While I have blessed to live close to three large parcels of public land,(68,000 acres), (58,000 acres), (44,000 acres), plus a military base that is about half open to hunting(60,000 acres), no way do they probably compare to the area that the hunter in the above video has access to. Still, I grew up "still hunting" very similar to what was shown in the video. The tall scrub pine stands heavy with blowdowns and separated by shallow swamps brought back many a memory. Around here, snow that heavy is rare during the normal gun season, but is common during the later antlerless and late bow seasons.
Several things stuck out to me. Never in my life have I jumped a mature buck that quickly bedded down within 40 yards of where I jumped him, unless he was hurt or sick. Never have I been able to tromp quickly and loudly thru noisy snow, with another person tromping behind me, and walk up within blackpowder range of the same mature buck several times in a single day, again, unless it was already hurt or sick. Maybe those Maine bucks are less pressured and less wary of humans during the hunting season, I dunno. While I did during the early stages of learning how to "stalk" deer, jump small bucks being as obvious as the hunter in the video, I found that as time went on, I spent more time standing still and looking than just walking. Even when walking the steps were slow and deliberate, stopping every other step to look around again, not at all what I saw in the video. Most of the healthy bucks I caught in their beds were not obvious, but the catching of a small movement of antler or the look of something not quite right, after stopping and looking for a period of time. In the video, it seemed the hunter did what I call, "jump shooting", which is getting close enough to a bedded or standing buck, to get a shot off as it takes off and runs. Seems the first several misses were of these types of shots. Many folks consider those low percentage type shots. Those of us used to hunting that way, know that, waiting for a standing broadside shot is going to net you very few deer. Practice at running targets and waiting and being ready for the deer to hit an opening, along with knowing the lead needed is paramount. As is using those rifles and bullets that will help, but still not totally help compensate, for a less than ideal hit. I used a sporterized M1917 bolt action that was extremely accurate and swung well, even if it was heavy and long. Tracking skills are also a must. While the snow in the video makes for tracking a beginner could follow, that is not always the case. So is accepting that low percentage shots will and do mean, a higher percentage of irretrievable deer. Just the way it is....period. Seemed the shot the hunter finally made on the buck was a spine shot, by the way the buck was thrashing. Doubt very much if that is what he was going for. Sometimes even with all the skills one has, luck still helps. The stopping continuously and looking for a period of time will sometimes net you deer, that like rabbits and grouse, will sit tight, waiting for the threat to pass. On the public land I hunt, this is the norm and deer get used to those hunters that will walk right by. Sometimes my still hunting consists of following others as they walk thru the woods and I pick up on movement as the deer watch them, or catch the deer getting up and running back the way the hunters came. after they have passed. Just as is leaving the track of a buck I've jumped after trailing him for a while and going back to where I originally jumped him. Again, like rabbits, deer will tend to circle thinking the danger had followed them out the area and they go back to where they feel safe. Knowing the woods and how to get there quietly and with the wind in your favor, is not luck.
Other things that stuck out was the use of a snow machine to drag out a deer far from any road or trail. Here in Wisconsin, that is a big no-no and one reason in my old age, I have given up on hunting the big woods alone like I used to. A half mile or more drag thru that kind of terrain is not an easy task, even when one is equipped for it. Watching the hunter attempt to drag that buck by it's horns thru the brush and snow made me wonder why he wasn't better prepared for the task. A good drag rope that fits around one's shoulders or attached to a drag stick, along with positioning the front legs behind the horns does wonders. While a cart works when there is no snow, those plastic sleds work very well for dragging in heavy snow. Both are something one needs to go back to the truck and get. Good time to get rid of your rifle and other gear and dress down for the drag.
I know the video does not show us everything, and that the hunter's continuous success means he does indeed know what he is doing. I am not trying to be overly critical. It's just that like many hunting videos, it gives the impression it is easy and it is not. Still hunting the big woods takes woodsmanship and in many cases is worthless, unless the weather is favorable for it. Generally that weather does not mean blue skies and calm winds. Most of the time it's just the opposite. Crunchy snow/leaves without wind to cover the noise means if you see anything it will just be a tail far away in the brush. Those are the days you need to hunt with someone else in the hopes that tail will run in front of them. Being out in nasty weather means your likelihood of getting close enough for a shot is better, but you also have to be diligent on checking that your sights/scope are not snow covered or fogged. Also means that using the sun for navigation is not an option. Know the woods or have a compass. The fact the hunter knew how close to the Canadian border he was getting, odds are he had a tracking ap on his phone and thus had cell coverage, or had a GPS. Problem is for most folks nowadays is that they do not have access to the thousands of acres it takes for this kind of hunting. They are hunting small parcels of 80-200 acres of private land and don;t want to push deer off it to the neighbors sitting on the fenceline. Thus they will never know the thrill of seeing the tips of a pair of antlers above the snow/brush, slowly turning 40 yards away.
Thanks for the memories H&H. Makes me want to head out to the big woods........
