How To: Wildlife Photography and staying hidden

[RichSoansPhotos]

If you don't have camouflage or a particularly long lens, you can hide your approach using the foliage around you, something I learnt only last year

A tree helped me hide my approach so I could take photos of Egyptian goose (male and female)

[Overtrim]

Originally Posted by 40Driggs

Great tips from everyone. I hunted for many years including bowhunting, so I am quite used to being close to wildlife. It saddens me to think of all the great shots I could have gotten if I was in to photography back then! That is the way it is though...Here are a few thoughts of mine to consider.

Using the vehicle as a cover- while this does probably work in areas where deer are used to seeing vehicles, it does not always work in a real world environment. I have watched deer's reactions to vehicles during hunting season and they are not good. Some deer will go WAY around the vehicle because they associate it with a predator (especially bucks).

When I am trying to stalk an animal, I use natural cover to block my outline. Move very slowly and walk in a way that there is always a tree or bush between you and what you are going towards. It takes a lot of patience to get close in the wild. This does not apply at places like nature centers and parks obviously.

Don't be afraid to just sit and wait-A lot of times animals scatter like crazy when you are running through the woods. I have found that if you just sit down and wait, they will come back. Patience can pay off in more ways then one. I like deer, but while waiting for deer to show up I often see a lot of squirrels and birds hanging out at close ranges. If you are careful to be still, you will probably be surrounded by wildlife.

Pop up blinds are excellent- If you know anything about turkeys, you will know that they often scatter at the slightest movement(in the wild). I have found that a pop-up blind works great to counteract this phenomena. With a popup blind in place, I have been surrounded by about 10 hen turkeys within 8-10 feet for a period of about an hour. The only reason they go scared off is because I moved to a different spot. I have also called in a 20+ pound tom within 10 feet. Missed the shot, however because the safety was on but that is another story in itself. Another benefit of the popup blind is that you can get away with moving around more and not wearing camo.

I am new to this forum, but, wanted to add a couple of things. Most hunters look too high for deer. I found more deer laying on the ground than standing while I am stalking. If you think you are moving too slow, then SLOW DOWN! Look at every bush or fallen logs as far ahead as you can. If it is during hunting season, then wear your orange vest or cap, A 140 grain 30.06 makes and terrible large hole on exit from your chest.

[mn shutterbug]

Birds get used to blinds in their neighborhood pretty fast. A couple years ago, I saw a kingfisher sitting at the top of a lone dead tree on the edge of a slough. Every time I went by, he was there but there was no way to get close. I brought my large blind along one day and set it up out in the open within range, and it took just a few minutes after flushing him and he was back at the top of the snag. This was the only way I have ever got a decent pic of a Belted Kingfisher. They are incredibly skittish.

[rjb0765@gmail.com]

First learn about your target, research. You have to know where to place the blind or where to go. once you're in the right area if you still are not getting action, try an attractor. simple home made. for example, a small piece of white cloth tied to braided fishing line so you can make the cloth wiggle and dance gently in your photo area. make sure it can be seen. animals are curious. deer, elk (to a point) antelope and a variety of birds are some of the animals this works with. Think about what you want. the result. build on success, dump failure. soon you'll have what you seek.