Types of Individual Hunting Methods

 Over the years, humans have developed and honed several methods and tactics to target and pursue their prey while hunting. Hunters depend on their hunting experience, knowledge of the prey, and the terrain when deciding on hunting methods. The local hunting laws of an area, its climate, and terrain can also affect what hunting method a hunter uses. Some countries have stringent laws about what species hunters can capture and the instruments they can use while hunting.

Hunting methods can be employed by an individual or in groups. An individual hunting style relies on observation and a mastery of hunting skills and knowledge. Posting, still hunting, and stalking are widely known individual hunting methods that involve a slow, patient process. Posting, for example, involves a hunter sitting or standing in one location for an extended period. Hunters often use this method in locations close to a vantage point near the animal's habitat: a water source, a food source, or a game trail.

While posting, hunters set up temporary structures from materials such as branches, leaves, rocks, and logs. These structures make the location more comfortable for the hunter and make it harder for the wildlife to spot them. As a rule of thumb, they are often positioned away from the sun and downwind based on the day's wind pattern. Hunters using this method must also be sure that their firearms are pointed in a safe direction with the safety on. The posting method is often used in dove hunting.

Still hunting is another individual method that entails hunters sneaking through an animal's habitat and concealing themselves with lush undergrowth or brush to blend into the environment and spot their prey. Hunters mainly use this technique when they find themselves in unfamiliar terrain. Stalking is a similar method to still hunting. The major difference is that when stalking, hunters close the distance between them and an animal or a group of animals by closely following a fresh trail left behind.

Still hunting and stalking involves a fair amount of time and skill. Hunters using these methods should be able to identify the various signs of an animal's presence, such as animal sounds, scents, and tracks. They should also know how to move through different terrains, i.e., trails, pastures, woods, and mountain slopes, and when and how to use certain elements such as wind, sound, and sun to stalk prey properly. However, hunters using these methods should always wear fluorescent orange to prevent other hunters from confusing them for prey. Still hunting and stalking are popularly used for hunting big game species such as deer, bears, elk, and hogs.

While hunting individually, some hunters also employ a technique called calling. This technique involves hunters mimicking or replicating the sounds of the species they are hunting. These sounds can be territorial, distress, feeding, or mating noises, and their purpose is to attract prey into the hunter's general vicinity. Baiting is another popular individual technique where hunters use an artificial food source to attract the species they are hunting to their location. However, baiting is illegal in some areas, so hunters using this method must ensure it is in line with the local game laws of the area.