RE: how long before deer returns to pattern after spooked?
depends on how bad you spook them... ive been walking in and bumped deer from an oak i know they were feeding from-- they stood there in the dark blowing at me. i hung my stand and 30 min later arrowed a big fat doe. they spooked again and came back 10 min later--- even smelled her blood, i coulda shot another. so i think it depends on each occurance.