Author Topic: How Indians walked quietly (Read 17874 times)

Shorty · « **on:** January 22, 2004, 12:57:07 PM »

Maybe everyone already knows this, but pigeon-toed Indians is not a racial epithet. I learned this from a man who learned it from a Canuck guide. If you walk in the woods by feeling ahead with your toes before putting your weight on your foot, you will feel twigs, and such, that will make noise. Of course, this works better with moccasins, but even with boots, you can shuffle through the driest duff quietly, if you take your time.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2004, 05:44:02 AM »

Excellent Tip Shorty

I have practiced this for several years and Squirrel hunting is a good place to start.
I use thigh muscle to pickup my feet as you never want to push off with them.
If you are in a hunting situation, popping a twig automatically gets me a 5min time out.
One of my most memorable experiences was to do this type of still hunting through a covey of quail!.

Ultimate benifit for myself is late season Deer & an unfilled tag. If you slow down to 1 step every 60 to 90 seconds, the Deer usually will not see you coming.

Loader 3009 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2004, 07:51:06 AM »

.......and watch the trees for signs of wind. Move only when the wind is blowing.

bgjohn · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2004, 08:25:08 AM »

I use ballet shoes and walk on my tip-toes. :lol:
JM

Ramrod · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2004, 04:53:52 PM »

I sometimes hunt barefooted when it's warm enough. My goal is to take a deer by scaring it to death. I once smacked a fawn on the rump with an arrow, but it only ran a few yards and went baahaaa, baahaaa, like a lamb.

BillP · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2004, 06:41:17 AM »

Walking on your toes is natural when you are sneeking up on something. I once got close enough to a deer to hit it with a board.
We had shot a doe just at sundown and so could not persue it with a gun. We went for suppar and returned after dark. A full moon was so bright it cast shadows on the snow like the sun. We spotted the deer standing in what had been the yard of an old abandoned house. This was a shock as we expected to find her dead. I picked up a long thin board and began to stock her using the shadows as she was standing in bright moonlight.

When I got close enough I swung the board with all my might wishing it was a 2 by 4 or something heavy. I hit her on the head and down she went. I immediatly jumped on her and started to choke her out. It worked sort of and she started to calm down but I could not make her pass out. My buddy tried to cut her throat but as soon as his knife touched her she kicked up summersulting over me and ran into the corn. It turned out she was not the deer we had shot but rather an uninjured one.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2004, 04:30:10 PM »

BillP...nice story about deer.Had a buddy of mine,some years ago,that tried to catch a turkey that had got tangled up in some kuduz.You know what?He couldn't let go of him quick enough.Darn bird like to have beat him to death.He never has been too bright....buy he's a good friend :lol: Rick

BillP · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2004, 05:52:45 PM »

Rick,
The deer story is for real but your turkey story reminds me of a couple of friends of mine when we were kids. They were chasing a loon with a motor boat. As they usually do the loon dove rather than fly but when it surfased it came up beside the boat and jumped rite in the boat. Let me tell you, loons are A LOT bigger than they look and that bill is wicked. :shock:
Bill

HARDCORE · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2004, 02:27:27 AM »

In the Marines they taught us to step down on our toes then ease the rest of the foot down.

HARDCORE

IlliniTrapper15 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2004, 04:12:22 PM »

lol this is very interesting i will have to try this next time i am out in the woods lol but i dont think i will be hittin any deer with boards Great story by the way i liked it alot!

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2004, 11:01:10 AM »

The old soft soled moccasin shoe or boot is perfect for this. In my younger days I tried hunting in a pair of these boots while still hunting. If you limit your steps and concentrate on stepping not getting some where the world opens up.
One afternoon I still hunted thru what I knew was a deer bedding area. I had my scent under control and wore cammo and facial makeup. I moved ever so slowly feeling the ground thru my soft leather soles. It took me about two hours to cover about 75 yards into a thick area of low undergrowth. At one point a doe stood up and stratched her ear with a hind foot like a dog. It was then I realized I was well inside of a group of four or five bedded deer. Some were laying down, some feeding on buds and honeysuckle. Some where so close I was afraid they would hear my heart pounding or my breath. I was so fascinated by my accomplishment that I had no thought of the bow in my hand or of shooting. I froze and watched them turning my head like a robot 5 degrees at a time. Finally one old doe got up and walked over to me. She looked right at me and stamped her foot. At that the rest got up and moved off. She and I stood eye to eye for what seemed like an eternity. Slowly she walked off. As she did she would look back and check to see if I had moved. Suddenly she bolted about ten yards and stopped looking back at me. When that did not make me move she flipped her tail and walked away.

leoparddog · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2004, 10:02:01 AM »

I hunt in middle GA, and a cheap pair of moccasin bedroom slippers is the deal for me on warm to slightly cool days. Its a blast sneaking up on one. Those mocs aren't too great for hill climbing though.

I'd love to invent a modern hunting moc that combines the standard moc with modern (read waterproof) materials.

EPD1102 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2004, 02:18:39 PM »

leopardog, the new world waterproof version of the mocassin is neoprene scuba diving booties. They are warm, waterproof, and quiet. They're also cheaper than leather mocassins.

espuma · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2005, 04:39:04 PM »

Tom Brown, Jr. talks about different walking styles in some of his books. He patterns them after animals, for going slow versus going really slow (something like coyote walk vs. fox walk). IIRC it involves putting your foot down in front of you before you transfer any weight to it. That much is common sense, but he goes into great detail. It reminds me of native dancing (not sure if anyone outside Oklahoma goes to pow-wows). Heel first or toe first depends on how fast you're going.

If anyone is interested, I can dig up the books and get more information.

Nixter · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2005, 12:22:17 PM »

riddleofsteel, great story.

Thanks for sharing.

Others, gives me hope that a 5'11" 250 lb man can be stealthy in the woods...

I've kept hidden from humans in the woods but animals/prey is another story. Humans in question were runners/walkers on the trails of a multi-use trail near my house. Can't stalk them without legal repercussions if you get caught. :lol:

Takes alot of muscle control and discipline to move quietly (I mean quietly) in the woods.

It seems footwear might be the major downfall of todays stalkers. They isolate the wearer from thre forrest floor. Do not allow the wearer to feel where they are stepping.
Am I on track here?

Any footwear that allows feel and warmth/comfort? Oh, and durable, someone mentioned scuba booties, durable enough for woods walking with rocks, thorns and branches and such?

Interseting topic to say the least.

Nixter

Ps. one other thought, wouldn't a soft sole like on a moccasin give you more "gription" on rocks than a hard sole? Been on the rocks, just asking for opinions.

corbanzo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2006, 12:03:30 PM »

Yeah, I'm with nixter, 6 foot and a good 260. My stalking is 150 yards with a high powered scope :-D :-D :-D :-D

Daks · « **Reply #16 on:** March 10, 2006, 06:09:40 PM »

The biggest thing the Indians did to move quietly in the woods was to burn the woods over on a regular basis. The thick stuff we now have in my state, with lots of undergrowth and dead stuff underfoot, wasn't something the Indians had to deal with. They regularly burned the forests so that the understory was taken out. John Smith wrote about the forests of Virginia being parklike, with large trees and an open understory to the point of being able to drive a wagon at full speed through the woods without trouble.

Walking quietly in the woods we now have was something the Indians in my area didn't have to do very often.

Two Bears · « **Reply #17 on:** March 19, 2006, 07:20:20 AM »

Quote from: Ramrod

I sometimes hunt barefooted when it's warm enough. My goal is to take a deer by scaring it to death. I once smacked a fawn on the rump with an arrow, but it only ran a few yards and went baahaaa, baahaaa, like a lamb.

Ramrod you must be a GOD !!

We are not worthy :toast:

How do you do it??

Dalton Masterson · « **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2006, 02:47:24 PM »

I have unsuccessfully swung an empty 50 cal Hawken barrel at a hit deer before. Contemplated reaching around the tree it was leaning against and cutting the throat, but the little skinner was too little in my opinion. On hard surfaces I use tiptoe, but on soft surfaces, I go heel first, and ease down the rest of my foot. Guess it depends on current conditions. If the ground is soft, I can run a little, using the heel/toe movement, and not make a sound. Sure is fun to make a deer snort from a few feet away! ..DM

Dee · « **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2006, 03:11:37 PM »

I also use the heel first method but, am currently perfecting levitation. It makes much less noise and you don't even need shoes.

35Rem · « **Reply #20 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:32:02 PM »

My Uncle in FL always wore those cheap 5 dollar shoes from the dollar store. Almost like a moccosain. He could sneak up on most anything.

We used jeeps to get around the wet areas down there, and he would put the jeep in granny gear and let it crawl through the old ruts, while he got out and stalked into a head, or high spot, looking for critters. It worked on several occasions. The animals would be more interested in the jeep, and not know he was around. Whoops!

captkev · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2006, 07:16:48 AM »

WOW

There are some great reads in there

I am going to try Ninja style this fall and see how that works

Wlfr · « **Reply #22 on:** August 27, 2006, 07:26:06 PM »

for those of you that hunt in semi warm climates try wresting shoes........ thin extremely flexible rubber soles that add protection and "gription" but also alow you to feel befor you bring your eight down on your foot.

Coppertop · « **Reply #23 on:** September 14, 2006, 09:39:28 AM »

I think that WLFR may be on to something but we'd just watch out for the cactus and cowpies around here. They are both terrible.

Dee · « **Reply #24 on:** September 18, 2006, 03:12:01 PM »

That wrestling shoe idea might work but, can you imagine going two outta three falls witha out sorts tom, bobcat.

Wlfr · « **Reply #25 on:** September 19, 2006, 07:49:33 PM »

I use them for camp shoes and more often than not i wear them during the stalk...... catus spines aint so bad but the fresh cow pies really put a stink on things.

....... but Ya can call it cover scent and your Buds will never Know

Ramrod · « **Reply #26 on:** October 13, 2006, 02:36:32 PM »

Quote from: Two Bears on March 19, 2006, 07:20:20 AM

Quote from: Ramrod
I sometimes hunt barefooted when it's warm enough. My goal is to take a deer by scaring it to death. I once smacked a fawn on the rump with an arrow, but it only ran a few yards and went baahaaa, baahaaa, like a lamb.

Ramrod you must be a GOD !!

We are not worthy :toast:

How do you do it??

I just spend alot of time outdoors. Lucky for me that starts and ends about 30 feet from my door.
I'd rather be dead than live in a city.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2006, 08:27:37 AM »

Good tip thanks.

jrlinz · « **Reply #28 on:** November 08, 2006, 07:17:37 AM »

Quote from: bgjohn on February 05, 2004, 08:25:08 AM

I use ballet shoes and walk on my tip-toes. :lol:
JM

I hear this method works best if you wear a pink tu-tu sans undergarments, and a tight-fitting, white satin halter top.

Dee · « **Reply #29 on:** November 08, 2006, 12:29:05 PM »

Quote from: jrlinz on November 08, 2006, 07:17:37 AM

Quote from: bgjohn on February 05, 2004, 08:25:08 AM
I use ballet shoes and walk on my tip-toes. :lol:
JM
I hear this method works best if you wear a pink tu-tu sans undergarments, and a tight-fitting, white satin halter top.

When I use this method I incorporate a set of clear wings, a wand, and a handfull of glitter. I once got so close to a fawn, I hit him with my wand. He attacked,and I threw glitter in his face, and escaped.