Here’s another little tip and tidbit from my list:

Move less, glass more.

This is really directed at still hunters, as well as the western spot and stalk hunter. 

It’s really easy to get caught up in covering ground on a hunt.  I think it’s human nature to wonder what’s just over the rise, or what you can see around that next bend in the ridge.  Out here in the west, you can literally walk all day without ever doubling your trail.  There is a LOT to see.

But the thing is, you’re looking for an animal that only takes up a few cubic feet of space.  He could be right under your feet, or he could be a mile and a half away.  The only way to find him is to stop and look for him.  Sure, you might spot him while you are walking along if you’re really vigilant and alert.  But odds are much better that he’s going to see you first. 

In the wild, the advantage almost always goes to the one who is not moving.  Think about it.  The last time you picked a big boar out on a brushy hillside, what gave him away?  Most likely it was the flick of an ear or tail, or the movement of a leg.  And the last time you got busted by a fat hog, if it wasn’t the wind, what tipped him off?  More often than not, you turned your head, raised your gun, or took a step to get a better position. 

Predator or prey, it’s a game of stealth and patience.  Being still is the key, and the one that moves first is the one that loses.  Most animals’ vision tends to key on movement.  Shapes and colors can be important in some cases, but the first thing we notice is motion… even hogs who rely so little on their eyes for defense can spot the slightest movement at shocking distances.  With this in mind, why would you give up your advantage just to cover more ground? 

I’m fortunate in a way, because I came to the west from a place where we’d sit long hours in a tree stand to hunt.  This makes it a little bit easier for me to find a rock or a stump, get comfy, and sit and glass.  The longer I live and hunt out here, though, the more difficult it is to fight that temptation to try to hike the entire countryside.  But time and again I’ve found that I will always spot more game and have more shot opportunities if I can be still and look around carefully before moving to another place. 

There’s no need to walk the entire mountain range if you can find a few good places to sit and examine the area with your binos or spotting scope.  Put your optics to work for you… it’s not lazy, it’s smart.  Save that energy for the stalk and recovery when you find and kill that trophy porker (or deer, elk, moose, or ground squirrel).  You’d be surprised what you’ll see if you move less, and glass more.

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