Getting to deer stand

I was wondering, as I was walking to my stand last night, and the leaves were very loud with every step. How do you guys walk to you tree stand. By this I mean, do you take a still hunt (3-4 steps, stop, wait, continue) or do you walk straight in and not worry about the noise.

I prefer to still hunt, in case there is something moving through that I could spook, but wanted to get a few other theories on the subject. The dry leaves have made for an interesting time in stand lately, with squirrels sounding like a small elephant moving through, so imagine what I sound like! Any and all thoughts are appreciated

What i did one year was bring a rake with me. I had leaves as deep as my ankles and dry and crisp. It took about an hour to rake them off the trail that i walked in on. I didn’t know what it would do to effect the deer but my walking told eveything that i was there. The next day when i went to my stand there were deer tracks on it already and i made it too my stand quietly. Everyday i walked to my stand there were more tracks on it so i don’t think it matters. The deer don’t thing what took them off they probably just notice that thier walking more quiet like they do in a field without trees. A few days after i raked the trail i had an 8 popinter walk right to the base of my tree while grunt snort wheezing. As long as the boots and lower pant legs are sprayed with a cover scent of a coon or fox etc. I don’t think it matters. If this a little to drastic use a turkey mouth diaphram to yelp if you think deer have noticed you or could be around. It might make them think that turkeys are scratching under the leaves for grubs etc. Walking to your stand slow occasionally putting and an occasionaly yelp would make any deer think its turkeys feeding. Where i hunt the turkeys walk scratching the forest floor for grubs and they walk just like a human would if they were taking slow steps. Mimmick turkeys feeding pushing the leaves aside with you boots to semi clear a path, it would work after the turkeys flew down or were about too in the early morning and feeding anytime during the day.

What i did one year was bring a rake with me. I had leaves as deep as my ankles and dry and crisp. It took about an hour to rake them off the trail that i walked in on. I didn’t know what it would do to effect the deer but my walking told eveything that i was there. The next day when i went to my stand there were deer tracks on it already and i made it too my stand quietly. Everyday i walked to my stand there were more tracks on it so i don’t think it matters. The deer don’t thing what took them off they probably just notice that thier walking more quiet like they do in a field without trees. A few days after i raked the trail i had an 8 popinter walk right to the base of my tree while grunt snort wheezing. As long as the boots and lower pant legs are sprayed with a cover scent of a coon or fox etc. I don’t think it matters. If this a little to drastic use a turkey mouth diaphram to yelp if you think deer have noticed you or could be around. It might make them think that turkeys are scratching under the leaves for grubs etc. Walking to your stand slow occasionally putting and an occasionaly yelp would make any deer think its turkeys feeding. Where i hunt the turkeys walk scratching the forest floor for grubs and they walk just like a human would if they were taking slow steps. Mimmick turkeys feeding pushing the leaves aside with you boots to semi clear a path, it would work after the turkeys flew down or were about too in the early morning and feeding anytime during the day.

I have read more than once that you should not be too-concerned making noise getting to your treestand. One article stated the best thing is just to get to your stand because the longer you wait getting there the longer it takes the area to settle down. Try not to walk through deer bedding or feeding areas or cross the trails the deer are using to move back and forth between the two. I’ve also read that you should always approach your stand from down wind although I don’t believe this is critical. I’ve had several deer follow my trail right to my stand within an hour of me walking in. I walk through heavy timber in the early mornings to get to my stands because I know the deer are out in the open fields at that time and not in the woods. Since I have started doing this I have spooked very few deer in the mornings if any. In the afternoons I try to get to my stand early enough before the deer start moving again. Again I go through the timber instead of the open fields to get to my stand. I just make certian I avoid getting too-close to any bedding areas.

Eyehunter

I have read more than once that you should not be too-concerned making noise getting to your treestand. One article stated the best thing is just to get to your stand because the longer you wait getting there the longer it takes the area to settle down. Try not to walk through deer bedding or feeding areas or cross the trails the deer are using to move back and forth between the two. I’ve also read that you should always approach your stand from down wind although I don’t believe this is critical. I’ve had several deer follow my trail right to my stand within an hour of me walking in. I walk through heavy timber in the early mornings to get to my stands because I know the deer are out in the open fields at that time and not in the woods. Since I have started doing this I have spooked very few deer in the mornings if any. In the afternoons I try to get to my stand early enough before the deer start moving again. Again I go through the timber instead of the open fields to get to my stand. I just make certian I avoid getting too-close to any bedding areas.

Eyehunter

I don’t worry about making too much noise. Quite a few times while in my camo I’ve been going to the stand and end up having deer at my stand from my trail only minutes after I’m ready. After making all that noise, it makes me think they wanted to see what was moving through the woods. Especially during the rut.

I don’t worry about making too much noise. Quite a few times while in my camo I’ve been going to the stand and end up having deer at my stand from my trail only minutes after I’m ready. After making all that noise, it makes me think they wanted to see what was moving through the woods. Especially during the rut.

I have tried many different things and what I have found is that its best to get to the stand and get settled in as quickly as possible.I have had on two seperate occasions does that were coming down my trail as I was CLIMBING into my stand.I think deer come to check all the noise out.Lately I have been softly rattling and grunting a few times once I am in the stand and ready.I have had smaller bucks and some does come in only minutes after getting setup.deer always try to fugure out whats going on when they hear leaves and twigs snapping if they cant see whats making the noise.I have tried turkey calls and didnt notice any difference.Just remeber to stay scent free and dont make and metallic noises and everything should play out okay.

I have tried many different things and what I have found is that its best to get to the stand and get settled in as quickly as possible.I have had on two seperate occasions does that were coming down my trail as I was CLIMBING into my stand.I think deer come to check all the noise out.Lately I have been softly rattling and grunting a few times once I am in the stand and ready.I have had smaller bucks and some does come in only minutes after getting setup.deer always try to fugure out whats going on when they hear leaves and twigs snapping if they cant see whats making the noise.I have tried turkey calls and didnt notice any difference.Just remeber to stay scent free and dont make and metallic noises and everything should play out okay.

I’m not an expert by any means but eyehunter is correct. But the biggest thing to any bowhunter is knowing where the deer are bedding and where they are going to eat. In the morning you need to go to your stand from a direction that won’t spook the deer from their feeding area and in the evening you start at the food and work back towards their bedding area. I’m not saying that you can walk thru the woods breaking all the sticks you see and don’t have to worry about it, but I wouldn’t worry about the noise of the leaves. No matter how slow you walk any deer within 75-100 yards is going to hear the leaves. I personally walk with as light and as fast of feet as I feel I can get away with, get to my stand as soon as possible, and get ready! And as far as the rut goes I like to hunt on the downwind side of a bedding area, bucks during the rut are in constant search of does, and from my experience, are “patroling” that side with their nose, trying to catch a whiff, covering much more ground with their nose! During the Rut the does will seek heavy cover to give those harassing bucks the slip until they are ready to be bred. I’m sure most of you guys know/practice this but for those of you that don’t, I hope this helps you bang a big one this year! $.02

I’m not an expert by any means but eyehunter is correct. But the biggest thing to any bowhunter is knowing where the deer are bedding and where they are going to eat. In the morning you need to go to your stand from a direction that won’t spook the deer from their feeding area and in the evening you start at the food and work back towards their bedding area. I’m not saying that you can walk thru the woods breaking all the sticks you see and don’t have to worry about it, but I wouldn’t worry about the noise of the leaves. No matter how slow you walk any deer within 75-100 yards is going to hear the leaves. I personally walk with as light and as fast of feet as I feel I can get away with, get to my stand as soon as possible, and get ready! And as far as the rut goes I like to hunt on the downwind side of a bedding area, bucks during the rut are in constant search of does, and from my experience, are “patroling” that side with their nose, trying to catch a whiff, covering much more ground with their nose! During the Rut the does will seek heavy cover to give those harassing bucks the slip until they are ready to be bred. I’m sure most of you guys know/practice this but for those of you that don’t, I hope this helps you bang a big one this year! $.02