I went out today alone and gave it a lot of thought after my walk with a duck hunter last week. I was walking twice as fast as him and about twice as quiet. I couldn't believe the racket he made walking.
So here is my point, walking in is about as important as anything in the set up for hunters especially treestand hunters. While walking we encounter a variety of conditions as we get to the stand site. We walk grass paths, gravel, marsh, woods, thickets, snow, leaves, and others.
Grass and grass paths: This is one of the more quiet conditions you can have, especially wet grass. I try to make time in these areas, but still like to be quiet. Other than watching where you step, this is pretty easy to be quiet. Other than dragging heels and stomping, it is the easiest.
Gravel: this is a tricky walk, other than slowing down and walking a bit flat footed, but not too flat footed, you want to not come down hard and hit the front part of your foot flat to be quiet. You also have to watch when it isn't real gravelly, but a bit of sand with some gravel. Sand is pretty quiet too, but when you crunch a little gravel you have to watch it close.
Sand trails: I was walking in sand and was watching for gravel chunks, but in finer sand you are mostly OK. But today I was setting my feet down to barely make a print. You can still move fairly quick, but have to watch it. Walking flat footed or coming down on the front of your feet does make a difference.
I talked about walking in squeaky snow this last winter. I had to slide my feet into it when there was a fresh inch of snow in about 10 degrees or it would squeak. Also very slow walking.
Leaves: dry leaves are noisy. You have to slow down or wait for some cover sound. Rustling leaves or windy conditions help, so do passing cars, trains, plains, crows squaking, etc. Try for some cover sound and slow down.
Walking in woods: brush racking off you and breaking sticks make the most noise. If you are tense as you put your foot down you can feel the stick before you snap it.
Marsh grass: With water splashing and noisy marsh grass rustling off you, you have to slow down and keep your feet in the water.
Dan talks a lot about going slow, but I have found after a couple miles of walking if you are not getting yourself exhausted going slow you are just not trying hard enough. They say deer hear better than humans and the next time you see someone walking in the woods before you hear them stop and watch them to see how far away you can hear them, if possible. This will start to give you an idea of what you may be able to get away with.
Here are some pics from my walk.
And a little scenery
So what say you, any tips or tricks on walking to your stand quiet?
I don't know if there are excersizes that can help balance but seems like keeping your lower legs strong would be key. Balance does make a difference.