Help me stalk a deer...

dryflyelk · Jul 22, 2007

OK guys, my preseason scouting turned up a dandy buck the other night. I am exited about this big guy and I'm looking for tips on closing the deal come opening morning or evening of archery season. he's about a 28" deer with great fronts and tall but weak forks in back. He's definitely a wall hanger in my book.

I found him glassing a high mountain basin above timberline. I positioned myself on one of the ridges looking down into the bowl. The bowl is a typical high mountain, above timberline area. The steeper parts are covered in rock and toward the bottom, there is a lot of brush and a few smallish quakies. Not a real bowl, I guess, but a high mountain valley, as it empties into a valley below. I first spotted several does and a fawn playing in the bottom of the basin. I watched them for a bit and then a few smaller bucks showed themselves. They were nervous and bouncing around like something was bugging them. They ended up feeding over the other side of the basin. I was about to leave, but hiked down the ridge a bit, and ended up spotting a the big guy bedded toward the bottom of the basin. He was in the open, or so it appeared from above, and was relaxed and watching down the mountain. I watched him until dark, and he didn't budge.
I'm definitely going to try and get up there and check him out a few more times before the hunt, but I'd like to see if any of you guys have any experience putting the sneak on deer like this. It will be very difficult, but I don't think impossible. I could also have a friend spot for me. What would you do? Come from the bottom, more wooded, areas, or from the top, more wide open and rocky? Any tips?

couesbitten · Jul 22, 2007

Sounds like fun! I think that you should spend some time watching him out feeding at first light. If he's feeding out in the open and then coming back to a quakie/brush patch to bed, try to get positioned between him and his bedding area, and maybe he'll give you a shot on his way back to bed. You'd definately have to come up out of the brush and trees in the bottom. Scott

gb22 · Jul 22, 2007

This is my "vice". The big deer almost always pick a great vantage place. I would advice you not to get too close now. Watch with optics.

The last advisor said to ambush him. That may work, I honestly cannot say I've ever tried ambushing. I've had pretty good success with old-fashioned stalking. Get above him and do so early. If I really wanted him, I'd go up the night before and sleep in a hole in the rock (I've been accused of fanaticism and may be guilty, but they look cool on the wall.). I'd crawl on my stomach for as long as it took. Watch the wind and make no noise....I'm not the first to say take off your shoes and going in stocking feet. Once you close the distace to 400 yards or less (I assume you can close the deal from there on in.), just wait. Sooner or later, he'll stand up and he's yours. They are good, but they can't smell if you keep the wind, they can't hear if you don't make noise and they won't see you if you keep something between you and them. It works with patience. I got within 7 feet of a huge bedded 4x4 (net 202 typical) after 5 hours of bellycrawling; I had an arrow, so I had to get close. It really will work, if you are careful and don't blow him out in the preseason.

MTQuivers · Jul 22, 2007

I actually prefer stalking mule deer in the open. In this scenerio you can keep your eyes on them the entire stalk. If they have their heads down feeding move a little. If they look away make your move. Stay low and crawl if necessary but keep your eyes on the buck at all times. I prefer sitting on my butt and sliding down hill with my feet a little at a time and sitting up just enough to see the deer. This works great in open steep country above the treeline. Use the rocks and brush to cover movement. I always approach mule deer from above, especially in steep country. I also don't like stalking bedded deer. When they are bedded they are much more alert (unless they are sleeping) and quiet. When they are up feeding they are more preoccupied and they make more noise which covers some of the noise you may make. Sometimes you do everything right and it still does not work. Bowhunting mule deer is very difficult, but you have taken the first step which is finding the deer. Good luck.

ICMDEER · Jul 23, 2007

It's amazing the differences in answers you get from all the people here. We always let the bucks bed, then let them "settle" in for the day. Mid morning, the wind usually starts to blow more steadily, and that's when we stalk them in their bed. We used to throw rocks sometimes to get them to stand up, but that's not a real successful technique on big muleys. (OK for yearlings and two year olds.) Crawl/stalk quietly to within 30-40 yards, then wait for him to stand. Let him look away and slide an arrow in his ribs. Sometimes you can shoot him in his bed, but big bucks bed in good places.

We don't have as much luck stalking bucks up feeding. They are moving targets, and are usually with a couple or more of other bucks. It's tough to slide in on the one you want with a bow.

Let him bed, wait for the steady wind and slip in on him. Good luck.

MichaelJ · Jul 24, 2007

If you get above him, don't peak the ridge until the sun is coming up... night time thermals are still flowing downhill until the temp starts rising. Wait for midmorning like above and try your stock... if he's bedded, scout out your stalk... pick 3 check points, IE: A rock, a snag, and a small pine. Don't peak at the buck after checkpoint 2! Unless you're already within eyesight of him... if you have cover, use it and don't expose yourself after checkpoint 2 until ready for the shot. My .02

Michael
"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

slamdunk · Jul 24, 2007

Here's my two cent's, for what it's worth.

I can't stress enough to keep watching this buck as much as your time allows you too. Study him, watch where he travels too and from for his watering and feeding, morning and evening. If you do this enough, i guarantee you will find a place that he will make a mistake....set up right there and let him make it on the day you are sitting there with your asassination equipment in your hands.

If he's not being bothered by other people, there's a very high chance he'll continue what he's been doing because he's comfortable and trusts it. Big bucks are very habitual when they are comfortable (that's why lions kill so many big bucks) and if you pay close attention to this bad boy, you'll get him when he makes that mistake.

Good luck!!
SLAMDUNK