Few will dare to dispute that western spot and stalk bowhunting for mule deer or elk offers the ultimate hunting challenge. For the eastern bowhunter, who spends the great majority of his hunting life hanging out in treetops, this method of hunting can result in a quiver full of frustrating experiences. For success, spot and stalk bowhunting requires special considerations and equipment selections. But most importantly, this type of bowhunting requires the utmost of patience and persistence from the bowhunter.

CLOTHING
The stalking bowhunter often finds himself in wide open terrain. This situation requires a careful selection of camo pattern; proper camo often makes or breaks a hunt under stalking conditions. Try to select a pattern and color that closely match the surrounding terrain you plan to hunt. A properly selected camo pattern should result in the hunter virtually disappearing in his hunting environment especially when motionless.  Of equal importance is the type of material your outer garment is compose of. I prefer fleece or wool because of the superior silence these materials provide when contact is made with the surrounding brush and vegetation. Elk and deer are extremely sensitive to foreign noises and sounds. A noisy garment in contact with brush is a sure-fire way to destroy an otherwise perfect stalk. Under mild weather conditions, well worn cotton is also an excellent garment choice as well. Avoid clothing produce of nylon or nylon type materials. Because of the noise these materials produce, clothing made of nylon type material must be avoided at all cost.    

I learned an important tip from Terry Scott, an Alberta outfitter who makes a living killing big mule with archery equipment. He always uses cotton knee pads and leather gloves while stalking. After using them once, I will never leave home without them again. Stalking requires a lot of crawling on sometimes rocky, sticky terrain creating habit on hands and knees. These two pieces should be standard equipment for your clothing repertoire.

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT
Expect longer shots under stalking conditions. The average distance of the western bowhunter is anywhere from 30 – 40 yards vs. 20-25 yards for the eastern whitetail bowhunter. An archer should feel comfortable of taking 40-50 yard shots. This is why a good laser range finder is a must-have under stalking conditions. The bowhunter often finds himself in open, unfamiliar terrain; accurate distance estimation is often difficult under these conditions. This makes a laser rangefinder a indispensable tool.

Also, select a bow that is suitable for shooting at the longer distances. This bow design usually have higher brace heights, and modest axle to axle length. Avoid ultra short bows with short axle to axle lengths because of there unforgiving characteristics. Because of longer shots often under windy conditions carbon arrows and open-on-impact broadheads offers added advantages. The fact that a considerable amount of your time stalking is spent on the ground bow quivers should be selected over hip-type quivers for arrow transport.  

Good optics are of utmost importance in spot and stalk situations. Purchase the best set you can afford. When choosing binoculars pick 8-10X power with 35-40mm objectives. This combination provides good magnification and light gathering ability without the use of a tripod. For ultra detail glassing however, a tripod is a necessary piece of equipment. A tripod also allows for long periods of comfortable glassing. A spotting scope can be priceless for judging the size and trophy potential once the animal is located with binoculars. Your equipment list isn’t complete without a good pair of binoculars and a high quality spotting scope. 

STRATERGIES
The golden rule of spot and stalk hunting is that the hunter must spot the animal first. Once the animal is aware of your presence the chances of success drops dramatically. Whenever possible try to climb to a elevated lookout to glass; this provides two advantages. First, it allows the hunter to search a larger area of terrain and most importantly once your animal is located a precise topographical approach can be plotted. The ideal situation is to identify a single animal in a bedded position. Your course should be plotted in a downwind but preferably from a crosswind approach. The key to success in this method of hunting is patience and persistence. The most common mistake made while stalking is to rush your approach. The old cliché of “Go slow and see more” certainly holds true when it comes to spot and stalk hunting. Once you are within 150 -200 yards be sure to search for additional unseen animals. I have had many of stalk blown by an unseen doe or a lesser unrecognized buck. Another rookie mistake is to attempt a stalk when the animal is in a bad position or in the setting of a unpredictable wind. If either of these situations are presence back out and wait until conditions are optimal before attempting another stalk. Once the hunter has broken into the shot zone, shoot only after the animal has obtained a standing position. Never shoot a bedded animal-this is an extremely high risk shot and often results a wounded animal.

Bowhunters, are you looking for a new challenge? Climb out of those treestands and take your bowhunting to new heights with the thrill and challenge of spot and stalk. Patience, persistence, clothing  and the proper equipment are your keys to success.

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Published on: 2005-11-20 (2374 reads)