09 • 2019
Red-Zone Offense
Asa diehardbowhunter, I liveformomentswhenI’m
inclose quarterstobig-gameanimals.I refertogetting
within 100 yardsofmytargetasenteringthe“Bowhunt-
ingRedZone,”andjustlikeina footballgame,thewhole
pointofbeingintheredzoneis toscore! Inordertoscore
consistentlywhenstalkinginsidetheredzone,youmust
be 100 percentfocusedonthetaskathandandmeticu-
louslymakeeachmovefromhere onout.
To thispoint,we’vedoneeverythingcorrectly. We’ve
spottedourbuck orbullfrom a vantagepoint and
watchedhimall morning.He’s finally bedded, and
we’vemadea plantogettohimfromabove,which puts
theafternoonthermalsinourfavor.We have covered
thecouplemilesneededtogetwithinstriking distance,
andwenowsitwithin 100 yardsofourtarget. It’s now
timetogointokillmode!
Oncea targetanimalis withinrangeorunder the 100-
yard mark,I switchgears.Previously,myfocus was on
conductinga stalkundetected.Mymoveswere straight-
forwardandplannedout,withmakingit toeach check-
pointmygoal.Butatthispointinthegame,I am going
to letthe animaldictatewhat happens! My pace will
nowslowdowntoslugspeed,witheverystep carefully
considered.I wanttogetwhere I canwatchthis buck or
bullandstudyhisbehavior.If I feelheisgoing to stay
bedded,I willslowlycreepcloseruntilI’mwithin shoot-
ingrangeforwhenhestands.Butif heseems anxious
orlookslikehemaygetupsoon,I’llwait and be pa-
tient.Patienceatthispointinthegamewillalways pay
off!I’vealreadyinvestedcountlesshoursand miles in
thisstalk,sowhyrushnow?I’mgoingtoletthe animal
makethefinalmovethatgetshimkilled!
Onceanopportunitytoarrowthisanimalpresents it-
self,I formulatea plantogetanarrowintohischest. You
don’twanttorush,butyoualsomustbeready to act at
a moment’snotice.I liketonockanarrowand use my
rangefindertocheckthedistancetovarioustrees, rocks
andothernearbyobjectssoI knowexactranges if the
animalmakesa moveandI havetoshootquickly. After
that,I simplygivemytotalfocustomakinga good shot.
Therestis history.
Theartofmakinga perfectstalkisanacquired skill
that takesyearstoperfect.It’salsoa skillthat can be
usedonanybowhuntforanygameanimal, and once
you’vegainedconfidenceinyourstalkingabilities, it’s
a tacticthatyou’llbeforeverhappytohavein your hip
pocket!
78 PETERSEN’S BOWHUNTING
If your target animal
catches your scent,
the game is over.
Check the wind!
The “Red Zone” is the final step
in a stalk, so be alert at all times.
You never know when your
opportunity will present itself.
A long stalk, followed by some patient wait-
ing for this pronghorn buck to get up from
its bed to stretch during midday, resulted in
sweet success for author Clint Casper.
Bringing It Home
Contrary to popular belief, stalking is not just a Western hunting tactic.
These skills can be used in the whitetail deer and turkey woods, and I’m living
proof of that! The great thing about learning to spot-and-stalk is it gives you
another option when deer hunting.
Let’s say it’s November, and you’ve spotted your buck bedded down with a hot
doe. Chances are they may bed for hours. So, if she doesn’t walk past your stand,
there’s no way this buck is coming within range. But it’s also a prime situation to
put a stalk on! You can get the wind in your face — you already know where they’re
bedded — and formulate a plan to get within range of the buck! The game is back
on, and you have now upped
your odds of success by
employing a different tactic.
Stalk in close and then wait for
them to get up and stretch or
start moving again, which
could give you the shot
opportunity you need. This is
something I do quite often each
fall, and it has paid off in huge
ways, as this photo shows!
