Hone Your Hunting Skills PART 2
THIS ARTICLE CONCERNS hunting techniques employed once you have sighted your quarry – in other words, stalking. Naturally, stalking procedures vary according to terrain, which dictates cover. However, certain principles apply to talking situations, the most obvious being to ensure that the quarry does not identify you as a threat.
In this vein, my first suggestion, if you are serious about hunting, is to accept that crawling on all fours and leopard-crawling (belly-crawling) are part-and-parcel of stalking. Many hunters baulk at this because it is physically taxing and hard on the knees, arms and hands. They prefer to remain afoot and rely on bending low. All too often, however, this will end in failure. Stalking close enough to be sure of your shot frequently requires going on your belly. The only reason I no longer hunt is that old neck and knee injuries prevent me from crawling and leopard-crawling. For me, the real thrill of the hunt lies in making close contact with the animal. Also, I know that, without leopard-crawling, my chances of success are drastically limited. Provided the wind favours you, the huge advantage of going on your belly is that animals are unable to
