RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

They also survive because they're PROLIFIC breeders. Honestly.....how does a deer where i hunt distinguish me from someone walking through the parks grounds (OK...I don't hunt there...lol....but people do, occasionally hike through there):)?

How do they distinguish me from the farmer walking to check his crops? From the neighbor/landowner coming over to cut a tree down for the wood? How is my "hunter" scent different from theirs? I just don't think they're gonna blwo out of their home turf (for years) because of an occasional intrusion.

Here's a good example......I KNOW I leave scent when I check my trail cam (at my mineral site). I know I leave scent when I fill my feeder. I do both on an ATV. I have trail cam picks of the buck I wounded not 100 yds from both of these, and still yet he returns to hit the minerals. "I" don't think he even rememebrs the day or the field he was in. "I" think he's not capable of such a thought/memory. I'll get plenty of people to disagree with me.....and that's fine, too.

Again Scott...I think the approach you talk of is "sound" on all levels. Do I think it's the only way? Nope...and I'm glad we're discussing this. I hope to actually hunt that way, one day.;)

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

NOW we're giving deer too much credit.....To think they remember anything.....well, anyway, let me explain. Deer (or any animal, for that matter) doesn't "remember".....they become conditioned. Remember Pavlov's dogs? They don't remember the bell means food, the become conditioned to it.

IMO, same same with a deer. If deer encounter human scent/activity in a certain area, they begin avoiding it. After avoiding it a couple times, they are conditioned, re-trained, if you will, to use another route. I don't personally believe they really know WHY they are using a different route, they just are. Animals don't have reasoning ability. If a deer encounters danger in a given tree, they will become conditioned to look into that tree. They don't remember that a big bad wolf was in that tree, they just become conditioned to check it out.

But either way, whether we call it memory or conditioning, it has, and will continue to, save an aweful lot of lives for the whitetail deer.

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

The bahavior of said people is different. They have become conditioned to the fact that your average hiker is of no danger, but a guy sneaking around in the woods, sitting in trees IS.

Case in point. I was drawn for a hunt in a public park couple years ago. It was a 2 week hunt, and I can't tell you how many deer we saw and spooked. One day, I decided to do something different. We dressed in casual clothing, didn't bother with a shower, grabbed our bows and started walking trails, JUST like the harmless hiker would do. We were able to literally walk up on deer within 25 yards, and they would look at us.....So, my buddy wasted one.....

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

We agree they become cautious/educated. But, then you just have to find out where they moved to or what trails they are using now to move around.

The does will avoid the southeast part of the property because we have been there early season. Let's say they start moving behind the pond and walking the woods line at the north side of the property. Our stands are already set up there for the rut and late season.. Of course, that could all change if the farmer next to us plants something appealing.

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

The flip side of course is to give them too little credit. These animals are some of the most physically tuned on the planet. The abilities of their senses are truly of mythical proportions. That whole sixth sense thing, I am a bliever of that 100%. They just aren't thinkers able to analyze a situation, but let's not lose sight of how incredible a deer is at survival.

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

In Northern MI if you happen to be hunting over a bait pile, as soon as deer past 1.5 sees it. The deer, buck or doe start looking for you in a tree.

I do agree with Huntinson, this is not rocket science. Get to and from your stands without spooking any deer. Set up Sanctuarys for the early season. Do not hunt these areas. I takea couple does each year.

Second thing you have to learn is what your neighbors are doing. Your neighbors will effect deer movement. You can be as sneaking as you want, but if they are running deer all over the place it willmess with you. I have learned to use them to help me. I have several stands setup for the second and third week of hunting. This is when I believe the deer know they are being hunted in my area. I try to use my neighbors blunders tomy advantage.

While you may begreat at not spooking deer and chasing does all over the place, your neighbors may not be.
I do agree with buckeye, we can and do "train deer".

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

OK, Mobo.....but what will "condition" deer in YOUR area might not "condition" them in mine.

There is NO "cookie cutter" approach to hunting deer....though some strategies are proven to be "sound". I'll concede that point.

I had a similar conversation with Rob the other week....about what it would take to ACTUALLY displace a deer from its' home range. "I" think it would take a LOT. Others don't. Difference of opinion.....and where one hunts.....and the herd dynamics of said herd will have a lot to do with this (IMO).

Agreed?

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

It is my opinion that it is better to give deer more credit than they deserve than not enough. I take great pains to avoid being detected by deer. In a perfect world, no deer would ever know of my presemce.

As far as "How long can a deer remember an occurance" goes, it depends on how severe and life threatening the occurance was. If you take a shot at a deerand miss,you won't see that deer close enough for a shot for the rest of the season (experienced this twice) from this stand. If the deer barely detects something amiss, you may see it again in a week or two if the wind is perfect for the encounter.

All being said...... Your chances of sucess are best if the deer never know that you are there.
That's gospel.

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

Disagree. "I" think you give them too much credit. I don't think they CARE who; why;etc... I just think they know there's an intruder.

What we do is.......try to outsmart them by getting somewhere (between where they live and where they eat)undetected.....or catch them chasing tail. The fact that we don't see them every time....is a testament to their survival skills (taking differing routes)....or simply DUMB LUCK that that they didn't come within bow range of your tree on THAT day (actually that particular time of that day). If you think of how the planets have to line up for us to be in the exact right place at the exact right time.....I'm just glad there's a lot of them out there.

It's really THAT simple in my eyes.

RE: OK... How about a little strategy talk....
 

Very well said Greg. I have been stumbling around with my words on this one too long:D