I've had today's subject in the back of my mind for some time, but it is now time to verbalize it. So without further adieu, let's launch into todays subject:"Different Methods of Hunting".
If you look at the animal world there are different types of hunters. They employ different types of methods to eat. They are all successful at their individual methods — or they starve. I am not an authority on all predators but from a casual observation whether it be in person or from what I have read I have made these observations.
If you look at cats in general, they are stealthy hunters. They sneak in under concealment and strike swiftly. They are not long distance runners and seem to have a smaller lung capacity for their chases.
On the other hand, if you observe canines, whether it be a wolf or coyote, they are more hyper and hunt more by sight. Granted you see them sniffing in pursuit of game but they don't hold still for long as a rule. They're shiftier.
Then you have snakes that lay in wait to strike. You don't see them in packs hunting or cruising an area in pursuit of game. They hide and wait, or may I say, they hunt out of a blind (although I have seen cottonmouths twirling in a hole on a creek muddying it up to they can catch fish when they come up to breathe).
You look at fish and also see different hunting methods. Stripers and Sand bass feed in schools and follow schools of Shad. On the other hand, Black Bass have favorite hiding spots in which they lie in wait. Dad always told me that if you catch a decent bass there is a good chance if you go back in a week, you'll catch a slightly smaller one that has moved into the spot. He moved into big daddy's spot.
Northern Pike are a little weird to describe. They lay in wait but also seem to be what I will call cruising killers. They have the mentality of a wolf. They're vicious.
Then you look at bears; they eat anything that they can get in their mouths. A buddy was in British Columbia and actually witnessed a Grizzly charge out of a patch of brush and bowl over a full grown cow elk and drag it back into the brush. He said it looked like a linebacker drilling a quarterback.
Now let's compare this to hunters. Many are like wolves. They hunt in groups (packs), whether driving an area or just pushing a mountainside in unison. Many are more sight hunters and walk too fast and don't take time to observe the surrounding area as they move along. Or they may just hike off into the blue yonder by themselves. (These could benefit by wearing too many clothes. This would get them hot which would remind them to slow down and walk slowly.)
Some are more cat like and move slowly. Walking a few steps and then look around and listen. They pick up on a lot more than many other hunters do. Many times due to the short range of their weapon, bow hunters fit more into this class.
Then another group hunt strictly in blinds. They lay in concealment of some sort, whether in a tree stand, ground blind or behind a tree or pile of brush.
Which is the best method? That's a good question. I believe at times all of them can be effective. The more methods you know and employ, the more successful you will be.
Let me give you an example. I love walleye fishing. I love eating walleyes. The problem is, I'm not a good walleye fisherman. I am real effective catching them at one certain time of the year. The rest of the year, I'm history.
That's how I see hunting. If you are only good at one method, you will only be effective in certain conditions/certain times of the year or certain terrains. In an area of high concentration of game, it is very effective to hunt out of a blind but in many of the hunting spots out West there is not a high enough concentration of game to warrant setting for hours a day in one spot.
When I was a kid, Mr. Teague got a 12,000-acre deer lease out by Sonora. Everyone there told us that you had to drive the ridges in jeeps with high rise bi-pod seats to hunt. Blinds wouldn't work out there. Well we moved in our blinds and after everyone saw the nice deer we had coming off the ranch, guess what? Now you see blinds everywhere in that part of the country.
My point is this: always be willing to try new methods. Don't just always use one style. In your lifetime of hunting you will need to be able to effectively use a variety of hunting styles or you will only be semi-successful in your endeavors.
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