silent tracking

S

sinawalli

Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Messages
227
Hi, have been perusing this forum for awhile,and finally decided to join in. I train Rapid Assualt Tactics under the PFS banner. I also love to bowhunt,especially for elk. My question is this: What techniques does anyone use to walk silently through the bush? Footware? Any advice is welcome. Thank you,and I look forward to lots of interesting discussions.


Bill
 
After you learn to walk
One word...mocassins

I make mine and they do not make a sound to speak of

Knifesmith
 
Hotrod, thank you for the links, that's the info I was looking for.
Knifesmith: how do your mocs work if you have to go a long way over rough terrain, do you wear a pair of boots, and change into your mocs when the need arises. I ask this because I've heard of guys wearing wrestling shoes to stalk because they have a thin sole with little thread, but if one had to wear them over rough rocky terrain, it could be painful. I just bought a pair of Wellco Tuffcushion jungle boots, and they have no steel shank in them, and a rather soft sole. Shall try them out.
 
Hi

I cheat a bit

My mocs have a soft sole but I put athletic insoles in them

It still hurts a bit if you hit a sharp rock but you get used to it

Knifesmith
 
I wear my wrestling shoes everywhere everyday. In the woods, at the mall, rock climbing, even rock hopping at the river and up shale on the back of Pikes Peak and I've never had any problem with my feet hurting. They are real quiet and leave very little track. My mocs are better for it so I wear them more in the woods then the wrestling shoes. The rubber sole on the wrestling shoes stands up better on pavement. I wear them everyday. Hope this helps.

Ric
 
Hey ric, how long do they last for you?

Thinking about pickin up a pair, but not if I have to replace em twice a month ;)
 
I'm not sure about wilderness application, but a split sole Asic is hard to beat for actual wrestling :D Actually, they are remarkably quiet on gymnasium floors as long as you are not "slapping" your foot onto the surface. I never wore my wrestling shoes outside, so someone else will have to comment on that aspect.

Cheers,

Shaun.
 
I have a pair of bullhide hunting mocs with an outer sole and an inner sole, both made also of bullhide. The rocks hurt some, but not too much. The leather (with mink oil) keeps my feet warm and dry, but even when water gets in it warms up like a wet suit and keeps me comfy.

I stalk by stepping with the outer edge of my foot, toe end first. Then I roll the rest of my foot down flat. The main thing is to NOT walk on your heels.

Go out on a moonless night and walk through a wooded area without light. Wear either moccasins or socks, or go barefoot. After the first few painful steps you'll find your feet naturally developing a step that works for you.

Coyo~
 
Hi Bill, try checking G.Fred Asbells book "Stalking and still hunting"

Hope this helps,

Have a good one.....
 
Originally posted by sinawalli
RicBrannon, what type of wrestling shoes do you reccomend??
Click to expand...


Sinawalli,
I like the Asics the best. They have a full soft sole and the toe is covered in a single piece of leather, not the split leather like most other shoes. This covers the toes completely. As I said, the sole is very soft and flexable and thats what you want for stealth. I wear mine for everyday shoes. They tend to last over a year before the heal wears through. I also wear mocs quite a bit. The ones I have now were made by a guy in Colorado Springs, Co. at Mountain People Foot Wear www.mountainpeoplefootwear.com They'er ok. Sometime this year I will be gitting some from the Catskill Mountain Moccasin company. www.catskill-moc.com They cost a bit but they are pretty awesome. Same ones Tommy Lee Jones wore in The Hunted, their guaranty is pretty awesome too. Hope this helps.

Ric
 
For silent walking, use polar fleece as clothing, or something very soft (some hunting clothes are made with some special cotton fleece that is very silent too). A lot of the noise we produce is made by our clothes, when moving or when coming accross vegetation. Cheap phys ed pants and sweat shirts are also great for that. Jeans are not good. US BDU pants are not good either (too much polyester in them, any friction will be noisy). The canadian uniforms are made with a fabric that offers only cotton to friction (even though there is some sort of a nylon mesh under it). They're pretty good, and the new relish-like camo is nice too ;). Of course, forget about nylon, gore-tex liners or other synthetic fabrics...

Move very slowly. Breathe calmly, be totally relaxed. If you're stressed or if you have too much tension in your movements, you will be too stiff to make soft and slow movements. Of course, it's often very tough to be relaxed when you see a huge buck only a few steps away from the reach of your bow... be patient. It won't work otherwise anyways. Nobody can walk fast AND silently in the woods.

Some animals (and humans too) seem to sense when you look at them. Just don't look at them directly, unless you really need to.

Use "sound cover" as much as possible. A squirrel moving, some wind in the branches, whatever. Move when you hear another noise, in order to cover your own noise.

Might look silly, but make sure not to eat too much or have any gas stuck in your guts. That makes a lot of noise sometimes... Make sure your nose is clean too (breathing should be as silent as possible as well). Breathing through your mouth will always make less noise than through your nose anyways.

Bend your knees a lot, and control your balance at all times. Each step should be totally controlled, and you should never transfer your weight to a foot swiftly. Make it slooooww... Flow calmly from back to front foot, putting the side of your foot on the ground first, and then rolling it flat IF there is nothing noisy under it (mocs are useful for that, since they let you feel the terrain very well).

Don't bend over. Stay straight AMAP.

Make small steps. It's easier to keep your balance like that. Being off balance is almost always noisy.

Move as slow as possible. If it takes you an hour to go through 100 feet of bush, then so be it.

Don't kill that elk unless you need the meat.

David
 
Excellent advice Moine. It's not what you have on your feet that makes you silent and efficient in the woods, but how you walk and carry yourself. Although having the proper foot ware won't exactly cause you problems.

I grew up in North Eastern Ontario, Canada in a small town sourounded by bush. And the number 1 thing I learned is to move slowly and surely. Plan every step two or three in advance, stay on rocks, moss and large tree roots where possible. Steping on leaves makes noise. Be relaxed but aware, take your time. Like Moine said if it takes you half an hour or more to go 100 yrds then so be it. The elk, deer, moose or what ever will probably still be there. But if you go thrashing around or just plowing through, your elk will not be there anymore.
 
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