Getting to Deer hunting area not so quietly

[CDN008]

Hi,

I am new to the forum and hunting. Only have had the miserable luck of losing the deer draw for three years now since i started and although i could have bagged a Doe each of my first two years I never so much as seen a buck in person. Meaning I still havent got my first deer.

So this year found a few new spots with my game camera that have bucks around again on crown land. I will rely on finding a spot to sit as i don't have a climber and will rely on wind, scent proofing and natural cover as best i can to keep hidden. I know some will say get a climber or set up a stand but that's going to be a problem for next year unfortunately.

The problem then is this, I don't have any real way to get to these spots silently. One of them is 30min hike into crown land through the forest, with the leaves on the ground its especially tough no matter how slow i go to stay silent. For this one in the past i have tried going 2/3rds there quickly and last 1/3rd slow. In the complete darkness i have taken well over an hour to get there just to stay cool and not end up all sweaty and for silence. The other spots are actually quite close to a road but still in the bush, same problem. For context I am hunting west/north west of Ottawa in dense forests.

So i figure i have a few options, try to stay relatively quite and go slow and take a long time to get there. Or just go quickly, within reason, so still slower than a regular walk the dog speed but just not worry so much about a few broken twigs and crunching leaves so i can get there set up and then wait.

[Bowjob]

usually when i go with my father its about the same amount of time your saying here.

we usually try and get to our spot right at dawn. enough natural light that you can see where your going but at the same time barley even the crack of dawn. we dont worry to much about leaves and branches snapping. we just take our time walking through the woods and paying attention to what your going to step on.

dont drag your feet at all.

if anything well walk for a couple minutes then stop and look around and keep doing that until we get to our spot. if your with someone else it helps to step int he same spot/ footprint they just stepped in and walk at the same time same pace.

another option is to find a closer spot i guess but you'll never be quiet enough especially in the fall, keep trying youll get one.

im not alot of help i know,
im also a newish hunter, always was around it and went along with my dad all the time, just recently got my licence. just trying to pass along the info ive heard and was taught along the years. im sure others have a lot of advice on this topic as well.

[oaknut]

Welcome to the forum,

Everyone and everything makes noise while traversing the woods, normal crunching of leaves isn't overly alarming to any animal. Most times, especially in the dark the deer just move out of the way as we walk in, you won't even know they are there. Once at your spot, quiet time must begin. I have had bucks during the rut show up at first light to me walking in as they want to see who is in their area.

We all wish we could fly on a frosty morning but we all make the same noises.

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[MikePal]

Deer, when they are up, are constantly on the move. So when you head to your stand you always run the risk you're going to cross paths.

It's a little easier to mitigate the problem for the late afternoon/evening hunts. By going in early and letting the woods quiet down again. Deer aren't as active mid day (bedded down) so if you can try to get to your stand before 2:00 for the Dusk hunt when they are moving. Also if you do bump a deer, then there is a chance they will return a couple hrs later.

Morning hunts are a little ticker, your going to your stand while they are still actively feeding. Especially hard if you hunt the tree lines. Best to find a stand that is on a transition trail between where they bed down and where they are feeding. Get to it as quietly as possible and wait to ambush them as they are heading 'home'.

Trail cams are your best friend for this exact reason, you can in time pattern their behavior and see what their daily routine is and then set up a few hours early.

Good luck it will take time to learn their habits in a bush you have never hunted before.

[marky.mark]

Your always going to make noise, never be quiet enough and always rack your brain with negative thoughts about how badly u must be screwing everything up. Just get to your stand that will allow a decent amount of time before shooting hours, don’t run and deliberately try to snap, crackle and pop everything in the bush, just slow and steady and you’re fine. You’re never going to be perfect and hell you may bump deer from time to time. But what, there is only one deer in the woods? No! of course not. So relax don’t stress about it. Just get in there and get settled. Enjoy yourself. Life will stress u out enough. Don’t let crunchy leaves while deer hunting be your cherry on top!!

[canadaman30]

If your solo hunting and can't get an atv to your deer, take the spot closer to a road. Walk the dog speed and don't worry

[Bushmoose]

As Marky mark say's ^^^^^

It's all part of hunting, so embrace it. Welcome to forum and good luck!

[GW11]

As the others have said about noise... don't worry about it.

What I would like to add is don't get yourself down about not being successful yet. Sometimes it takes quite a few seasons for things to work out. I used to hunt in a camp where you would be lucky to even see a deer let alone get a shot at one. As successful as everyone appears to be, even folks who have shot dozens of deer will go through dry spells. You're seeing deer, that means you're doing something right.

Good luck and keep at it.

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[Fox]

If your solo hunting and can't get an atv to your deer, take the spot closer to a road. Walk the dog speed and don't worry

Or plan to drag out the deer, no need to have an atv to pull a deer out of the bush. One big doe I shot with the bow, the deer ran down a very steep hill and crossed a creek. Had to wade through the creek then float her back across, gut her then start dragging. Was a little more than 1km from the car, yes car, no truck here to load it into either. Sure it works up a sweat but no reason to have to not hunt a viable spot because you do not have an ATV to drag it out, just plan to drag it out yourself and have the gear to do it.

[toddy]

I find deer far less jumpy when its dark and they are actually far more curious. I have had it a few times where I am treed at dusk and the deer eats in my bait for a bit until I get inpatient. I start tapping my foot on the stand, instead of the deer blowing and snorting and getting the F out of dodge they get all curious and start coming closer to the stand looking up trying to figure me out. I have even started talking to the deer. Same response. I've had them hang around until I start to climb down, then they bound about 50 yards, watch me climb down and come back to the bait when the coast is clear. This NEVER happens in broad daylight lol, the deer would carry on like they just saw a ghost. Twice at one of my spots I had gone in well before daylight, climbed the tree, I'm in the midst of making noise and getting myself situated for silence and I glance down to see multiple deer within 20 yards of the stand . . . I haven't been in the stand 3 minutes how did this happen? lol I have no scientific evidence but I think they can't see as well at night or something, or they cant skyline you as easily. Not really sure.

My advice would be to not drag your feet and to trim any branches along your walk that results in them dragging across you cloths. Just try and eliminate unnatural sounds.