What Gave The Deer Away?

[Mike Belt]

Anyone ever have something besides actually seeing a deer give it's presence away? Birds? Squirrels? A shadow of the moving deer? I've had all of the above but I can add a new one dealing with cold mornings where you can see your breath. I often hunt native grass fields where multiple deer love to bed. A couple of hours after daylight on a zero to light wind day with lots of sunshine steam rises off a bedded deer's body. I had a couple bedded right behind me the other morning in 2 different spots a few feet apart. They looked like mini Old Faithfulls.

 

[KANATI McD]

That's cool, never thought of that. A squirrel will tell on one in a heartbeat.

 

[timberjack86]

So will a bluejay

 

[catman529]

Never seen one steam, but have seen their breath and few on the whiskers in the cold. Usually I just hear it or see it or see a flicker or slight movement through the trees.

 

[Boone 58]

Awesome!!!

 

[bigasports]

Learned something new, thanks!

 

[Inkstainz]

Learn something new everyday. Thanks!

 

[xtremedeerman]

Always helpful to learn more Thanks

 

[huvrman]

Last week I saw the top of a small sapling swaying in a thicket below me. At first I thought it was a squirrel. A couple of minutes later a buck stepped across a logging road, directly adjacent to the thicket. Figure it was rubbing...

 

[Frank G]

There are grazing cows in the fields across from my lease. Have seen their breath on a cold morning. Often though a deer must do that as well, I have watch for it but yet to witness. Most of my sighting are shadows moving at first light.

 

[RUGER]

I have had a squirrel give a buck's approach away.
I have also had birds do the same thing.

The oddest I suppose is I have had horses and cows come to attention and stare in a certain direction and then a deer stepped out from there.

 

[G_Man]

Walking to you stand yesterday before 6am. Can't see for crud. 60 yards from my tree, I see a red flash from my IR camera. One more step and off runs the deer haha... Pulled card later and it was a 4 point

 

[Dolan82]

The area I have hunted this year the crows have been like a alarm system. The start cawing and about 10 minutes later here come the deer.

 

[Bullfrog]

I don't know if it's considered "giving them away", other than just knowing what to look for, but when i'm really paying attn. to the day/surroundings, I've had their eyeballs give them away.

 

[Winchester]

Dogs barking, squirrels barking, saplings swaying, shadow, car blowing at them when crossing rd, train whistle when on tracks, steam, sun glinting on back and or antler, water splashing and rocks grinding in creeks, tires squealing on cars trying to keep from hitting them, livestock staring at them, coyotes trying to stalk them, shots from other hunters, etc. list goes on just a few off top my head.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

Dogs barking, squirrels barking, saplings swaying, shadow, car blowing at them when crossing rd, train whistle when on tracks, steam, sun glinting on back and or antler, water splashing and rocks grinding in creeks, tires squealing on cars trying to keep from hitting them, livestock staring at them, coyotes trying to stalk them, shots from other hunters, etc. list goes on just a few off top my head.

All these minus the train for me, and my favorite one is a deer. I've seen deer come over the top of the hill and start feeding and then get nervous and flag looking deep into the thicket, then turn and walk back where they came from. Minutes later a deer or two pop out of the thicket right where they were looking. I've also seen them freeze and not budge or blink an eye as one walked by completely clueless they were being watched by the other deer (and me :grin:)

 

[Urban_Hunter]

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH I forgot one!!!! When hunting a field in Smith county, I was always warned of a nearby deer by ROAD HUNTERS!!!

 

[Frank G]

I wes reading this forum last week and funny thing sitting in stand yesterday, crows started carring on. Thought about this forum and sure enough about 10 minutes 4 doe came walking through a thicket, stuck the large one. Venison to the locker. Hey worked from me.