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Still hunting tactics.

For a cheap but very accurate "beater" that you don't care about getting a little dinged up and just a solid shooting bolt action, you can also look at the Remington 770 or their newer 783. I have the synthetic stocked 770 in .243 and its kind of heavy but It shoots the heck out of the deer and is very accurate. I think I bought it brand new with the scope in a package the big R was putting out for like $300. It has the sporter style contour barrel. I don't like bull barrels for my deer guns. I hunt in mostly close range wooded hill terrain and my longest rifle taken buck was about 125 yards away. The stock came black so I went over it with alcohol to degrease it and2020 Gun 8 12122020.jpg spray painted it a two tone olive drab - tan color and this rifle has been my go to since centerfires were legalized here in WNY during the big game season like around 2010 or thereabouts. If its not this I'm usually using my Henry .30-.30. I installed a Leupold 2-7x handgun scope on it for the quick eye relief. I sent it in to Leupold and had the standard duplex reticle changed out for $70.00 to the German MK 4 post type reticle. I have mounted it both right side up and upside down and currently use it in the standard "post up" type position. This gun shoots nicely accurate at my normal hunting ranges but the matte bluing and the very nice American Walnut on it keep me from using it much when I know I'm going to be hard on my gear. I switch off between both during throughout the season and also still use a shotgun as we have a no rifle zone in one of my no hunting areas too. A shotgun with a red dot is a great saddle hunting firearm too. You may want to also consider some kind of AR Platform rifle chambered in .350 legend or .450 bushmaster etc. I have the .450 but haven't really gotten it completely dialed in yet. On occasion I also like to go out with an AR platform .223 for deer and yotes. IMG_5394.jpg
 
I have only been able to stalk 1 deer that was bedded. It was a 2 yo 8 pt. Wind was blowing around 40 mph and it was 37 degrees. I was freezing and decided that being on stand was stupid. They had to be bedded since the leaves were coming down like crazy that there was no way they are mobile. I started a slow walk back to the trailer and spotted what I thought was a log. Decided to be stealthy and start a stalk practice. He was facing 90 degrees from the wind and away from me. I got to about 30 yards and he turned his head to the wind and was smelling. Marlin 45-70 made sure he did nit go far. Mostly luck on this stalk, but a lot of fun none the less. I was sure this was a log that looked like a deer until I saw the rack move. He was behind a thick holly bush.
 
I have only been able to stalk 1 deer that was bedded. It was a 2 yo 8 pt. Wind was blowing around 40 mph and it was 37 degrees. I was freezing and decided that being on stand was stupid. They had to be bedded since the leaves were coming down like crazy that there was no way they are mobile. I started a slow walk back to the trailer and spotted what I thought was a log. Decided to be stealthy and start a stalk practice. He was facing 90 degrees from the wind and away from me. I got to about 30 yards and he turned his head to the wind and was smelling. Marlin 45-70 made sure he did nit go far. Mostly luck on this stalk, but a lot of fun none the less. I was sure this was a log that looked like a deer until I saw the rack move. He was behind a thick holly bush.
I have always wanted a 45-70 for this type hunting but never found one I could afford cause I kinda want it in the rolling block platform. In the thick stuff we have around here still hunting distances aren't very far but there are some Weyerhaeuser tree farms that have some pretty long shooting lanes but most of these are on private hunting clubs and around here they run dogs alot so still hunting these spots usually isn't very productive!
 
I am looking at the wolf or the optima -- which one do you have?
I have the wolf and i think it is about 20 years old. My buddy hated how much he had to clean it,but i went to blackhorn loose powder and that reduced the cleaning by a lot.
 
I have always wanted a 45-70 for this type hunting but never found one I could afford cause I kinda want it in the rolling block platform. In the thick stuff we have around here still hunting distances aren't very far but there are some Weyerhaeuser tree farms that have some pretty long shooting lanes but most of these are on private hunting clubs and around here they run dogs alot so still hunting these spots usually isn't very productive!

The 45-70 is amazing round. There is really no tracking required. You can eat up to the entrance and exit wound. It does little damage to the meat. Thick brush is no issue as you know a 325 grain bullet moving at 2000 FPS is pushing a ton of energy. If I could only have 1 gun 45-70 is what it is. Can take anything in North America with it, rifle is not extremely heavy, and can be loaded from Mouse Fart to Hiroshima loads. One of my favorite rounds for heavy brush. Can even be loaded with shot if you reload and works good for small game up close. I use it a lot when still hunting up at my property. Rifles are ok up there.

Where I live cannot use rifles. I normally use my shotgun or during muzzle loader I use my CVA for large fields. Im comfortable taking shots to 400 with that one. When in brush I will be honest here and like using my Slow twist short Traditions Hawkins with a patched round ball.
 
Zach from the hunting public put a stalk on a north Dakota buck that was awesome. Good video to watch.

Yes that was a good one. Another good one was when Jake killed that big velvet buck in Nebraska I belive. Used that old barn to hide behind until he started to move. One where he shot the buck off the ground at like 7 yards.
 
Do you have the mental and emotional capacity to take an hour to only move 100 yards? 50?

ive found the two most important details of the successful stalks ive had were moving slow(not the laymen’s version. I mean really really slow), and learning how to stop in a position you can make a shot without much movement. Stopping because you cracked a stick and out in the open is usually less effective than taking one more step to get in a shadow or next to a tree.

that’s all I got. Slow down.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said x10^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Killed exactly 8 deer still hunting and one very good buck and could have killed many more small bucks and does with a firearm and you literally must move slower than you ever humanly thought you'd have the patience for. Never killed a deer still hunting with a bow, always got busted drawing or just plane blew it. Now my private land are so small and I have kids to take hunting, still hunting is just not advisable.

I knew I had gotten pretty decent at still hunting when during a day of IMO prefect low wind soggy wet snow fall I was still hunting and leaning up against a good sized gnarly oak with lots of limbs heard a turkey yelping and it sounded like it should be in my lap. I spent a long long time very carefully looking about for the turkey but couldn't locate it. I moved to the next tree some 8'-10' away and then almost soiled myself when the big Tom turkey in an eruption of noise flew out of the tree I was just leaning against. In over 25 years of turkey hunting never seen a turkey let alone a big Tom remain on roost over two hours past sun up.

If you are covering more than 1 foot per minuet you are moving WAY to fast. Also absolutely forget about still hunting on dry low wind and dead calm days UNLESS it is a day during or immediately fallowing a period of very heavy rain or wet soggy snow that has utterly soaked all the ground litter so you are essentially walking on soaked newspaper and only still hunt when conditions strongly favor it. If the ground and leaf litter has been soaked by several days of very heavy rain or if it is covered by heavy wet snow, or if a the heavy snow is melting due to above freezing temps, you can still hunt effectively on very calm days.

Conditions of high wind or medium wind and light to medium rain or medium or heavy snow fall are all perfect still hunting conditions. Snow fall that is fallowed by extremely low temps makes still hunting on calm days also pointless because of every step you take will crunch like your stepping into a bucket full factory fresh Kelloggs Corn Flakes Also a pair of no stronger than 8x and preferably 7x binoculars are you new best friend I glass my bass off before I move then move a little glass and repeat.

I have included my 3rd best and most recent buck taken still hunting in 2016. I have no pics on my computer of any other bucks I took still hunting as none of my phones prior to that had cameras. Actually my best accomplishment while still hunting as he was bedded down with a doe and it was the sixth day of our gun season and I was still hunting to my evening stand when I spotted first the doe then him. I got to within 50-60 yards and grunted with my call till he stood up and I shot him after a short run2016 BUCK 2.png he was DRT.
 
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I still hunt blacktail in our high altitude bogs out here on Kauai but I use a .3030 or a .270win. I have a dog I’ve trained to still hunt the thicker stuff with me. She stays by me and helps indicate deer and flush bedding areas, I’ll use my lever .3030 with her. I’ll still hunt open bogs with my .270 and use calls and rattle. Key is to find hot areas and work sloooooooow and don’t make sudden movements. Work inside the edge just off from downwind. Call and wait, something will circle to the lowest area and work up to the sound. Key is to stay just off wind of where you expect them to come in on and play the waiting game. If that spot doesn’t work within an hour move on. For me the best time to still hunt is in the early afternoon when the deer are getting up to adjust to the new wind or need a snack. Don’t forget to bring your saddle to use as a seat!
 
The 45-70 is amazing round. There is really no tracking required. You can eat up to the entrance and exit wound. It does little damage to the meat. Thick brush is no issue as you know a 325 grain bullet moving at 2000 FPS is pushing a ton of energy. If I could only have 1 gun 45-70 is what it is. Can take anything in North America with it, rifle is not extremely heavy, and can be loaded from Mouse Fart to Hiroshima loads. One of my favorite rounds for heavy brush. Can even be loaded with shot if you reload and works good for small game up close. I use it a lot when still hunting up at my property. Rifles are ok up there.

Where I live cannot use rifles. I normally use my shotgun or during muzzle loader I use my CVA for large fields. Im comfortable taking shots to 400 with that one. When in brush I will be honest here and like using my Slow twist short Traditions Hawkins with a patched round ball.
I’m curious as what constitutes as a mouse fart
 
Move slow, try to stay in shadows. On the ground I always find I have more luck if I have something behind me to break up my outline, stop and look very often, try to stop walking on a "third step"...deer and almost every 4 legged animal always stop on odd step so it helps to sound like you belong in the woods, pay extra attention to foot placement because a small stick can ruin your hunt really fast, try to pre plan your next steps so your not stuck walking through crunchy leaves or twigs in the wide open, and finally expect to see less deer! All said it is my favorite way to hunt as I can't stand just waiting and waiting and waiting! The deer don't always come to so sometimes I take it to them!
 
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