HuntingNet.com Forums - The Deer are getting Too Smart

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Do muleys or elk respond to a blast of the car horn?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Hunter (Post 3890616)

I dodge deer every single day. I don't know if whitetails are any smarter, but mule deer are the stupidest animal I know.

They wait on the side of the road watching you approach. At the last minute they run across the road. The locals are aware of this, and we all slow down when we see deer. The un-locals have no clue, and hit them. Same with elk.

I believe this is due to their eyesight and the bright head lights, confusing them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WV Hunter (Post 3889988)

If you're seeing that many, they gotta be somewhere breech...the key is figuring out where, and if/how you can put yourself in position to capitalize. Later in the season in most places it seems to get like you are stating.

I agree 100%, they get smarter each year. Heck the deer in my area walk around looking up in the trees. They didn't used to do that, its genetic conditioning I guess. Maybe your deer have been conditioned to the spotlight...they know to stay away from that area tomorrow or it could be trouble. LOL. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find em.

I have witnessed deer,sneaking like a coyote,running between trees and looking up and
all around.Wild guess would say someone took a shot at him,missed,and shot some more.
This was in area far from any place that someone lived.The area I hunt is very near homes and small farms.Lot of people smell. Twenty years ago,if you got too close to a deer in this area,they would"blow"at you.I haven't heard a deer 'blow'at any one in my area for at least 12 years.I walked up on one near my feeder last year as I raised my rifle,she looked up and
simply ran away.years ago she would have "blown" for a quarter mile after she saw me.
They do act different than they once did.

i know the easiest way to spook all the deer (and hogs) within hundreds of yards: Just shut off the truck and open the door with the keys in the ignition. A friend of mine does that when hes not reminded. We never see anything after that Ford warning beeper screams for a few seconds. Driving to the stand with the seatbelt unfastened will do it too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boonechaser (Post 3890646)

I believe this is due to their eyesight and the bright head lights, confusing them.

Don't know about that. When we're close is when they decide to run in the street. They can see pretty good at that distance, and i'm talking during daylight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcon (Post 3890676)

Funny you should mention that Falcon, and I do drive a FORD Truck.....I had one Buck I was hunting a bunch of years ago that lived just down the road fom my house. I'd drive my truck and park it to go bow hunting. As I shut off my truck the Buck was always bedded in a Golden Rod Field near the dirt road where I parked. When he heard me shut off the truck he'd stand up, I'd see him and then he'd walk away and I'd never see him again untill the next time I came to hunt, then he did the same thing. He knew I was there by the sound of my truck.
This may sound dumb but I also have a Black Lab, he's one smart suker, if I pull into the driveway and come in the house he just lays there knowing it's me, must be because he knows the sound of my truck. If anyone else pulls into the driveway he gets right up and barks.
I also hunt a Corn Field, we park at the end of a dead end road about 200yds from the corn field. Im 1000% cnvinced that the deer can hear me drive in, shut off the truck and get out. They know Im there and wont come out untill they hear the sound of my truck leaving. Hw do I believe this, one day I thought of this of what I just said, so I had a buddy of mine get in and drive my truck away so the deer would think I left. I sneeked back to the corn field and got in stand and the deer came out to feed with in 15 minutes. It did'nt last for long though as they caught on quick, but it did work. Yes the deer are smarter than you think. Im now convinced that anywhere you hunt if it's a quiet morning or evening and the deer can hear you drive in and shut the doors, there on alert and ready.
(BP)