fairchaser
Well-Known Member
I think deer actually sleep more than we know. But, I've never seen it with my own eyes until now. Watch the does eyes on the left.
Video of a doe sleeping
- Thread starter fairchaser
- Start date
That's awesome
I used to spend a lot of time in Cades Cove photographing deer. When I could, I'd find a good buck and just tag along with him as long as he'd tolerate me.
I'd been photographing a really nice 8 pointer for a few hours and he had gotten very comfortable with my presence. We had made our way out of the cove and up the side of the mountain. He bedded down and I sat down a few feet away, occasionally snapping a pic.
To my surprise, he laid his head down and closed his eyes. I'd never seen that before. He never kept his eyes closed longer than a minute, but he'd snooze a minute, check things out then snooze another minute. He did that for about 30 minutes, then got up and moved on.
I'd been photographing a really nice 8 pointer for a few hours and he had gotten very comfortable with my presence. We had made our way out of the cove and up the side of the mountain. He bedded down and I sat down a few feet away, occasionally snapping a pic.
To my surprise, he laid his head down and closed his eyes. I'd never seen that before. He never kept his eyes closed longer than a minute, but he'd snooze a minute, check things out then snooze another minute. He did that for about 30 minutes, then got up and moved on.
I watched three does come in and bed one morning. As two would sleep, the other always had its head up. They alternated sleeping, and every twenty or thirty minutes each would stand, stretch, move a few feet, and lay back down. They did this from 8:30 until 11:00. At 11:00 they all got up, started slowly feeding, moving probably 50 yards until one got downwind of me. I've seen this one other time in the same area. Sure is fun to watch.
agelessssone
Well-Known Member
Had a young buck bed down 25 yds in front of me for 45 minutes one day.
Tucked his head in his belly and closed his eyes for a good 20 minutes.
Tucked his head in his belly and closed his eyes for a good 20 minutes.
DC219
Well-Known Member
I had two bed down in front of me this year and they curled up like dogs with their noses tucked back towards the belly. At one point, one of them was laying with his head straight out, flat on the ground.
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
Watched a bedded doe earlier this season go from having her head up peaking out of her brier tangle hiding spot, to head tucked in for a few minutes. She would close her eyes at times. Was able to watch her even after I shot a buck that came in. She laid in her spot that morning for well over an hour, and didn't get up until my wife walked the trail to keep me from getting busted getting down.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Maybe that's what all the deer have been doing every day I've been hunting this year 
Yep they do it quite often. I've seen it and they definitely have more ease doing it in groups of 3-4 or more
Yep they do it quite often. I've seen it and they definitely have more ease doing it in groups of 3-4 or more
Used to seem them sleep in my back yard often.
themanpcl
Well-Known Member
I have watched deer sleep from my stand. It is so cool.
Had a doe bed 30
Yards behind me last day of rifle and go to sleep. Was pretty cool to watch.
Yards behind me last day of rifle and go to sleep. Was pretty cool to watch.
