#1817376 - 03/02/10 08:00 AM
Run or hide....?
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Bottom Hunter
16 Point
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 15494
Loc: Hatchie Bottoms
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I'm sure that most here have jumped deer and watched them trot off blowing..... As many as we've seen on these occasions, I'm sure that many left out way before we got there and some may have stayed put and let you focus on those making all the fuss....
This is in no way scientific and may indeed get varied responses.....I hope so, anyway.
When you are walking through a thicket and bust some deer out of it, do you ever stop and look around wondering if any deer sat tight and are indeed watching you? I know that I have.
Do you ever wonder how many deer simply never move or maybe a few sat tight until you walk by and then sneak out behind you?
I'm sure that some deer within hearing distance of your truck or wheeler, TAKE OFF when they first hear or see you. Others may wait around and see what's going on.
I guess this is just a thread to get everyone discussing deer behavior and to give their opinion on how many deer flee and how many sit tight, when you come by....
I think the terrain matters quite a bit. Thick areas make good hideouts as do grass fields. Many times, IMO, deer won't run until they know you saw them...aka looked them right in the eyes....
I've been scared silly when I busted a deer out a mere few feet from where I was standing.....Many deer have left out way before i got anywhere close to them as well....
Do you think that this is an "individual" reaction or a reaction based on surrounding factors.
Do you think that some deer just react differently?
any thoughts on this...?
BH
_________________________
There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict.
Walk away; the battle they are fighting is not with you, but with themselves.
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#1817414 - 03/02/10 08:24 AM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Bottom Hunter]
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Wildcat
Non-Typical
Registered: 06/10/00
Posts: 39107
Loc: Western Ky.
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Over the years I've seen two studies in two different states where they use fenced in areas and transmiters on both "hunters" and deer. Over several days they would send in the "hunters" to find the deer while they were able to track both.
I remember two things stood out from both studies. 25% of all the deer stayed put and let the hunters pass with over 50% of the mature bucks stayed around and hide.
The other thing I'll never forget was that "hunters" came within feet of some the mature bucks and still didn't see them. I've posted about this before and wish I could find them again.
_________________________
A Government that does not trust its law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, is itself unworthy of trust..... - James Madison
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#1817419 - 03/02/10 08:26 AM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Wildcat]
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Setterman
8 Point
Registered: 12/31/09
Posts: 1783
Loc: Knoxville, TN
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I have given some thoughts to what you ask, but never anything in depth as to why. I personally think more will sit tight and let you walk right by versus jumping and running. I also think a deer that is up feeding or moving is more likely to bolt then one which is bedded down.
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#1817605 - 03/02/10 10:07 AM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Wildcat]
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Rowdy
14 Point
Registered: 12/25/07
Posts: 9377
Loc: ky lake
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On my very first deer hunt, 42 yrs. ago, I got lucky and tagged early.  Later in the day, I was walking through thick stuff in hopes of kicking something out for my partner. I passed several does (buck only hunt), that were laying still, within 10 ft. of me as I walked by. I actually watched one squat down as I approached. Not one of them got up and ran, not even when I would pause close to them. I know they heard me as well as seen me, but they stayed put!! Granted, this area had been closed to hunting for about 10 yrs. due to high risk of fires, and the deer had not been subjected to any hunting pressure for that length of time, but it still seemed strange to me at the time. It seemed as though they didn't feel threatened as long as I wasn't moving directly at them.
On another hunt, I had been still hunting, and had paused to look around. I caught a glimps of movement and spotted a nice buck about 75 yds. away. There was a tree between us so I couldn't see all of him, just his rack and part of his head. This deer would peek around this tree for a moment, then pull back behind it again. This went on for probably 5 min. or so. It was as though he was just watching me, and as long as I didn't pose a threat to him by approaching him directly, he was going to stay put and let me pass by...BIG mistake...fortunatly, I was able to slowly walk on, till I got to another tree where I was somewhat hidden from his view. Using the tree for cover I raised my rifle, eased around the tree until I could see him. Well, the next time he peeked at me was his last...He showed me just enough of his neck to let me seal the deal.  However, it still remains...had I not been alert enough to spot him, he would have just stayed put, and I wouldn't of had a clue he was anywhere around. 
_________________________
Gone fish'n....be back for deer season
EARL PITTS is my HERO!
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#1817830 - 03/02/10 12:04 PM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Rowdy]
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Football Hunter
18 Point
Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 24565
Loc: Wilson Co/Perry Co
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I think it has to do with wether or not they smell you,if you are not down wind,sometimes they dont react violently.I have rode up to bow range of many deer on my 4 wheeler,but if the wind is on my back its different.
Another curiosity,if you ride up on a deer and leave the bike running,seems that sometimes they stay calm,but if you turn it off,they are gone.
_________________________
The best day to plant a tree,IS TODAY!
You wont know,if you dont go!
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#1817876 - 03/02/10 12:23 PM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Football Hunter]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25247
Loc: TN
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The older bucks will definitely hold much tighter and have much more grit than younger deer. I have been fortunate over the years to witness some pretty cool things from old bucks. I have saw them flatten out on the ground and actually stretch their neck out and put their chin flat on the ground and hide instead of fleeing when the danger got too close before they new it was there. If an old buck has the choice he will usually slip away undetected long before you get to him. If caught by surprise however they will many times lay tight and let you walk within feet of them. I have killed and saw killed some really nice bucks by a hunter staying put at the point where a deer drive was started, they simply lay there until the drivers have gone by and slip out the way the drivers came in. Same thing for a hunter moving along at a steady pace, its when you stop that deer will generally break and run, they think you have found them and they blow out, old bucks have much more grit and will lay in there most times until you almost step on them.
I was sitting on a limb in a big Sycamore in a powerline many years ago, and had 2 good bucks just out of bow range feeding in the cut. They suddenly became fixed on something in the woods long before I could hear or detect anything. After some time with them on full alert, I too could hear a hunter walking along the edge of the cut, these bucks sunk down to the ground and hid, letting this guy walk literally within 10 feet of them. They stayed down until he was well past them before they raised up, watched him go out of sight, and slowly relaxed and went back to feeding. It was a lesson learned for me for sure!
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#1817932 - 03/02/10 12:50 PM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Winchester]
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CopperHead77
12 Point
Registered: 08/20/07
Posts: 6707
Loc: Hickman Co.
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I think it's different for each deer,I've seen deer get a wiff of me and instead of running off try to visually confirm what they are smelling.
I've also had deer see me and then try to smell me and confirm what they are seeing or think they see.
Then I've had those ones that just flat out get tha heck outta there and don't need confirmation but from one of their senses lol
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#1817987 - 03/02/10 01:22 PM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: Football Hunter]
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Bayou Buck
8 Point
Registered: 05/11/09
Posts: 2162
Loc: Spring Hill / Perry Co
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[quote=Football Hunter]I think it has to do with wether or not they smell you,if you are not down wind,sometimes they dont react violently.I have rode up to bow range of many deer on my 4 wheeler,but if the wind is on my back its different.
I agree with Football Hunter. For Instance, this past year I had 4 deer bust me and take off blowing on my way to the stand. I froze and listened and about 1 minutes later another deer up wind came walking right at me. It got about 10 yards from me and then turned into the thicket. It never blew once.
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#1818000 - 03/02/10 01:31 PM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: CopperHead77]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59553
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Quite a few years ago a study was conucted on the King Ranch in TX. Because they already had a large number of bucks radio-collared, the had the opportunity to approach the known location of these radio-collared bucks (walking directly at each buck's radio-signal). Through triangulation, they could watch for when each individual buck reacted to the person walking towards them.
When reviewing the data, they found exactly the opposite of what they had expected. The bucks that reacted first--when the person was farthest away--were the youngest bucks. Older bucks, and especially mature bucks, held tight. In fact, the most mature bucks held so tight to even the smallest patches of cover that the person walking toward them often had to literally kick the bucks up out of the cover (nearly having to step on the bucks). Interestingly, the person walking towards the buck knew about where the buck was due to his radio signal but often could not visually see the buck until he bolted from underfoot.
Now this study was done in TX brush country. Perhaps deer in other habitat would react differently. But I suspect this behavior is fairly universal. Mature bucks act like rabbits--hold motionless and let danger walk by--while younger, less experienced bucks run at first sign of danger.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1818040 - 03/02/10 01:53 PM
Re: Run or hide....?
[Re: BSK]
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Bottom Hunter
16 Point
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 15494
Loc: Hatchie Bottoms
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I guess that when deer become mature, they do what has worked for them in the past.....
better to stay hidden and not be seen then to run and be seen...
BH.
_________________________
There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict.
Walk away; the battle they are fighting is not with you, but with themselves.
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