Still-hunting is a tactic that requires a variety of skills that fall under the general category of woodsmanship. The basic premise behind still hunting is that the hunter slowly moves through an area known to hold deer, hoping to spot a deer before the animal spots the hunter, or at least before the animal runs away after seeing the hunter. One of the most important rules for the still hunter is to always move directly or quartering into the wind. Deer have a keen sense of smell, and if the wind is not in the hunter's favor, a deer will sense the hunter's presence and depart the area long before the hunter is in visual range of the deer's location.

The next important rule is for the hunter to move very slowly. Even if the hunter thinks that he is moving slow enough, he should still try to slow down even more. The hunter should try not to take more than two to five steps at a time. The steps should be slow and deliberate, and care should be taken not to step on twigs, pinecones, or other objects, which might create noises that would alert deer to your presence. After each series of steps the hunter should stop and survey his surroundings in every direction, close and far, looking for any sign of a deer; the outline of an ear, the glint of sun off of an antler tip; the out of place horizontal line in a stand of vertical trees that is created by the back or belly of an animal. A good pair of binoculars will help the hunter penetrate openings in the brush or trees. You don't realize how much can be missed with the naked eye until you look at the same area under the power of magnification.

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Once the surroundings have been thoroughly inspected, a few more steps can be taken and then the observation process starts all over again. The hunter should be moving slowly enough that any small noises that might be created by an errant step are usually ignored by animals as just the random noises that are heard in the forest. Also, the long pauses and slow and movements often mimic the style of a feeding deer as it moves through the woods, again, not giving other animals reason to be alarmed.

In addition to moving slowly and closely inspecting the surrounding terrain, the still hunter should try to remain in shadows whenever possible, and try to stay in areas that are wooded, or grown up with brush. It is important to try to break up the human outline whenever possible. Large open areas, like prairie grasslands, are not as conducive to still-hunting as forested areas.

Hunters who perfect the art of still-hunting often see a lot of game, and are able to get very close to animals, even within bow range, by having patience and good observation skills. In fact, they often move slowly enough that they are able to spot deer long before they themselves are detected because they are in fact moving slower than the animals which may be up and about.