Hunting Tips - Tracking and Stalking Techniques

Effective tracking and stalking are crucial skills for any successful hunter. These techniques allow you to locate game, approach them undetected, and position yourself for a clean, ethical shot.

Tracking: Reading the Ground

Tracking is the art of following the signs left by an animal. It requires patience, observation, and an understanding of animal behavior.

Identifying Tracks

Always study the size, shape, and gait of the animal's tracks to determine the species, size, and speed of travel.

Sign	Description	Interpretation
Hoof/Paw Prints	Shape, size, and depth of the impression	Species, size, and weight of the animal
Stride Length	Distance between successive prints	Pace (walking, trotting, running)
Droppings (Scat)	Size, consistency, and contents	Recent activity, diet, and general health
Rubs and Scrapes	Damage to trees or ground from antlers/hooves	Indicates territory marking or pre-rut activity

Interpreting Spoor

Spoor refers to all the signs left by an animal. Learning to interpret these signs will help you predict the animal's next move.

• Pace and Urgency: Deep, widely spaced tracks indicate a running or fleeing animal. Shallow, consistent tracks suggest a relaxed, feeding, or meandering pace.
• Direction of Travel: Look for indicators like slightly overturned leaves, direction of bent grass, and the direction the toe points.
• Age of Spoor: Determine how recently the animal passed by checking the freshness of scat, the drying of moisture in the tracks, or the presence of dew/frost on the tracks. This is a critical skill to master for successful hunting.

Stalking: The Art of Undetected Movement

Stalking is the process of moving closer to game without being seen, heard, or smelled. This requires blending into the environment and understanding the animal's senses.

Wind Direction

The wind is your most important factor. Always position yourself downwind of the game to prevent your scent from being carried to them.

• Use a wind-check product, such as powder or milkweed fluff, every few minutes to confirm the wind direction.
• If the wind swirls, hold your position until the wind settles in a predictable direction.

The Stalker's Walk

Minimize sound and movement by using a slow, deliberate walk often referred to as the "hunter's walk" or "fox walk."

1. Heel to Toe: Gently place the heel of your foot down first, then slowly roll your weight forward to the ball of your foot and toes.
2. Obstacle Avoidance: Never step on dead branches, dry leaves, or noisy rocks. Step in soft dirt, moss, or on the bases of trees.
3. Head Movement: Move your head slowly and deliberately, scanning small sections of terrain at a time. Avoid quick, jerky movements that can catch a deer's attention.

Camouflage and Concealment

Your goal is to become an extension of the terrain.

• Wear camouflage that matches the local vegetation.
• Use natural cover—trees, brush, and terrain features—to break up your outline. Do not stand directly behind a narrow object; instead, position yourself slightly to the side to utilize its width for concealment.
• When a potential target is looking in your direction, freeze immediately, even if mid-step. Wait until the animal resumes feeding or turns its head before moving again.