This has probably been discussed many times but I thought I would bring it up for new ideas. Im sitting in a very active wooded area with rubs, scrapes etc on the edge of a field they love to go to at dark.
They come off the hill a little before dark thirty and lollygag around eating acorns or whatever before heading unto the field. Its still light out and they are in no hurry walking right near my stand on occasion. Problem is, Im stuck in my stand way past dark trying not to bust this location Im in when I start climbing down. Now when the rut is on, they could care less! I have had does run past me with bucks on their tail looking at me as to say shoot this sucker would ya!
I have had to move my stand a few times because of it. Ive had a coyote call and used that but to be honest I just go as silently as possible and pray I don't hear that blow! If I do get blown at, I leave that stand alone for a few days.
Can you set up in oaks? If the right deer doesn't show up, you can sneak out while the deer are in the field
Personally, I wouldn't sweat it...
If the rut is on, and the Bucks are on the move, Chances of scaring them for more than an hour or so is nill.
The Bucks run the hell out of the Does, and if they're not in heat, their only worry is getting that Buck off their tail.
If they are in heat, The Bucks will be nose to the ground, trying to catch up with them....
If the stand is in a good spot, I'd hunt the hell out of it!!! :archer:
Actually, when a deer blows it's not screaming "human", it's just yelling "danger". That being the case I've made the blow noise myself just to get them running, then climbed down. That way they don't see you coming out of the tree.
Quote from: BAK on November 02, 2020, 03:26:12 PM
Actually, when a deer blows it's not screaming "human", it's just yelling "danger". That being the case I've made the blow noise myself just to get them running, then climbed down. That way they don't see you coming out of the tree.
This. I've also snort wheezed to run them off.
I wouldn't worry about it and once dark I'm not too sure I would care about "sneaking" out but would simply climb down and walk out.
Lots of the advice is dependent on local deer and the pressure or type pressure they feel. I personally wait em out or have someone come just walking through n get me. They see farmers, hikers, bikers all day long. By me this doesn't freak em out. By you it might. No correct answer here imo
Bark like a dog
Very interesting. I consider myself relatively thoughtful. I've never tried or thought of this but it's so simple I can't believe I never tried. A buddy of mine was out tonight and the same thing happened. He called me just after dark and said the deer came in and stayed by him til black. Hmmm how are you calling me now than? He's got lots of spots and is careful w em.
He said at dark he quietly ties his bow on his haul line and lowers it. After it touches down he just easily rustles it around. They normally, he said, look at it than ease away never spooking. I'd think this would focus them on an area from a short distance but he says they just walk away. Guess it's a consideration
Why aren't you setting up closer to the bedding?
Lots of good ideas. Like said, once the does start coming in heat it really doesn't matter. Its the early October hunts that they seem to just hang around in the dark for whatever reason. I just don't like "startling" them or bringing attention to my stand area.
Good luck to all.
Idk why anyone thinks scaring deer doesn't matter no when it is. Maybe they're preoccupied now but what about tomo or next week? Keep letting them catch you in a area it won't or can't help. I always say you might not screw up only tonight w something you do, it could screw up your season. Perhaps it didn't matter some occasions? Would being careful hurt you? No. I just don't get the thoughts things don't matter.
Details matter. Hunt clean
Well..... In the first place, deer are deer. They are smart!! They spend their entire lives, trying to stay alive!!!
However... Like they used to say about Wild Turkeys, If they see you move, they're gone!!! True!!! But... If a turkey spent his entire life "spooking" every time something moved, It'd starve to death!!!
Deer are much the same. They have a food source, water source, bedding areas, trails etc.... If they get spooked, it's only for awhile, and if whatever spooked them doesn't kill them, they soon go back about their business of staying alive. They have 3 defense mechanisms. Their eyes, ears, and nose.
We hunt mountain deer. The wind changes direction about every 10 minutes. You would go crazy trying to "hunt the wind" up on the mountain. I have had deer that CERTAINLY winded me, walk up within yards of me, and then walk past me and browes off into the laurel, because I set completely still and avoided eye contact.
If a deer is in a field to eat and get spooked out, it is NOT going to go hungry because something spooked it!!!
As soon as it's senses tell it that it's "all clear" it will return. It's hungry!!!
A deer trying to stay alive, lives in the moment. They do not have the "reasoning power" that humans do to think about the future.