Earned-The DIY Journal Issue 12 | Page 25

and praying that they would eventually move in my direction to make a shot. I got lucky a few times but most of the time it just provided up close looks and personal education in futility. I quickly learned that I needed to study my prey and how they used the landscape to get more in tune with their behavior. Since the majority of us do not have ESP or carry crystal balls into the field, making an educated guess as to where your target is going requires being in tune with how, why, when and where animals do what they do. Of course, this is not fool proof, but going in armed with this knowledge can certainly give you a leg up.

Case in point:

On my Ibex hunt last year we saw an Ibex use this ledge and bench complex to traverse the mountain range several times that week, especially when he was spooked by other hunters. So, when this billy was bumped by another hunter I knew I had to get to that area quickly. My observations paid off and I was able to get into position in time for this billy to work his way to me before I took him at 75 yards with a broadside shot.

Spend the off-season taking notes:

To make the most accurate guess I typically spend as much time as possible in the off-season studying game and their movements. Paying close attention and literally taking notes on how they use the landscape is necessary. I notate the normal scouting stuff like what they feed on, where they water, bed, etc…. But, I also note how they travel from bedding to feeding, the times of day, the moon phase, the temperature, and the wind. I try to watch how they react to predators, and what their escape routes are when pressured. I try to take note of the terrain features they use, i.e. benches, saddles, drainages, edge, and natural barriers. I look into the trail systems using google earth and verifying on foot early in the season to give me a big picture or a map I can relate to in my head.

Believe it or not, spending the better part of 20 years trying to figure out where to hang treestands to intercept whitetail helped me become a better spot and stalk western hunter. The more you study movement and behavior of a species, the more accurately you can pick a spot to get ahead of them.