Earn success in a still hunt
SEEKING WHITE-TAIL ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND
By Brian Houle
IF THERE ’ S ONE style of hunting I thrive on , it ’ s still hunting . Trying to beat a whitetailed deer in its own backyard is an incredible challenge . Perfection is required for every movement .
Before the season starts , maps are crucial . Even on your own land , or someone else ’ s you are lucky enough to hunt on , a fresh look at terrain via a topo map helps you look at the land differently , deepening your knowledge . If the land is new to you , a map provides clues – swamps or thicker bush for bedding down , high ridges where deer may soak up the sun mid-morning to afternoon , higher bedding areas where bucks smell the updrafts and cast wary eyes across wider vistas . Spot corridors between hills or along water for ambush sites .
After that map prep , keep your body heat moderated when you ’ re out there . Too many layers overheat you on the move , too few and it ’ s cold when you stop . I have three layers and start with my jacket zipped up . Once I ’ m warm , it ’ s unzipped to mid-chest . Any long pause means a quick zip to keep the heat in .
The primary defensive tool of a white-tail deer is its nose . I minimize human scent by washing clothes in scent-free soap , hanging them dry outside , and storing them in giant sealed bags with cedar or pine boughs inside . Before setting out , I dab drops of pure cedar extract on my boots and clothes .
Then the key scent tactic is to mind the wind . A surefire way to get busted by a whitetail is to walk with the wind at your back . So keep the wind in your face if you can . Depending on topography , you ’ ll can end up with a circling wind , with you at the centre .
Beat this frustration by keeping on the move until you find a consistent wind .
My pace is super-slow , but it works for me . In 2005 , I covered less than 100 yards in a bit more than 30 minutes from our start point and shot a seven-point buck trying to sneak in behind me . In 2014 , the hair was standing up on the back of my neck because the deer sign was so heavy . I stepped gently and slowly between two pines and shot the buck that walked towards me over a hill .
Some hunters walk fast until they find fresh sign , and then slow down . If you think you ’ re moving slowly enough , chances are , you aren ’ t – dial it down another 50 per cent . Stop for a minute or five , eyes and ears alert . I often move only a few metres between stops . The idea is to keep my sounds inconsistent and absorb everything I hear and see , like a heavy acorn harvest – a highenergy deer dinner item – after a wet summer .
Stay on the back of your feet , controlling a foot forward and easing it down gently . If you accidentally make a loud noise , grunt or bleat like an animal . Remember you ’ re not looking for a whole deer . You ’ re looking for a leg , an ear twitch , a brown patch among conifers , a
Print screen of Brian Houle ’ s hunt area . Jeff Morrison ( below left ) still hunting
Cartoon ( below right ): Keith Milne and Gord Coulthart .
tail flip . Once you see part , you ’ ll instantaneously see the whole deer .
Tracking is probably the most important skill for still hunting . Figure out the difference between fresh and old tracks . Tracks that turn around mean the deer may have heard you or knows you ’ re behind it . A deer walking at a normal pace leaves less distance between hoof prints than if it ’ s running , leaving prints spread out .
To increase your chances , study the small stuff – which direction do leaves flip in the rain , what do broken twigs and plants mean ? Turn and watch behind every so often because deer can be sneaky curious like that .
Hunting small tracts of private land in Eastern Ontario can be as successful as still hunting on more expansive Crown land . Just walk at a super-slow pace so you don ’ t run out of land , and focus on well used game trails because deer are creatures of habit .
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