Hunting in the steep hollows and deep river bottoms of southern Missouri often means the easiest route to my stand isn’t always the best. The rugged terrain can be daunting and demand significant effort, making me question whether I have the energy to tackle it.Â
This challenge has been a key motivator for improving my fitness over the past two years. Not only has it made navigating from point A to point B much easier, but it’s also allowed me to plan more strategic routes to my stand.Â
I now plan routes that minimize the chances of deer seeing, smelling, or sensing my presence as they approach my hunting area.
When it comes to hunting mature bucks, how you approach your deer stand can make or break your hunt. A quiet, undetected entry ensures you don’t spook nearby deer, leaving the area prime for action when legal shooting light arrives.Â
Mature bucks, known for their wariness, can pick up on even the slightest disturbances, so taking a strategic and stealthy route to the stand is critical.
A few years ago, while heading to my stand in the middle of the day, a small voice in my head urged me to look toward the opposite ridge.
Turning, I locked eyes with two mature bucks casually watching me across the hill. They turned and bounded into the thick cover when they noticed me.
I couldn’t help but wonder—if I hadn’t stopped, would I have ever known they were there? And how many times had something similar happened without my realizing it?
The journey from your vehicle to your hunting location is often more critical than the time spent in the stand itself.
With that in mind, here are the five best strategies for accessing your stand, tips on implementing them, and why they’re so effective.
1. Walk a Creek Bottom
 How To:
One of the stealthiest approaches to your stand, blind, or to the specific tree you will be saddle hunting from is following the path of a natural creek or creek bottom. Scout your hunting area to locate a creek or stream that runs near or toward your stand.Â
Enter the water downstream to reduce scent contamination and walk quietly in the shallowest areas. Wear rubber boots or waders to minimize noise and scent transfer.Â
Plan your route so you can step out of the water as close to your stand as possible.
Why It Works:
Water routes mask both your scent and sound. Deer rely heavily on their sense of smell and hearing to detect danger, and moving through water significantly reduces your footprint in both senses.Â
Whether flowing with water or a dry bed, a creek bottom offers low-lying terrain that keeps you out of sight as you approach your stand. This method works exceptionally well in areas with thick vegetation or an area like mine with many steep inclines.Â
A walk along the bottom of a ridge where a wet weather spring lies makes for easier walking and keeps me hidden when making my way to where I am hunting that morning or evening.
2. Use a Kayak or Canoe
How To:
Online public land hunters’ shows have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. One of the common trends among these hunters is using a kayak or canoe to get to their hunting area without being detected, as well as to get farther away from other hunters when hunting on public land.Â
If your hunting area includes a lake, river, or flowing creek, you can use a kayak or canoe to paddle quietly to a spot near your stand. Scout for an accessible landing point ahead of time.Â
Wear rubber-soled boots and paddle slowly to avoid creating ripples or unnecessary noise. Once ashore, quietly disembark and take a short, pre-cleared path to your stand.
Why It Works:
This approach is highly effective in areas with hard-to-access terrain. A boat eliminates the noise and ground scent that would otherwise spook deer if you walked through the woods.Â
Additionally, waterways often serve as natural travel corridors for deer, so your approach by water ensures you don’t disturb deer moving through the area. This low-impact entry is ideal for stands set in remote or highly pressured hunting locations.Â
A canoe or kayak can also aid in transporting your harvest back to your vehicle without dragging it for long distances.
Shopping for a kayak? Read this article on The Best Kayaks for Bowhunting.
3. Â Ride an Electric Bike
How To:
One of my favorite recent discoveries for spring turkey hunting is using my QuietKat electric bike. It’s also an excellent tool for traveling to and from my deer hunting areas with minimal disturbance to the local deer population.Â
Equip yourself with a quiet electric hunting bike designed for off-road terrain. Use trails or cleared paths that lead close to your stand. Riding a bike can ensure you navigate quietly and efficiently without using as much energy.Â
Once you’re close to your stand, dismount, hide your bike in the brush or cover, and walk the final stretch on foot to reduce noise further.
Why It Works:
Electric bikes are nearly silent and produce minimal scent, making them ideal for stealthy travel. They allow you to cover long distances quickly and without exerting yourself, meaning you’ll arrive at your stand less sweaty and more scent-free.Â
This method works exceptionally well in expansive hunting properties or public land areas where stands are far from vehicle access points.
4. Use a Leaf Blower to Clean a Quiet Path
How To:
Even in hunting areas that require minimal walking or effort to access, maintaining quiet and stealthy movements before hunting remains essential.Â
Before the season starts, I have often used a battery-powered or gas-leaf blower to clear a path to my stand. I can remove leaves, sticks, and debris that can create noise when stepped on.Â
This helps create a natural-looking path to avoid alerting deer to your activity. Use this cleared path consistently to ensure it remains silent throughout the season.
Why It Works:
A pre-cleared path ensures you can approach your stand quietly, even in crunchy fall conditions. Deer are hyper-aware of unnatural noises like snapping twigs or rustling leaves, and a silent approach keeps them at ease.Â
By reducing noise, you increase your chances of arriving undetected, especially during the pre-dawn hours, when the woods are calm and quiet, or later in the fall when the forest floor is covered with freshly fallen leaves that can be noisy when stepped on.
5. Get Out Early, Well Before Shooting Light
How To:
Plan to reach your stand at least an hour before legal shooting light. Use a headlamp with a red or green light to reduce visibility to deer.Â
Move steadily but quietly, keeping an eye on your surroundings to avoid startling nearby animals. Once in your stand, settle in quickly and remain still until daylight.
Why It Works:
Deer are often most active during the early morning hours, so entering your stand early ensures you’re in position before they start moving.Â
Walking under the cover of darkness allows you to move without being seen, and arriving early gives the area time to settle before prime hunting hours.Â
This approach is especially important during the rut when bucks are on the move at first light.
Why Stealth Matters
Getting to your stand undetected is one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of deer hunting.Â
Mature bucks are experts at avoiding danger, and even a small mistake can cause them to alter their patterns or avoid your area altogether.Â
By using one of these five methods, you’ll significantly reduce the chances of spooking deer, increasing your odds of success.
A quiet, scent-free entry not only keeps the area calm but also builds confidence in your setup, allowing you to focus entirely on the hunt.Â
Whether you’re using a creek bottom, canoe, electric bike, leaf blower, or simply getting out extra early, a thoughtful approach can make the difference between a successful hunt and a missed opportunity.
