Hunting is an increasingly popular pastime for the whole family. With growing numbers of women taking up the sport, the opportunity to create special memories with the whole family in the outdoors is better now than ever before. And whether you’re an experienced hunter, have been on a couple of duck or deer hunts or are just getting started, there are plenty of questions that need answering along the way.

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The key to successfully hunting deer is to be prepared. Check and recheck every weapon and piece of equipment. When you're on site, make sure everything is ready before you take your first shot. Don't take a hurried shot as you may only get one.

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Stillhunting

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Most people have no idea that you can hunt deer on the move (known as "stillhunting"). It is stalking deer, not waiting on a stump or in a blind for the deer to come to you. It can be the most rewarding deer hunting experience. It can also be the most frustrating, since it is a skill which requires you to slow everything - your sight, your breath and your walking. But the payoffs go beyond the hunt to a better enjoyment of nature itself.

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Remember, hunting is all about the outdoors and the experience. It's about the journey, not the ending. If all you want is to mindlessly kill animals, then stay away from hunting. We don't want you. Go work in an abattoir. Hunting is about an appreciation of nature, pitting your wits against the creatures you hunt. It's about going back to how we were thousands of years ago, when we as humans hunted for our food.

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Having said all that, it's time to get into how to hunt deer. Let's talk about eyes first.

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Hunt Deer with Soft Focus – See Them as They See You

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We see as all predators do - forward and tightly focussed. Take a look at how an average housecat hunts. It pursues its object with its eyes narrowed and every muscle relaxed, yet ready to pounce at a moment's notice. We, like every other predator, having our eyes in the front of our head, are designed to focus on a single thing.

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However, deer, and all prey species, have eyes designed to detect motion. Having eyes on the side of their head aids in perceiving motion first, long before the animal can make out whether it is a threat, or just some pattern-breaking motion in the woods. When stillhunting for deer, you must adapt to the way they see. You have to see motion first, out-of-sync patterns second, and the deer last. To do this, relax your focus and broaden our field of vision.

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Here's how to practice. Stand facing a wall, about six to eight feet away from it. Stare hard at a spot on the wall. Raise your arms, index fingers extended, fully out to the side from your head (and slightly behind). Now, keeping your arms straight and your index fingers extended, bring your arms slowly in front of your face. Notice the moment when your fingers come into view - this is your field of vision.

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Now, relax, then turn to the wall again. This time, soften your focus so that your eyes, while seeing objects or spots on the wall, do not lock on any one spot. Repeat the index-finger practice. You should see your fingers enter your field of vision much earlier than before. It is this way of seeing that allows you to see changes in woods, patterns and motion. To see the deer in the distance, hopefully before they see you.

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Now, onto walking...

Walk Toe-Heel, not Heel-Toe

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You see it all the time - the hunter walking through the woods as if he's walking on rice paper.

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It doesn't work. As a hunter, you're going to make noise. But then, so do deer and other game. So does anything living and breathing in the woods. What you want to avoid is the rhythmic gait a hunter makes when he's running or when he's doing everything he can to be quiet.

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Walking toe-heel is the ideal way to walk, because the sole of your foot can be more flexible in its response to the twigs and deadfall underfoot - like deer, whose hooves make relatively light contact with the forest floor. Heel-toe walking is a heavy, stiff step - a human step.

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Walk toe-heel for a few steps, pause and using the soft-focus described above, take in the environment. Above all else, be aware of the sounds you make, and if you notice that you're in a steady, rhythmic gait, break it up. You also want to avoid any obviously human, such as metal or hard plastic. Bottom line - brushing past an oak stump is ok. Rhythmic walking isn't, nor is that canteen banging against your hunting rifle strap buckle.

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Know the Wind

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Finally, walk into the wind. Yes, this is rule 1. But many hunters, especially those used to staying in a relatively insulated hunting blind, forget this cardinal rule. Hunters have been known to stand with drawn bow aiming at a buck 10 yards away with the buck clearly trying to figure out what the hunter's up to, only to spring into life when the wind shifts, making Thanksgiving a little bit lighter that year.

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Don't even bother still hunting on blustery days, with no prevailing winds. A light, consistent wind is your friend and you want it always in your face (I guess that old Irish blessing "may the wind be always at your back" is a curse for hunters!).

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In summary, when you're stillhunting deer, get used to slowing yourself down, breaking up your rhythm, soften your focus and walk into the wind. This is how to hunt deer, regardless whether you're stationary in a tree or slowly moving through the forest.