Do older deer become harder to kill?
How much do deer learn from year to year?
I’ve got my eye on a certain buck for next year…..and I’m thinking he’s going to be a bit more difficult to harvest…..just because he’s getting older. My guess is he’ll be four or 5-1/2, this year. I had him trot by me in ’05 with my ass in the seat and my bow on the hanger. I had him at 0 yds. at one point this year……and couldn’t get an ethical shot at him. I also had him walk by on the last day of bow season……and I with NO buck tags left. So….in all 46 hunts…. I saw him 3 times, this past season.
I think they get either smarter or more nocturnal (not that there’s a difference…..but a correlation) as they get older. I “Think” my (OUR) best chance at a buck is likely the first encounter with him. I also think they learn things throughout their lives that make them a more difficult adversary. I don’t think anyone would argue that a buck who is 3-1/2 is harder to kill than when he was when he was 1-1/2.
What do these bucks learn that makes them so savvy? Is it how/when to avoid human contact? Does anyone disagree and think they’re not getting smarter as they get older?