Looking back on this past bow season the hunt that challenged me the most was a spot and stalk hunt for mule deer in South Dakota. There are some trees where I could hang a stand and hunt the way I normally do back home, but for mule deer the better approach, in my mind, is to close the distance by stalking them. Glassing them from a high vantage point just after daybreak, then waiting for them to bed or cutting them off as they head somewhere, is the way my days started. If that stalk wasn’t successful then I’d get out the glasses and scan the countryside looking for another deer. This style of hunting has you engaged every minute of the day, either locating or closing the distance on your target animal. There’s no drifting off or daydreaming about whatever subject typically keeps you occupied while sitting motionless in a treestand waiting for a buck to pay you a visit, you have to focus on spotting or stalking 100% of the time. If you glass a buck that beds down you typically have the rest of the day to close the distance, if you choose or conditions dictate a slow or difficult stalk is necessary. This was my second year bowhunting mulies and I’ve yet to connect, I have missed my share though. I’ve passed up quite a few good whitetails doing this and it’s made me a believer that I could spot and stalk them back home too. I’ve got a ways to go before I’m an ace at this method of hunting but it’s a lot of fun learning and I’m sure it will be a tool I will use wherever I hunt mulies or whitetails. So as this bow season has come to an end I’ll be planning another spot & stalk hunt for next year.
