Looking for tips to stalk closer to quarry.

[Medic3388]

Hey guys, my name is Jasson and I am new to hunting. I hunt with a rifle but being an amateur, I was hoping to get some tips and helpful advice from the guys who know how to stalk hence the bow hunting section. I would like to get closer to my quarry to make better shots that would be on target with minimal judging errors. Can anyone give me some advice that I can use in the field to increase my chances of putting meat on the table.
I hunt in the Eastern Cape so it's a lot of dense bush with small sections of open grass. I will be hunting Blesbuck, Kudu, Bushbuck and Impala mainly with the odd Warthog.
Any help would be appreciated Thanks.

[martinf]

Check wind directions. Walk stop listen.

If you want to get close you should not rush your approach. The rest is luck.

[Pappabeer]

Hi Jason, and welcome.

Wind from the front and sun from your back as far as possible. If you think you are walking slow enough, half your pace. Stop to listen and look frequently. You often see nothing when looking from the standing position, but when you sit down you pick up the animal's legs or tail moving.

[alecjohnson]

get yourself a good shoe with softer soles they will not last as long sa normal hiking boots but you make less noise, stalk with your outside heel rolling your foot in this also lessen the sound.

[Piet Pille]

Good Morning Medic,

My best advice would be to go with someone with experience for the first couple of hunts. Observe their every move and don't be shy to ask questions. That's the quickest you'll catch up.

Secondly, I would say wind direction. There is absolutely no way you will get close to your quarry if its down-wind from you.

Next, I would say - Move SLOWLY..!! Slow = Quiet. Almost all animals' hearing and sense of smell is FAR superior to a human's. Your only advantage is sight, anticipation and the element of surprise. None of these are applicable if your quarry smell/hear you first.

Hope this helps.

Happy hunting

Regards,

[375fanatic]

find a impala dumg pile then you dig a shollow hole in the pile and put the cloths that you are going to wear in the hole and cover it with the dung take them out early the next morning and wear them. do not bath with soap just rinse your body night before .

I know its radical but it surely helps if you want to get realy close

[Hugo]

ek het een tip


As jy jouself kan hoor loop, dan loop jy te hard.

Oja en, as jy dink jy loop te stadig, loop nog bietjie stadiger.

[Medic3388]

Thanks SO much for all the advice. Really appreciate the help. Will at least you guys have given me some strong points to work towards. : )

[Flip Nel]

Ek kyk altyd eerste na die wind, as ek hom nie op my gesig voel nie jag ek nie en dan baie stadig stap, ek stap gewoonlik 'n paar tree, gaan staan en luister vir 'n paar minute en staap weer 'n paar tree, op die plaas waar ek gewoonlik jag is dit klipperig en ruig, meeste van die tyd hoor ek 'n tak wat breek , skeur of klippe wat raakgetrap word.

Dit gee my die rigting waar die wild is en dan bekruip ek hulle baie stadig. Ek skiet baie meer wild nadat ek hulle gehoor het as wat ek stap en hulle eerste sien. Gebruik vaal kleure iets wat nie uitstaan nie.

[Medic3388]

Ok one more question please. If you get to the farm and you head, in the direction the wind is blowing, what signs do you look for or how do you know there will be animals in that direction? Do you always try and walk towards water?

[JAGTERSREG-JRM]

Ok one more question please. If you get to the farm and you head, in the direction the wind is blowing, what signs do you look for or how do you know there will be animals in that direction? Do you always try and walk towards water?

Firstly do not move in the direction of the wind.Everything will smell you a mile away.Always wind in your face, it will be good to know where water is but mostly work your way towards water.Often you walk into animals on their way to or from water.

[Flip Nel]

Ok one more question please. If you get to the farm and you head, in the direction the wind is blowing, what signs do you look for or how do you know there will be animals in that direction? Do you always try and walk towards water?

Like I said before always wind in your face, ask the farmer and the workers on the farm where is the best place to do some hunting, they will know the farm and wil be able to tell you. In the afternoon I like to walk away from the water with the wind in your face, a lot of time the animals will be on their way to water and will be walking making noise. Look for well worn footpaths that gives you a good idea where and how much game is there. If you are walking in a foodpath with lots of spoor walk even slower.

[Piet Pille]

Ok one more question please. If you get to the farm and you head, in the direction the wind is blowing, what signs do you look for or how do you know there will be animals in that direction? Do you always try and walk towards water?

Hallo medic,

Dis baie raar dat jy die geleentheid sal kry om alleen op 'n heel vreemde stuk grond te gaan jag. Gewoonlik sal die plaaseienaar saamgaan of 'n gids verskaf wat sal weet waar die meeste wild sal wees op daardie stadium. Om wild te gaan soek sonder enige vooraf kennis van die grond is bitter moeilik en maar 'n mogge-troffe storie.

Sou jy wel die geleentheid kry om alleen te gaan jag, sal die eienaar jou gewoonlik in 'n spesifieke kamp aflaai waar hy weet daar is van die spesies waarna jy opsoek is. Daar is 2 metodes wat jy kan gebruik.

1) Kyk die windrigting en laat hy jou aflaai in die wind-af kant van die kamp. Dan loop jy teen die wind deur die kamp soos in die vorige skrywes beskryf. 'n Klein sakpas GPS is goudwerd om jou rigting te hou en ook 'n bok te merk wat jy op die wyse skiet.

2) Kyk of daar 'n hoogte in die betrokke kamp is. Soos 'n koppie, windpomp, duin of self groot boom. Vanuit hierdie hoogte kan die omgewing dan deeglik bespied word vir beweging mbv 'n goeie verkyker. Indien jy die bok gewaar, word jou bekruiproete dan uitgewerk tov die windrigting. Dikwels sal dit beteken dat jy jou prooi moet sirkel totdat jy in 'n windaf posisie is en dan van daar af begin stadig bekruip.

Hoop dit help

[Medic3388]

Baie dankie and many thanks to all the helpful guys here. I am really grateful for all the helpful hints and advice you have given me. I will put it to good use and look forward to one day passing on my experience to those willing to learn as you all have done here today for me! I am learning that hunting comrades is like a brother on arms.

[Louis Kriel]

On a lighter note stay away from bake beans and onions/garlic the previous night!

[Johan Nel]

Medic,
When you are walking so very sloooowwwww.... as was described above and stopping often, the idea is to observe the area around you, trying to find/see game before they see you. In general it will be movement of some sort that will catch your eye, a ear flicking, a head bobbing, a tail swishing, animals moving as they browse or graze. Then when you are stalking in this fashion and if it is in bushveld or bushy area, try to look through the bush and not just at it. Often game is in or on the other side of a bush or vegetation. In bushveld areas one is more inclined to find or notice game at fairly short range, due to the vegetation. Once you learn to do that, you are more inclined to notice game.
If the terrain is more open or grassveld areas, you will be able to observe game from a longer distance, and then the challenge is to approach/stalk those animals unobserved. Doing this successfully is challenging and when successful is most satisfying.

[Medic3388]

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that Saturday I went hunting bushbuck with friends. We had beaters and dogs to chase the buck out of the thick. Even though we had the help to chase the animals out, I still took your guys advice I made sure the sun was at my back and the wind in my face. I did not stand on the top of the hill but in front of a bush and I stood behind a little tree to cover my shape. I am pretty sure I saw the most buck come past my way for the day with one running less than two meters in front of me as if he did not know I was even there until it was too late. He is still running as I need a little more practice with running shots BUT I did get my Buck who ran past me and into an opening on the other side of the little kloof about 150m. He stood side on and looked to see if he could still spot danger, at which time , I thanked the Lord and dropped my Buck on the spot. So long story short, I just wanted to thank all you guys again and I will still practice my stalking when I get the chance.

[JAGTERSREG-JRM]

Always good news......I am sure I speak for all of us CONGRATS and welcome to the wonder and privilege of hunting. I am sure you will remember this one for years to come.