Hunting Deer in Snow

[MountainHunter]

I have a question about deer and snow. The place where I hunt is supposed to have snow showers on Saturday morning and just a slight breeze (<5 MPH). I assume this means light snow. It’s my understanding that deer move well in this kind of weather. My question is this: Do deer understand unique human footprints? I am considering whether to stay in my stand all day or to get out for either lunch or a stalk hunt during the middle part of the day. I’m very good with my scent control and haven’t been scent-busted (that I know of) in 3 years, and I’ve had deer less than 20 yards downwind of me for half an hour and walking and browsing along the path I walked in on. But I’m concerned about deer seeing my footprints in the snow and avoiding the area.

Also, while snow is good for tamping down the sound of walking, I wonder if I’m stalking a bedded down deer and it sees my footprints in the snow leading up to where I am stalking, that would bust me?

[mossberghunter93]

I don't know for sure but I would seriously doubt that a deer possesses intellect to decipher human prints as danger.

[cwanty03]

i've heard of big mature deer knowing that kind of sixth sense....my buddy tells me to avoid mud while walking in and leaving my foot print

[YooperMike]

If they can decipher footprints, I'm done hunting.

[Western MA Hunter]

i've never had an issue...

[mossberghunter93]

Originally Posted by cwanty03

i've heard of big mature deer knowing that kind of sixth sense....my buddy tells me to avoid mud while walking in and leaving my foot print

I do the opposite because I try to get my boots a little more scentless by getting that mud on them.

[marquismarc]

the deer on my property walk in my foot prints.

[Maryland_Whitetail]

Originally Posted by YooperMike

If they can decipher footprints, I'm done hunting.

HAHAHA

To answer your question....NO

[early in]

Originally Posted by marquismarc

the deer on my property walk in my foot prints.

Too frigging funny!!!

[BigBuck822]

Haha... i am sure that they dont recognise human footprints, they might smell your footprint but not see a footprint in the snow and know that it is a human.