When it comes to deer hunting. Opinions vary as to what the best strategy is at times. The speed we enter and exit the woods is a common topic of discussion among hunters.
New hunters attempting to pick the brains of accomplished hunters find themselves bewildered at times. They can ask several hunters a question, and receive a different answer from them all. So, how do you find out what the best answer is? Sometimes the answer to a question changes with additional information. The style of hunter you are or become is dependent more on the information that you can apply, rather than what you have received.
The two most common hunting styles are stalking and stand hunting. Each one requires a completely different approach and mindset to get the job done. When switching styles, your strategy will often need changing, while there are also parallels. One such parallel is again how fast you should move through the woods. Where you are going and what your intentions are can dictate your speed. Your hunting style will change it also. Some hunters find that they are a much better stand hunter. While others feel more comfortable stalking. You must first know what and why you do something to determine the speed of travel. This means you must have first decided which style you are going to hunt.
While stalking, you start by choosing where you will go. You must then plan according to the wind, because you will be continually moving. You don't worry about scent left behind, you just move super slow covering no more than 150 yards an hour. You will be moving so slow and cannot cover that much territory. This is why some hunters go fast and slow in the woods. They will move at a fast pace through lesser quality territory. When the quality target area is reached, they slow to a snail’s pace. You see the answer to that guy’s question about speed would be both.
When stand hunting, where you are and the wind direction are also your first questions. You want to leave as little scent in the area of your stand as you possibly can. This will cause you to speed up your entry and exit of the woods. If your approach to the stand takes you through a large apple orchard, you should slow your pace because the chance you may run into deer is higher there. When you get into a lesser quality area, you will again speed up your approach to the stand. The high percentage of a deer sighting out weighs against the worry of scent dispersal thus causing the stand hunter to go slow.
On the question of stand hunting the answer again is both.
The terrain you are traversing will also dictate your speed,due to noise and danger issues. Some places cause you to move slowly and you don't want to get hurt or alarm game, so the choice is made for you. At times, the wind will be taking your scent into an area you wish it wouldn't. This can happen when you only have that place to hunt or the wind switches. This will cause you to double time it.
If this happens to me, I spray some scent in the air every few steps, and move through as quickly as I safely can. More examples as to how answering a question can be more than one-sided.
Regardless of how fast you go or what style of hunting you choose to do, you must always account for your wind and sound. I do this by drawing a map of every site that I hunt. I mark the directions and stand locations on it, and review it before the hunt. If the wind will be taken through a bedding area, on my way to the stand, I know to avoid the site and choose another.
Sound can be a major problem, at times. Dry leaves and branches along with prickers and tall goldenrod make your approach detectable to deer from hundreds of yards away. I combat this by cutting and raking trails. This can aid you whether making a speedy entry, or stalking your way in. This is one case where getting in and out fast isn't in question. Don't hang out for days; get the job done as fast as possible and get out.
You see some answers aren't as easy as a yes or no. Sometimes what is right in one light is wrong in another. Good hunters learn to be flexible and do what the terrain and wind dictates. In hindsight, the column should have been titled “Sometimes deer hunters need to get in and out fast.”
Good wishes and happy hunting.