downwind side figuring they will pick up upwind scent. In 40 mph wind and rain, maybe they don't pick up much of anything scentwise and they certainly aren't going to stare upwind into a driving rain. The wet ground, rain and wind muffled all sound ...10 yards and the shot was taken. Dead doe.

I've done it a few times. My first trad kill was a spot and stalk.

I think it’s much easier to trick their eyes than their nose.

It’s definitely not impossible.

Especially if you know where they are and they don’t know where you are.

Use wind and terrain

Don’t let them know you are there

Bjrogg

I've done it. I got my first (and only) deer this way last year.

Here's my story and pics: https://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?forum=23&threadid=330028&messages=106&CATEGORY=1

I got all my tips from this gem of a thread here. If you're looking for advice on this, you won't be disappointed!

https://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?forum=23&threadid=103728&category=

I should say "only, so far!" I almost got one a couple weeks ago the exact same way. I got to within 20 yards without it knowing I was there. But I didn't have a shot and eventually crunched some leaves while trying to set up. By the time I looked up again, it was already gone.

This was from a stalk, peak rut last season, bucks were locked down with does and our paths crossed when he was more concerned with the doe then with me following the pair. 15 yrd shot, he ran another 30 yrds.

pics

Never only a few flags running away laughing at me.

I snuck up on this one last week in WV

Came close his year. With about 10 mins of shooting light and in a bean filed. Got within 25 yards, wind blowing in my face and she was busy feeding. I was getting ready for a shot with 2 mins left in legal time and as I was stating to draw my phone rang. My cell is on silent and tucked away but I forgot to put my Apple Watch on silent, and ring a ding ding and she threw her up up and looked and then hauled some a** . I could nothing but laugh and it was an exciting stalk, next time.

I've shot a number of whitetails while stalking and all the mule deer I've taken.

Babysaph I thought it was laughable?

Babysaph I thought it was laughable?

all my deer have been shot, my feet on the ground, still-hunting that turns into stalking when an animal is seen. Out here are mostly mulies, but last year I stalked within shooting range 10- 30 yards or so, of 4 whitetails...one, a doe in her bed. I only have one tag and hold out to the last for bucks usually...but I know I can do it.

It only takes practice, a little luck sometimes, but you have to go do it for it to happen.

I find it's much easier to hunt them while bedded in areas where they feel safe, where they have limited eyesight and I can get the wind in my favor. These are places that other hunters overlook, like switch-grass waste areas, briar patches, field corners, borders and edges of fields, ditch banks, hilltops. Places where I'm not just walking through bare empty woods devoid of vegetation when the leaves drop.

this buck last year was shot at 12 steps. Combination of switch grass and sage brush, sans trees.

I did too but finally pulled it off

The leatherwall legacy lives on. "LOL"

Nice Sunset

I have never pulled that off.

This one was about 20 yards. I spooked him and he tried to run around me. Swing draw, Longbow, moving target...dead deer. It helps if you're hunting from the ground to have a versatile, flexible shooting style to take advantage of shot opportunities that arise. I hunt areas where I cannot see bedded deer very often due to the height of the sage or brush. It sometimes is them surprising me as much as I'm surprising them.

Kisatchie...I'd like to know where you got that tan plaid shirt...great colors for out west

Well if I have to believe you guys did it without pics then you have to believe me. Post a damn pic with the deer.

But nice pics Kisatchie

Post a pic of the deer with you in it. come on man

I snuck up and killed a 9pt at 20 yards. Just got lucky. I never saw him until I was at 20 yds.

I have been within bow range of two bucks while sneaking into a stand. Neither ever knew I was there and both slowly worked away from me, so I never had a shot.

Only have pictures of the one that I got. Not the one I missed. Showed picture already but I wasn’t in picture.

Here’s same deer. With me in picture. It’s definitely not impossible.

I have also snuck up to dozens of red fox and two coyotes with my shotgun. I have gotten in bow range from a couple of those red fox but I wasn’t carrying a bow.

Bjrogg

How about a 'blind stalk'?

Years ago I heard folks were seeing a big buck less than a mile from my place in a brushy field along the road. They watched him feeding and harassing does while they were spotlighting(legal here). By the time I heard about it, they had been hunting in the woods around the field for a few weeks but nobody ever saw him during daylight hours.

Hmmm, I knew of a few ways that buck could get there from the opposite side of the big 4 lane highway. And there was a good bedding area with some old apple trees over there. He could go through a big culvert that run under the highway which the deer sometimes used, and us too as kids. Or he could go through a narrow hole cut in a 6' chain link fence on the opposite side of the road where the apple trees were. Sure enough, when I checked the hole, there were his tracks, and 30-40 yards from the fence I found his bed in a small 'clearing' of goldenrod & other weeds. The hole wasnt quite as wide as his rack so he must have turned his head sideways to get through there.

I waited until we had a drizzly quiet day and slowly worked my way toward him from downwind until I was on my hands and knees at a snails pace, with just my selfbow and a single arrow, maybe 20 yards from his bed.. only moving a few inches when the wind moved the weeds. Eventually I got to about 12-15 yards, nothing between us but weeds. I couldn't see him through the weeds. Maybe he's not there? All of a sudden the wind changed and right away he stood up, then so did I. Whew, he was a big handsome sucker. But he was turned straight away looking back at me over his rump for about 10 seconds as if to say, 'Hey, how the heck did you get in here?' and then in two bounds he was gone. Never offered a shot, but it was fun, and a successful stalk, sort of. One of my most memorable hunts.

windy and wet conditions...that is by far my favorite stillhunting and stalking conditions.

as far as sneaking up on em and killing them? yep,been there done that but most times it don't work out.

just a honest opinion based on my limited whitetail killing experience...lol

its wet and windy here today, i'd love to go stillhunting and try and put a little more venison in the freezer.

maybe a little later, if i am lucky and sneak up on one, i'll post it.

but more than likely the odds will be against me, and it won't happen.

never know though.

Only one. Honestly didn't see him. I was still hunting along when he stood up about 15yds in front of me. Couldn't get a shot. Finally he looked the other way and I was able to step to get a shot. One of those even a blind pig finds an acorn occasionally moments.

Sure would be a lot less trouble just going in the woods with a bow and a quiver.

I have had many that just came by me stillhunting but I am not talking about those. Have had many more opportunities and shots on ones that I have seen first including a bedded whitetail and a nice bedded elk I worked up inside of 20 yards and did not connect on. Those are some of my fondest hunting memories. This is a skill that the more you practice the better you get. So my point with all this was to perhaps inspire some to get out of the stand a little more and try it. It does work sometimes and if the deer aren't moving "your just sitting in a tree". It will make you a better hunter also. This was my first spot and stalk deer. I was walking out with a climber on my back down a powerline on this farm. Down below in the meadow I saw 3 deer in the grassy meadow below. I dropped my stand and tried a sneak. Was easy to get to the edge of the field, but then just wide open grass. I used the terrain and crawled on my belly the last few yards until this one turned broadside and I rose up on a knee and drew. Got away with it and though not the largest deer was one I will never forget. 3 sets of eyes in the open meadow.

This one was in an urban area at my home. I spotted this guy on my back hill with a group of does during the rut as I was loading up my vehicle to hunt the next morning. I stepped up the hill acting like I didn't care or see them. The buck was nervous and physically shuddered a few times as I approached, but the girls were just standing there and he was in the middle of them. I didn't think he would be there when I drew but he was! Some have called this the "lost wallet technique" like your just ignoring them until the last minute. Now these saw me first but I'll include it anyway because I moved in on them.

This one was one of my fondest memories. Hunting the western MD mountains on public land during deer camp when the fall turkey and deer season overlap in November. I was in stand all morning and was getting real cold. Decided to get down and sneak back to camp. Saw 3 does as I was creeping up a ridge finger. In the valley of the finger the deer were all feeding. I dropped my climber and started after them. After about an 30 minutes I made it down the side of the finger and this small one worked up to me and I shot it. Three sets of eyes! I carried it back to camp like this and the look on my friends face was priceless.

Wow, you guys are good. I have a hard enough time sneaking up on them in a tree.

This one was the first deer after switching to left hand because of TP and injury. Again, I was stillhunting and spotted 3 does. They were moving towards me slowly feeding and I moved two or 3 trees on by behind at times, very slowly, maybe 15 yards closer to them over 15-20 minutes time. This one finally gave me a broadside shot. 3 sets of eyes again...whew.

Now, this year same tough deer camp on public land conditions. After sitting on a log for about an hour I spot 3 deer feeding. I watched them for about an hour and they were not getting closer. Conditions were tough. Steep mountain hillside, a covering of brown crunchy leaves over flat slippery rocks. There was a good breeze from time to time and they were about 75 yards away. Watched one lay down a while and then get back up. I decided to go for it. Very slowly made my way from tree to tree. Covered 65 yards very slowly and when I got to the edge of a thicket they entered figured they had already slipped out of the other side. I proceeded slowly around and there 25 yards in front of me is a deer with head down feeding through the thick brush. There was a basketball sized hole to shoot through in front of the cage. I felt I could make that shot but arrows was deflected and I heard my arrow hit a log beyond. I figured I missed but slowly crept up to the arrow and it was covered in gut! Oh no. I watched the three deer move out of the thicket and up the hillside. The last one had a bright red spot back on his side. I lost sight of them and eventually two went up over the ridge. I pulled back and returned in the evening and it was just where I had last seen the three. This time there were 7 other guys in camp to share the experience with. Again, 3 sets of eyes and ears.

I snuck up on this deer when I was scouting in the spring. :)

A day later in camp I could only kill bucks now so I headed out to sit in a draw with my waldrop seat. This is an interesting story that I may write about later but this is the end result of me getting out of my chair after I saw this buck about 100 yards away on a clear cut and sneaking up to within 25 yards and putting a arrow into his ribs.

thats a hog

nice job

Honestly the more you try it the better you get at it.

I’m not pretending to be a great hunter. I’m not dedicated enough to be.

I just spend a lot of time observing wildlife.

The more you try putting a sneak on an animal you see that doesn’t see you. The more you realize how much you can get away with.

Try it. Even if you don’t get a shot I’m pretty sure you will enjoy the experience and learn something from it

Bjrogg

I think about it from the ground, I’ve been busted soo many times. Not moving a muscle and a deer looks over at me and I can tell he’s thinking” that wasn’t there this morning “ and at that point it’s a done deal.

Lol Nemo

Lol Nemo

Bjrogg: "The more you try putting a sneak on an animal you see that doesn’t see you. The more you realize how much you can get away with."

Exactly!

I hunt groundhogs with a passion all summer. Sneaking up on countless groundhogs, even if unsuccessful, teaches you you volumes on stalking deer.

Many years ago I read an article in Bowhunter about walking backwards in a zig zag pattern to shoot antelope on the wide open prairie. I did it to a groundhog in the middle of a field. Killed it with my recurve at 36yds. I had a doe spot me once so I turned around, walked backwards, got to 15yds turned and shot. That deer was so wired up by the time I shot it ducked and exploded out with my arrow sailing over it. Worth trying but I hoped no one was watching. :)

I truly believe deer can sense your intent. So the more casual and relaxed I'm moving through the woods, the more relaxed my attitude and intent. If you are tense and intense like a predator, sneaking profile, I think they sense it and get all defensive. I get closer to animals by remaining fully erect, relaxed posture, no eye contact, face turned away if possible. They know I'm a human, but not a threatening human like all the others they see on a regular basis. I have a fraction of the animals locally to hunt as are available in states east of me. If I had as many animals to hunt as some of you have, that means way more opportunities to practice getting good at it. As it is, I only have a few chances a year.

I believe Sunset has something, for the first 20 something years of hunting I killed more deer off the ground still hunting than from a tree stand. Many of them were like he said non threatening just a slow walk in the woods. I seriously hunted standing cornfields several years and shot several deer(bucks and does) this way, some bedded and some standing. I gave it up because it would cause severe headaches it caused by the tension of not making any noise and closely watching for deer. I shot my first mule deer while bedded and some whitetails mostly on rain soaked leaves while stalking. Now my balance(age 74) is such that I'm hunting out of trees or in ground blinds.

I'd be willing to bet your not going to just casually stroll up to a deer here in PA, once firearm season starts, regardless of your intent.

Maybe so. I've not been there. And maybe it really all depends on where you hunt and how used to people the deer are. I know out here it's easier to get closer to deer by casual approach when they live near croplands and suburbia (hence more people contact) than in the deep woods. But even then, it can be surprising how close one can get with patience and practice.

You guys are way better then me. The closest I came to getting one on the ground was last year and I wasn't actually stalking him. It was very windy and cold and I figured I am not going to see any deer anyway so I started to walk back down the mountain. All of a sudden I spot a nice buck 20 yards down in front of me. I drew back but the wind was gusting so hard that my back was like a sail and I was moving all over the place. I decided to let him come up to me which he did but then he was straight down wind of me and game over. It was exciting though!

I agree with that Nate. And some terrain is way better suited for spot and stalk, even here in PA.

Many of you have been to ski sawmill here in PA. I cut my teeth deer hunting around there when i was young.

Down the road a piece, i would watch the overgrown fields from the backside along the mt. Deer that had fed all night in the brushy over grown fields would head back to the mts, state forest land. i would glass from a vantage point, then stalk...sure was fun.

Now much of it is farmed, much more so than back then. Some areas are just better suited for that type of hunting.

i got out today, stillhunted a mt in tuscarora state forest. saw one deer and it saw me first, no tail up,and bounce away, no run for a little and stop, but rather hunker down, and flat gone...once those guns start cracking, gets pretty tough.

Yea it is like that here in WV as well. I realize guys can do it. I simply can not get up on a deer walking about in WV. I can however lay in the bushes in a ghillie suit and kill them.

I've only done it twice but both were with a shotgun. Did it on back to back days. First one was a doe I watched bed down in a thicket with several others too far to shoot from my stand. I climbed down the tree and stalked to about 15 yards and just waited as I couldn't see them. Finally saw one flicking it's ear and when I found an opening I let her have it. None of them jumped up until I walked to her.

Next day , same stand, saw a buck and doe accross the field about 400 yards away standing there for a couple hours. When they went into the ditch I climbed down, hi tailed it accross the field and snuck up to less than 20 yards. When he put his head up I shot him. Nice 9 pointer. Both times I wished I had my bow as they were so close but it wasn't to be.

Have done it twice in corn fields both does 3 rows away not to hard to do when windy except for the fact you have to look down a lot of rows

Have done it twice in corn fields both does 3 rows away not to hard to do when windy except for the fact you have to look down a lot of rows

I've had this thread on my mind for a few days and have a couple of thoughts. First, can it be done? Well , yes and the proof is in the pics from other posters. Can and do deer sense intent as Nate said? Absolutely. Now, I can't say for any other species of deer other than our white tails we have, nor for any other States or parts of States but I will try to give a description of the conditions in the woods here that would be the setting for sneak hunting with a bow. If you looked down at the average sq ft of ground here in the woods you would find multiple layers of sticks of various thicknesses,leaves, both mulch consistency and fresh dry types in the fall, vines like honeysuckle, sawbriar, poison ivy, virginia creeper,blackberry etc. in addition to larger limbs and vines plus downed trees. So for all practical purposes there is not "bare" ground to put a foot down on. The idea that any person could move any distance at all in a way that a deer wouldn't notice is very unlikely to me,the only thing that could negate that somewhat would be wet woods and a high wind or wading in a creek. If they hear you they will be looking and if they are looking they will see you whether you're moving or not. If they smell you, you'll ever get close enough for them to hear you most likely.

It's been my view that the deer here create a protective bubble around them that they move through the woods in, a bubble that they will not allow anything that they see as being even remotely threatening to enter(or that they will come near) and I believe that bubble is limited in size only by the distance that they can perceive the threats. It could be 50 yards in a thicket with an unfavorable wind for them or 300 yards or more with the right wind. Once they acknowledge a threat by hearing sight or smell the chance that they will disregard that threat is just about zero. The only exceptions that I can think of are when they are preoccupied for short times during the rut(bucks more so than does) or when conditions are so unfavorable for them as mentioned above with wind and wet.

If there was a way to consistently get within bow shot of our deer other than treestand hunt, believe me, I'd do it because it would be so much simpler hunting and I like simple but there isn't. Much of the "bubble idea" applies to treestand hunting but the difference is our deer haven't extended the sight part much above 12 to 15 feet....yet.... There is a term used here called "burning up a stand", that is hunting it multiple times in a short period. The more times you hunt a stand after the first sit, the worse your chances get I think because, being curious, deer check out stand tree areas at night to confirm what they saw,heard or smelled during daylight hours. The only time you would burn up a stand would be during the rut or if you are not coming back to that place and don't have anything better at the time. Going back again and again creates a disturbance deer pick up on. The way that relates to what we are talking about is if you're hunting on the move, you extend the disturbance over a wide area( entering multiple deers bubbles) as opposed to confining the disturbance to specific tree s, and if anything is true, if you disturb deer repeatedly they will quit moving during daylight or write off the area completely and leave.

Greg, I've never done that. I've killed them while on the ground but never a stalk.

I'm a bit surprised that there's not more hunters on here who've done any spot & stalk let alone stillhunting. It's the ultimate hunt and when you seal the deal, there's nothing more satisfying. Man...it's satisfying even when you don't. Now I love getting up in a treestand before light and watching the woods come alive. And maybe in some areas it's the only way to be successful...maybe. I've climbed down to go after deer at certain times with certain conditions to stalk quite a bit. And succeeded.... and yes, mostly either got busted or they moved on too much for me to pursue...but it's that hunt that counts.

3 of my first 5 deer were taken stillhunting, one of those by being spotted and then stalked. I was a rookie back then and had a lot of luck no doubt. But I'll add that before I ever got to hunt deer I hunted the heck out of squirrels stillhunting, they ain't no easy pickens. They'll teach you something about being that sneaky silent predator you need to be... especially those dang tasty greys. :) It got me super close to deer many times... some I never noticed until they jumped up scareing the crap outta me... and I learned from those experiences. Stillhunting back then I felt was the only way to get a deer. I had one treestand at the time and felt it was wasting my time...(I learned a lot more later on scouting and setting up ambushes for treestands).

It can be both mentally and physically draining...that adrenaline fellas. I think it was Gene Wensel who said after a long session of stillhunting, done right, will leave you feeling like a wet noodle...yep, I've been there many times, frustrating and yet satisfying at the same time.

I don't have any idea on how many deer I've taken from the ground. Some were purposely taken spot and stalk with the right conditions as in wet leaves, dry but windy, fresh fallen snow after a storm...same with after a rainstorm. Some taken while heading on my way to a stand or leaving. Some from natural ground blinds. Torges treeseats were stashed here and there.

I am by no means a great hunter....but I am a well practiced one. That early squirrel hunting taught me a bunch on stillhunting. Also, once my kids were getting adult age, family vacations weren't as common and I used my vacation time along with saved sick days and personal days to spend nearly 2 months in the whitetail woods hunting and most importantly learning. That much time being able to learn how to hunt these Midwest big woods and farmland deer have been priceless. And I understand that there's many who don't have that opportunity to spend that time hunting but it shouldn't stop you from trying.

Long winded I know, but this post was to maybe get some of you guys outta that tree and give the ground game a chance. The more you do it...commit to it, you will eventually find success. No magical skills required.

I should've started my above post with congratulations to those above who've tried and succeeded at it. Congrats to you all.

Especially a thanks and congrats to two4hooking for a much needed thread about a hunting method that seems to be lost or forgotten with hunters these days. That's some good hunting you've done two4.

Disclaimer: No deer were injured, but a hell of a hunt. My oldest spent the night so we could hunt early morning...been awhile since we got to hunt together. The morning hunt was a couple of does and one stud buck seen but not in range. We were in treestands.

So my wife had our breakfast ready to fire up as soon as we hit the porch which consisted of Texas toast, over easy eggs and venison tenderloin (from a doe I shot the previous day) sauteed with butter and mushrooms. Hashbrowns too!

Always watching the weather, barometer...we thought that the deer would be putting on the feedbag with the oncoming snow storm that morning. Turned out they don't go by the rules eh.:) Yeah well neither do I.

The expected big blizzard past early leaving us maybe 4 inches of that beautiful soft, quiet snow covered woods. We hit the woods immediately...my wife took the pic of us heading out waving back at her like dorks..lol

Ok, the hunt... stillhunting with the purpose of stalking up on deer up and about. Already a long enough story (I get sentimental) my son and I both encountered deer and put stalks on them. They just wouldn't stand still long enough to get close..no shots taken. I had one stalk and my son had two. Back to the house, sitting by the fireplace warming up we discussed our failures to connect. I'll leave that part out.;))

My oldest son that I'm talking about above, cut his teeth hunting from the ground. His very first deer he stalked and a few others after.

A 12 year old kid can do it.

Maryland,1986, 30 mph wind, I crept down a nicely groomed grass path that led down to the Antietam creek,super cold,yet sunny n bright.about a 40 degree right side of an up hill,left side not so steep,picture a gorgeous little valley.right side there was tall crp type grass up 10 yards then turned into a dying honeysuckle choked valley wall.150 yards out I catch a glimpse of his rack in the honeysuckle.i moved to the right,up against the tall cap grass wall,and dropped to craw down the path to close the gap and square up my shot destination.he never saw me,I crawled a long way,with my right shoulder against the grass wall, i eased up to peek thru the grass to see if he was even still there.inwas amazed,as he had his eyes closed,sun in his face,chewing his cud away.wind was blowing from my right to left and howling.i thought about 30 yards,,I readied my shot,taking the hard cross wind into account,I held maybe,6 inches to the right of a great lung opportunity. I had good exposure as the steep angle had his lung area wide open.he never opened his eyes till the arrow slammed into his mid neck area.yep I didn't allow enough fade in my shot to accommodate that darn wind,however he jumped up,jumped around a bush looking down towards me,I dropped down immediately after the shot, he saw nothing but blowing weeds, blood pouring out of his juggler.i nocked another and sent one lung bound,I found him bedded up on top of the valley,,I had went on down the valley and made my way up,wind in my face,stalked up and found him still looking over the edge down where I used to be,,I put another thru his back into lung area again, he was done.it was a blast....

Savage, that's some hunting bud!

I've got a bunch of this spot and stalk hunting episodes I've done. I don't remember most but there are some that stand out.

Late season, last evening to hunt, around zero degrees with 30 mph gusts. Younger days, full of you know what, hardcore stuff.

So knowing the deer will be hitting the bean field I parked my butt next to a big oak 10 yards in. They just didn't come way. I stood up looked over the bean field and there they all were. Still filtering in from the woods on the west of me. Dang deer weren't following my plans. A few hundred yards from me, I used the terrain to hide my approach. I eventually made it to the woods edge where I felt I could crawl onto the field...yah, some crusty snow but the wind took care of that noise. So I had made my way to where I should be for a stalk. I was right on when I looked up over the rise in the field. And there they were, 3 big bucks along with 30 or more other deer. Ahhh...so the deer weren't done coming out to feed from the woods. Here I am, hands and knees slowly approaching that rise to where I believe I'd get a less than 30 yard shot at least at one of the very huge bucks I had never seen before...I'm telling you huge bodied bucks with racks fellas dream of.

As I'm crawling along trying to reach that peak of terrain where I figure I can sit up and get the best shot off....more deer filtered in. Son of a..... But! They didn't spook...not right away anyway...had a youngster no more than 10 yards away giving me the eye. Her momma let her baby know what's up when she caught scent. Stalk over... I sat up on my knees and sent an arrow to that big ole buck..... A sorry shot, skipped snow way short in front of him. All deer exploded out of there as I stood up and watched my season come to an end. I found my arrow minus the feather intact. Ha, I found the feathers laying on the snow well before the arrow hit the ground.... freezing temps eh.

I stalked up on this mature doe this year and put a Simmons through her. It was windy so it masked alot of my movement.

Ottertails, love that picture! I have the same camo now but in my younger days I had pure white coveralls that had a 6' piece of rope in the pocket because everytime I went out in them I'd be dragging a deer home! Still hunting in the snow is as good as it gets.

I have never killed a deer from a tree stand but have done well from the ground. The reason for none from a stand is that about twenty years ago I developed what might be an irrational fear of heights, any heights, and shooting a bow. Ground blinds have been good to me as has a Gille suit and a lot of real slow walking. I like to walk an old logging road and look for opportunities. Like Sunset said it is not sneaking just walking very slow. Most of my deer have been killed crossing the road in front of me at very close range. I have my own land and it has a lot of deer and bear so the opportunities have been pretty good. I am not a great hunter but have learned to stand still and move slow over the years. When I get tired or what is I feel to be a good spot I attach a little seat I carry to a tree and wearing the Gille suit sit still. I see a lot more deer than I ever shoot at for sure but this method has worked well for me.

I’ve never seen a tree stand ‘in the wild’.

They are not much of a thing here in Oz yet.

I’ve only ever killed game , with bow or gun by walk and stalk.

Amazing how many times I’ve been stumping and come across them.

Get done in your knees and stalk towards your dog with your head down between your shoulders …. Watch the reaction

Then walk towards him ignoring him …

Totally different .

Just my experience

Pics or it didn’t happen

One year while hunting elk in CO. An afternoon rain shower hit and I put rain gear on and sat it out until it finished. I continued on my hunt, thinking to myself boy it is really quiet walking now.

Shortly after I started I saw two small racked mule deer eating grass. I slowly made my way towards them, only moving when their heads were down. I got within twenty feet or so and could have shot either one. But of course I didn’t have a deer tag.

Thats the most fun way to hunt imo. I have shot the deer with a bow that way, and missed elk and deer, one huge mulie buck I snuck on in Montana for half hour to within 25 yds but blew the shot. That one hurt the most.

Thats the most fun way to hunt imo. I have shot three deer with a bow that way, and missed elk and deer, one huge mulie buck I snuck on in Montana for half hour to within 25 yds but blew the shot. That one hurt the most.

I snuck up on a nice big, big-bodied 8pt and a smaller 6pt this weekend. New area, whitetail hunt several hours of driving to get there. I saw 6 treestands, one with a hunter, and 4 game cameras. I've never been there before, so I just put the wind in my face and quietly walked around. Snow wasn't too quiet so I had to move slow and stop often.

Got within range of two does but the brush was too thick to try a shot. When I saw the big buck, I was ready, arrow nocked and I just stared... I haven't seen a deer with a body that big for many years and his rack looked big as well...at least ear width. I'm not used to seeing whitetail faces (compared to mule deer) and the whole situation threw me off my game. He stood waiting for me to shoot for about 15 seconds then had enough and left the area. Being tardy, I was just starting my swing draw at that time. I couldn't find a hole in the brush to try a moving shot so he escaped unscathed. :)

But, I was in the ground, having loads of fun, sneaking around and getting chances at deer, and a big buck to boot, and I waved to the lone guy in a treestand as I left... wondering if he'd seen anything...

This is the terrain I was hunting

Nice Nate i’m going to take deer hunting lessons from Greg ????

Spring Turkey is right around tue corner too Dan. Camp will be fun!.

I hunt in country similar to Nate. Have gotten pretty close doing the spot and stalk thing. Killed a few up close over the years. Thought you guys may enjoy the linked video.

https://youtu.be/7Y50PY4v6Sc

BTW, this is not me.

Envious of you guys that can tag more than one deer every year. We're on a draw system and you can go a few years before getting a tag.

I have been hunting Wisconsin whitetails for the last 3 years while visiting the in-laws. Everyone in the area is the typical compound, crossbow, gun hunters that hunt tree stands 99.9% of the time. The other 0.1% of the time they are still not stalking. They all told me how it’s impossible to kill a Midwest whitetail with a bow by stalking. Well, I stalked within bow range of 2 deer in two days and got shots at both. The first was a deer feeding in a corn field and I spent a long time easing in for a shot. I missed the deer at just under 20 yards. Shot right over its back. The very next day I saw another deer feeding Judd inside the edge of the corn field. I spent over an hour moving 100 yards and for most of that I couldn’t see the deer as it had bedded down. I kept my eye on the spot where it had bedded and continued to slowly ease up. I finally could see a patch of hair at 7 yards but not enough to make a shot. At 5 yards, I could see the whole deer but corn stalks covered it’s vitals. The deer lifted its head, alerted by my boot making a slight noise in the snow. I stayed motionless and avoided eye contact with the deer. The deer eventually eased its head back down but was visually more tense. I had to move about a half step back to get a small shooting window at the quartering ribs. As i eased my last step into the snow, the head shot up again but this time, the level of alertness was way higher. I knew the deer wasn’t going to get another chance and that it was only a matter of seconds before the deer was gone. As the deer turned its head and a corn stock leave obscured its view, I swung, drew and released all in one motion and in less than a second. The deer exploded out of the corn and ran into the woods where it expired a short distance away. People that say it’s impossible are people that aren’t willing to spend hours in freezing temperatures getting better at stalking. Many have done it in the past and I will continue to do so.

Mike, congrats on the deer.

I’ve gotten in bow range many times in corn and killed a handful of does and bucks in standing corn. By biggest whitetail to date was a South Dakota buck that I killed going row to row and found him bedded. Did not make a killing shot. the arrow hit the rear leg instead of entering just in front of the leg where I was shooting for.

and had to track him. Find him bedded again. Snuck in and made the killing shot.

Standing corn and snow with little breeze for noise cover is very productive.

I've stalked in very close range a couple times, hit an invisible twig once and missed by an inch low on the other. Lots if other close encounters too.

Question if I may. When stalking or walking do you have an arrow nocked, carry one loosely in your free hand or have them all in your quiver until a deer is spotted. Thanks. If I should make this a separate topic I will

Tempest, to paraphrase John Schulz, you can't get a shot if you don't have an arrow on the bow. So if I'm "still-hunting", which is not the same as spot and stalk, I have an arrow on the bow, and in addition, I'm always aware of that fact. It's a matter of situational awareness, and complacency has no place in the hunting woods, as accidents can and do happen.

I try to never say never, but if you can consistently pull off spot and stalk in the mountains and foothills where I live, you are way above average as a woodsman in my opinion. I have done it, once, and it was because of two reasons; it was windy, and the deer I did it on was a young buck more interested in ingesting acorns than in survival. He did survive though as I never took a shot even though I got within fifteen yards, more or less.

I've done okay hunting from the ground, but most of those opportunities and kills happened as I posted in an area that was well-frequented by deer. At some point, if you stay at it, you will take a buck or doe, whichever you choose. I will say that personally I would suck at spotting and stalking back here in these woods, although as I said, on a breezy day you can at times get very close and have an opportunity.

I got my first-ever deer with a bow by just drifting down through a lodgepole-filled bedding area one afternoon. Seems like mulies will sit tight if you act like you’re going to plod right by them (if you think quail are fun, you should try having 5 or 6 mulies flush at 2-3 yards!)… but when slipping around in a bedding area, if they don’t quite know what you are or what you’re up to, they’ll often stand up to get a look at you. As will whitetails in some light-pressure areas…. Anyway, little mulie buck and a coupla does stood up at what turned out to be 28 paces on the buck.

In my peripheral vision I think I saw him drop only his head just a couple inches, but otherwise no reaction until there was arrow protruding from both sides. High lung, so just red mist here and there for a blood trail after the shaft broke and dropped out, but the tracks were deep and he was clearly running a straight line, so when I ran out of sign, I looped down-wind of where I thought he might have wanted to pull up if he was going to.

My guess was right, except it was more a case of falling down than pulling up. Looked like he passed out mid-stride and skidded to a stop.

And I don’t know if it counts as “sneaking up”, but one time I bumped a younger 7-pt WT while glassing my way up a little ridge and while he ran back the way he came, I sprinted after him about 40-50 yards, quartering down-wind to where I figured he’d circle to get around me. Dumped him at 10 steps with a roundball. As he walked in, he had his head up, staring at where I had been… So the sprint was a good call because from where I had been…there was no safe shot. Houses in the background No Bueno.

Tempest,

That’s an excellent question and a good topic. Many of us have had it ingrained never to carry an arrow outside the quiver and to never remove one until it is time to shoot. However, if a person is aware and responsible as they should be in the field, there should be no reason why one shouldn’t have an arrow at the ready. This of course applies to still hunting more so than spot and stalk. In recent hunts, I have started carrying an arrow more often where I expect to find game and will put it away if traversing some terrain where it may be hard to keep my footing.

Arrow on the string unless terrain/vegetation makes walking unsafe. Groundhog hunting also requires a arrow on string or your not going to get many shots unless your waiting at the hole.

Once & it turned out to be a mistake. Walking along a logging road I spotted a buck feeding on acorns about 75 yards down hill. I slipped from tree to tree but had a hard time gaining ground as he was moving along.Finally got within 25 yards but lost sight of him. Scanning with binos. I spotted what I thought was him laying down. I wondered how he got there without being seen. I stepped out from behind the tree & shot. He jumped to his feet & took off. He startled the original buck I was stalking which took off from behind brush. The one I hit started falling behind & dropped in about 25 yards. It was an 8 point but about 1/2 the size of & at least 2 years younger than the one I had been following. Talk about mixed emotions. I was happy with success but disappointed I had killed a younger buck.>>--> Ken

I generally roll with circumstances dictating safety. That also goes with tool use, driving etc. I call that common sense.

Shot a good WT buck years ago at 14 yards on the ground after spotting his legs under the brush.

Killed my first Tom Turkey years ago Spot and Stalk.

Killed Antelope Spot and Stalk.

Killed Mule Deer Spot and Stalk.

Killed Mt. Goats Spot and Stalk.

Have snuck in close to bedded Elk but did not have a tag.

Snuck in on a couple of Black Bears and decided they were not what I was after.

+1 on Catquiver.

One morning as I was sneaking in below a herd of Elk, a pair of 1.5 YO bulls caught my attention about 35-40 yards out. I had zero cover and was afraid to take a step as they fed my way. By the time the nearest of the 2 was within 10 yards - probably closer to 7 - I had slipped an arrow out of the quiver and onto the string and got my bow up, ready to draw. Bull stood there, close enough to hear him chewing, looking at me like “DAMN, that’s an ugly stump!!”

Only once that I can think of would it have cost me a shot to have not had an arrow on the string until I had eyes on the animal. (That’s the time that bunch of mulies flushed lime quail.) If I had hunted all of those seasons with a traditional back quiver and the amount of motion required, I might report otherwise. Side-stalker or a 1-arrow bow- quiver seem like good alternatives if (like me!) you can’t get comfortable with the balance on a bow-mounted quiver.

I have killed deer while stillhunting, and also actually just waiting on stand on the ground with a bow but never spot and stalk, with a bow. I hunt what you would call eastern whitetail hunting.

I would love to try spot and stalk for game in bigger country, where one could glass and spot game more easily from a distance. I have taken a lot of deer from a distance with a rifle, where the deer was crossing a field or something. But usually, the deer are only in sight for a few seconds, before the opportunity is gone.

On muledeer several times.

Only a couple of times on whitetail, but on whitetail I haven't been fortunate to be on many places over the years where it could be done, or was allowed to be done.

Rick

My mentor Larry Fischer at age 14 introduced me to Glen St. Charles. When being introduced Larry said "He killed an Elk." Glen looked me in the eyes and said "Did you kill it on the ground?"

Felt odd to me then since that's how a hunter does it.

So the story goes and I'm still finding myself at eye level with both Glen and the quarry.

Why would it not be allowed to be done Rick?

Some outfitters will not allow moving around their properties.

I’ve killed a lot of deer from the ground. As far as stalking I have been fairly successful. The most success has taken place when I’ve spotted the deer moving and been able to in front of it and intercept it. The easiest is when deer are feeding in fields or along drainages. Snap judgments of wind and concealment are critical. Probably 1 out of 5 gets me within 30 yards but 1 out of 20 will provide a shot. Much more successful on western whitetail and big ag areas than eastern/mountain. Terrain allows long range surveillance and vegetation.

Actually stalking needs the same elements and one more, the most important, patience! But patience must be tempered with judgement. In most stalks you need to recognize opportunities to cover ground at quicker paces. Again, the environment dictates. Hunting pressure is also a major influencer. But at times an advantage when deer learn to hold like a rabbit.

The first thing is spotting and animal in a position that lends itself to approach. Once you judge you may have a chance then you have to try. That is the thing that I have always found frustrating, the number of people that tell themselves it won’t work without even trying. Even if you blow it you will learn something. I’ve killed a lot of animals in the west stalking but it is another story in the east. If it is in dry leaves I forget it generally. Same deer on a rainy days, I’m going. Situation dictates. That being said, odds are probably 1 out of 30 of getting inside 30 yards and shots even higher. Many times I get within that circle and leave it to luck, letting him make the last move. Yes luck is a huge part.

But it is possible. My son’s first bow kill was at 10 years old on a bedded doe he slipped in on during high winds. Kept a some briars between him and the deer to around 16 yards. Recurve and Surewood shaft.

Around here spot and stalk is more a result of stillhunting, seeing deer and then getting in position for a shot.

Its simply not open enough to glass or spot and stalk like out west etc..

perfect example was this morning. I was sneaking out a gated trail on state forest ground, and saw a deer. I knelt down and then noticed another deer as well,both doe, probably 60 yds give or take. It seemed like they were working my way, and i didn't want to be caught out in the open, so i crawled to the edge of the trail, when they had their heads down feeding.

There was snow on the ground, and it didn't take long before it soaked through my pants and made my knees numb.

One decided to bed, the other kept working out a flat toward a ridge. I waited....

The one that bedded then got up and followed the other and i watched them both eventually bed probably 75-100 yds away closer to the ridge.

And the stalk was on...I kept my eyes on them, went slow, used what laurel i had for cover. I kinda shifted to the side a bit, to stalk slightly quartering into the wind because the wind was borderline wrong, and i knew it wouldn't take much for them to get a whiff. The one was pretty easy to see she was in the sun. The other one though i kept losing track of because i couldn't see her very well.

I eventually closed the distance to around 35-40 yds, and was beginning to think i might just pull it off, when the doe i couldn't see very well stood and looked toward the base of the ridge. i followed her gaze and saw a couple deer part way up the ridge running. Not sure if they had seen me or possibly smelled me.

At any rate....they both followed suit, and off they went.

None of them were in a big panic, and a few lingered farther out the ridge watching.

That's about the way it goes, i wasn't aware of the deer further up on the ridge.

But this whole idea that stillhunting, stalking, ground hunting..etc is next to impossible with traditional archery gear, simply isn't true.

sure lots of times it don't work out, but if your patient eventually it does.

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