Thinking about trying still hunting?  Wondering what gear to take?

I've been still hunting whitetail deer in the woods of northern Minnesota for about 10 years.  Still hunting is all about moving slow without being detected.  You need to move into an area, see the deer and make your shot without spooking them. I'm not going to cover the "how" of still hunting in this article but I am going to share the list of gear that I consider essential to successful still hunting.  This type of hunting requires some different gear than hunting deer from a stand.  You need to travel light when still hunting so here is my short list of the gear I use.  

Boots - Look for a light weight pair with a soft flexible sole.  The slow deliberate placement of each step will certainly give your legs a work out, you don't want a heavy boot.  The soft soles will allow you to move quietly on hard surfaces.  Make sure your boots are water proof.  Whether it's dew on the grass in the morning, rain or swampy areas you want your feet to stay dry so you can concentrate on the deer rather than your cold feet. 

Clothing - Your clothes should be a material that won't make noise when it rubs on itself or branches as you move.  Dress in layers so you can adjust for temperature changes.  Adjust your clothing to the temperatures in your area but remember even though you will be moving very slow,  you will be moving and generating heat.  Your clothing will probably not need to be as warm as what you normally wear to your deer stand.

Gloves - If you are hunting in cold weather, you will need a good pair of gloves.  You won't be able to put you hands in your pockets much and your fingers will get cold holding onto a gun for a couple of hours.  I like the type that have a mitten that folds back to expose your fingers when you need them.  Look for the gloves that have a magnet to hold the mitten back.  Velcro is noisy and tends to fill up with all sorts of hair and fibers.

Cap with a bill and protecive eyewear - The cap and sunglasses or shooting glasses depending on lighting will help you see better, protect your eyes from branches and hide your eyes.  It is my experience that deer seem to spend more time looking me over trying to determine if I am a threat when they can't see my eyes.  These extra seconds can make the difference. 

Binoculars - A compact pair of low power fixed or adjustable zoom binoculars will help you determine if your looking at deer or a tree stump.  Don't use your scope until your sure it's a deer and not another hunter!

Scope - If you are going to hunt with a scope it should also be low power fixed or adjustable zoom.  I use a 3-9 power scope which I keep on 3X when moving.  A lot of people think you need open sights for a quick shot when still hunting but remember the goal is to take your shot before you're busted by the deer.  In many cases if you are moving very slow and quiet when you bump a deer, the deer won't go very far and may even stop and look back giving you a standing shot.  Be ready!

Gun Sling - Whether you choose a scope or open sights, you will want a sling on your gun.  After a couple of hours carrying your gun, you will want/need to carry it on your shoulder.  If your arms are aching from carrying your gun you won't have much of a chance at a steady shot when the time comes.  Make sure your sling mounts don't squeak or rattle and practice getting your gun from your shoulder to shooting position in a slow smooth movement with little or no noise.  There isn't much margin for error when your on the ground less than 50 yards from a whitetail.  Use any available cover to hide your movements when possible.

GPS and Topo Map - I would also recommend you take a GPS and a topo map of the area if your GPS doesn't have topo maps programmed in.  You want to plan your route to avoid swamps, lakes and other obstacles.  I also prefer to stay on high ground where the brush is often thinner and I will be shooting down at the deer. 

Cover Scent - You may want to use cover scent.  It should be a scent that is normally present in the area you hunt.  A cover scent will help but most importantly make sure you keep the wind in your face as much as possible.

I also carry a few other basic things including  a knife, extra shells, some rope and water.  The trick here is to travel light so don't get carried away.  Also make sure you can move without your extra shells rattling, your water bottle sloshing.......etc.  It sounds silly but you will be amazed at how loud it sounds when you get in the woods. Get a shell holder for your extra shells and a bladder type water bottle you'll be glad you did.

One final note about still hunting.  Be careful!  Wear blaze orange and try to avoid hunting in areas where there are other hunters that don't know you are creeping around.  Unlike a tree stand you won't necessarily be shooting down at the deer so pay attention to what is beyond your target.  Be safe and enjoy the experience.