I am super religious about my scent control and cover scents while hunting.   I can spot n stalk with the best of them.....but in a ststic location (ground blind)....those old does bust me every time.   I closed all the viewing port except the one i was looking out of, thinking maybe they saw me, nope...the very next doe started blowing.   im telling ya, they have some version of the Jedi force.  A little while later, i snuck right uo on them.  im baffled

No trophy buck is as sharp or cagey as a 6 year old dominant doe. A buck on has to cover his butt while a matriarch is looking out for her herd, along with showing them all the ropes. They are always on alert and have a lot of tricks to catch you with.

I had a big doe with triplets bust me a couple times last week.  they came into 40 yards and even though they couldn't see me balled up in my gillie suit (I think)  she still knew something wasn't right.  she left in haste then came back after an hour.  same results.

Yep, they are cagey

Who do you think taught those big smart old bucks all they know??  

I agree, I have always felt that an old Doe is as educated or more than an old buck.  If you can fool them, you can fool any deer.

Mule deer does are also near mystical in their survival skills.

Maybe it is the blind and not you?

"There is a big suspicious looking thing that wasn't here last month."

QuoteOriginally posted by Stumpkiller:
Maybe it is the blind and not you?

"There is a big suspicious looking thing that wasn't here last month."

I agree.  The deer around here can spot anything out of the norm from a long way off...  Ground blinds are a waste of time if they haven't been there for months.

Whitetail does are tough.  Imagine anything new in your front room.  Do you notice it? Well how about your wife?

Now you know why does are so smart.

Mike

Old does know every stick, every rock and every bush in their home range, anything new or out of place is immediately noticed. Everywhere they go when young deer are just cruising along the Old Lady is Poppin' and Lockin' like a break dancer checking every twig.

If smell, sound & sight are ruled out, move on to the indirect senses.  Could the birds or squirrels tip her off to your presence?  Are they making alarm or agitation calls?  Is there an absence of baseline calls from a particular species (zone of silence = possible danger).  Some species are more shy than others and may be avoiding the area while you're there.  Others are quite unperturbed by humans and will make you feel more hidden than you are.  Are  you visible from above?  Lots of possibilities beyond the senses of the deer itself.

Can't say I know much on the topic -- just enough to ask more questions.  In my stretch of woods, the grouse are among the most sensitive to my presence.  Juncos, nuthatches and chickadees are the least.  And that's just what I have been able to observe.  I'm sure there's plenty that I'm missing.

Good stuff guys,

BUT no matter how many times we get busted it is still a whole bunch of fun !!!


DS

Toughest deer in the woods to kill, dude...no joke

QuoteOriginally posted by Pointer:
Toughest deer in the woods to kill, dude...no joke

I have been busted by mature does way more than anything else. Every now and then I get revenge though!  

QuoteOriginally posted by Pointer:
Toughest deer in the woods to kill, dude...no joke

Tough, yes.  But I am certain and have witnessed cagey old bucks that let the does go on ahead and then they follow along if no alarms are given.

More than once I have tried to line up that following buck only to have the doe(s) get leeward of me and wind me - snorting the alarm before I had a shot.

So which deer was the smarter?

I get 10 opportunities on adult does for every eight point that I get in range of.  BUT - they lose their caution in the rut and make mistakes.