Tips For Stalking Deer In Open Country

written by Evan Anderson

In this episode of The Breaking Point , Brennen Nading and Dylan Lenz put a stalk on some mule deer in the open country of South Dakota. Experienced hunters as they are, the two quickly discover the challenges that come with bow-hunting in this expansive environment. Nading remarks, “[I’m a] whitetail hunter, through and through….we’ve been kinda gettin’ our butts kicked.” But with dogged determination and a little backcountry wisdom on their side, Nading and Lenz are able to navigate these challenges and successfully put an arrow into a nice buck. It’s an exhilarating hunting experience that feels extraordinarily primal and hard-earned. “I can’t even put it into words, dude,” says Nading, holding his Mathews Triax bow to his chest, “Unbelievable. Take the smile off my face, I dare ya!” We’ll take a look at some tactics the two experts employed to get in close to these amazing animals and see what we can learn from their experience. Here are some tips for stalking deer in open country.

1. Get High, Stay Low

Finding high ground is the best place to start when hunting in open country. It’s a strategy Lenz and Nading use throughout the episode. “You can see a lot of ground up there,” says Nading as he motions to a high point over his shoulder, “we’re gonna see if we can’t get eyes on [a deer].” From a high vantage point, you’ll be able to get a better picture of what the surrounding terrain holds and spot game with a set of binoculars or a spotting scope. From there you can come up with a plan of attack and begin working your way toward them.

The key to successfully hunting from a high point is to stay low. Standing upright on a hill or ridge will make you visible for miles around, since there is nothing behind you but blue sky. This is called “sky-lining” yourself and it will totally blow your cover. Some animals, such as mule deer or antelope, have especially keen eyesight and will see you from a long distance if you are sky-lined, putting them on full alert and making it much more difficult to get in close to them. Here you’ll notice that Nading mostly remains on his belly or on all fours when approaching a high point (1:54-1:56).

2. Check Your Wind

“They got our wind for sure,” Nading dejectedly remarks as two deer scurry out of a draw, “I could’ve shot either of those two.” The wind can be one of your greatest allies or your worst nemesis in any scenario, especially in open country. Even if you’ve got on the best anti-microbial gear and are covered in highly effective scent-blocking spray (or powder, if you’re into that sort of thing), if the wind is blowing toward the animals they will smell you and promptly skedaddle; at the very least, they’ll be on high alert and much more likely to run at the slightest sound or movement.

Even the slightest airflow can carry your scent. To avoid this, you’ll want to constantly check your wind. You can do this with a wind-checker (you can see Nading using one at 7:10) or by sprinkling dirt in the air. Whichever direction the dirt goes is the direction the air is flowing. You want the wind to be blowing into your face. This will carry your scent away from the animals, keeping you undetected. If the wind is blowing against your back, it will propel your scent toward them.

You can also use the wind to your advantage. A strong wind will help conceal the noise from your movements, meaning you can move in on the deer quicker. Lenz and Nading experienced both the good and bad of this when stalking in on their kill. “There’s no wind down here, but the top is rippin’,” explains Nading, “so we were tip-toeing down in here, and he was bedded right on this little ridge.

Using these techniques, Nading is able to get within 25 yards of a mature buck and fire off an arrow from his Mathews Triax right into its heart. It’s a cathartic experience after the time and effort it took to get that close. Check it out in the full episode below and see how Lenz and Nading implement these tactics on The Breaking Point S6:E4.

To learn from real-life examples, watch these guys in action on The Breaking Point. Best of luck chasing on your next hunting adventure. Follow us on social for awesome hunting content, @waypointtv.hunting and be sure to tag us in your photos! #FindYourWay