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I'm as loud as a band practicing.

DustOfMan

Junior Member
Through my several times out scouting locations, and ultimately up to today when I first got out in the woods with my climber, every step I take seems loud as hell. On top of that I have no clue how to get to where I'm going in the dark without my light on. To get deep, I can't seem to find an easily accessible path. How do I get around these problems?
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
Well I'd start by using a light. Plenty of guys here have walked up on deer by shining a light at them. They don't know what to make of it, so use a light.

Secondly, scouting for access and making the trail with a GPS or flagging is as important as scouting for deer IMO. If it's the first trip in, that's tough. But if you know where your stand is and have been there, then knowing the trail in/out is crucial.

Lastly, the leaves are loud and there's not much to be done to stay quiet. I'd rather get where I'm going than attempt to be quiet. Some deer will tolerate a person on a stroll, but not one attempting to sneak. There's techniques for walking that will help, but in these dry crunchy leaves, not much helps.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
Use your light... Don't worry about it. Get some reflective tacks and place them along your route. Move through the woods and get to your spot as quick as you can without sweating. Don't mess around. The quicker you finish making noise the quicker the critters forget about it. It's dark and they don't know what you are. I walked in this morning, made a ton of noise since the leaves were so crispy... Not five minutes after sitting down, a buck walked right under me. Deer are used to hearing noise in the woods.... Just get to your spot and get it over with.
 

cotty16

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
A lot of times, especially this time of year, that walking will attract a buck thinking your a doe or another buck intruding. The dry leaves drive ya nuts, but nothing you can do. Just get your butt to where it needs to be.

I remember a hunt where the frost made the leaves like egg shells. I wasn't halfway up my tree after making all kinds of noise walking when a shooter 8 came right to me. He was looking for love in all the wrong places.
 
Great advice to you DOM. Only thing I can add is if your stand and all are whats making the noise take the time to add things that will keep it from clanking and rattling. If it's the leaves like I think you meant you have to get it in your head there isn't much you can do about it. One thing I've done is carry a walking stick. That allows you to make that third leg noise now and then as you are walking. Add a few more pauses as you go but other than that just head in to your spot.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I carry a can call with me in my hand. If I trip or make a crazy loud noise I'll stop moving and roll the can. Fawns are clumsy also and like to jump around from time to time making a ton of noise. I've also heard of people doing the same thing with turkey calls. It also works great when traveling with kids or new hunters in the woods.
 

Joel

Senior Member
3,049
113
Centerburg, Ohio
Drives me nuts when the leaves are crunchy and it's quiet in the woods. Then I hear a 1/2 pound squirrel making twice as much noise and I feel better.
 

Diablo54

Senior Member
7,082
126
Outside
I just walk in and try to be quiet. It's nearly impossible. You can try to slam your toe down and then your heel right behind it as you walk. You will sound a lot like a deer if you go slow. But it's a lot of effort.


 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
I just walk in and try to be quiet. It's nearly impossible. You can try to slam your toe down and then your heel right behind it as you walk. You will sound a lot like a deer if you go slow. But it's a lot of effort.


Or heel first then toe. I've done this. Takes a lot of effort and patience to try to match the cadence of a deer. I did it over the weekend. Had one deer quietly leave the area after I was in the stand. Came back 30-45min later (assuming it was the same single deer.)
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,691
177
Ohio
use a flashlight if for no other reason than for safety. some trigger happy moron might shoot you in the dark, especially if you are trying to sound like a deer. sometimes I drag my bottom bow limb on the ground behind me when I'm leaving a stand in the dark. makes me sound like a possum or a noisy fat coon foraging. other times I have just marched out of the woods as fast as I can go without falling down or poking my eyes out. definitely do the deer walk, heel-toe when approaching a stand in daylight or dark if I don't have quiet path made already.
 

Joel

Senior Member
3,049
113
Centerburg, Ohio
Yeah. Flashlight. Remember the guy I know that got shot in the leg by his dumbass hunting buddy? I still get chills thinking about that when I walk to or from my stand in the dark.
 

moundhill

Senior Member
Supporting Member
5,327
103
Hebbardsville..
If I'm walking in I do the "deer walk" if the leaves are crunchy. I like to walk in nice and slow. Alot of times, on the way out though, I'll just walk at a fast pace just so I can get out faster. And yes, I always use a flashlight when it's dark, usually on red.