Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Please take the time to fight through this long post....

Does everyone think they have out-smarted their white-tails? Because you have reached full draw... do you think you have out-smarted them? How many of the deer you have shot have looked at you once...orwatched you when you reached full draw? And watched the bow release and heard the arrow in flight? If they knew you were there...... they may have only let it happen because of the size of their grey matter...their brain....

Let's put it in perspective...in your world...

If you walked into your living room and your TV was shaped differently what would you do? If there was something on your wall that was out of place what would you do? You would know fellas!

Guys...the deer know when something is out of place...you are in their home...you are on their grounds....its just like in your home....you know when something is not in the right place...

The deer walk your hunting area while you're at work...and while you're BS'ing with your neighbors...(thats for VABOWMAN)....

My advice....only based on my experiences...you may laugh....but picture your shooting zones and picture what your silouette looks like to the deer....make yourself look like the tree...look like the branch....its so important to find a fat tree or something with cover....

On October1st when the woods is solid green...I have actually worn a white sweatshirt and white sweatpants before....I was in a dead tree and I knew this was my only safe-guard.....

stop and think about this.....you're in their home....don't look out of place....Aserious thing to remember...

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Yes, I have outsmarted the whitetails that I have killed. None of them have let it happen on purpose. They slipped up and now they are dead because I outsmarted them.

However, it is like playing a game of chess, you win some and you lose some. In that respect the deer usually win. The times that I am victorious are really special.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I don't look at it as outsmarting them. I look at is as figuring them out from time to time.:)

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I like the fact that you say it was special when you were victorious.....really cool...

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

So...

Are the ones who let it happen... suicidal?

Or just animals to whom we generally give too much credit?

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I shot an 8 point last year that caught my breathe on a cold November morning and copped a stare. I was at full draw with a 65% let off 70lb draw bow for what seemed eternity. He looked down and instantly right back up expecting me to move. I waiting until he started walking and said Hey and he stopped and didn't make it 40 yards before he was done.

I had another that looked at me and knew I had no shot due to the twigs and such. I stayed still but he stomped and blew several times to let me know I was there. We then played cat and mouse for the next month and a half, he always seemed to know where I was and would stay far enough away as if he wanted to let me know he was the King of his domain. I will be waiting October 1st in a different location with my climber;)

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

and when bowhunting the victory is soo sweet. thats why we keep coming back for more and more.ive never killed more than2 deer in one season with a bow (im 18) and i probably bow hundted 60 days of the 4 month season at least. the deer spank us in stats lol! but if i could only count the deer i could of killed or just drawed back on for practice with no intent to shoot it may be a little bit better. im very picky about what i shoot so my odds are even lower than most imho.
btw, you coment of you being in the deers house is one that i believe completely. my dad (who was a marine) has always made that analogy to me adn i believe it to be so true. the big bucks, are big for a reason. if they were people and there was someone hiding in their living room, they would be the ones to pull out pistol and start shootin or have noticed the change in area way before they ever got to the living room (which is much the case with bowhunting)

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I am with Greg onthey slipped upone to a tee. I play chess also and win much more often.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Outsmarted a deer? Thats a bold statement to say.. for anyone. I've only ever truly outsmarted 1 whitetail my whole life thus far. And I did that with a combination of deer blows.. a few grunts.. a back-pack.. and a knowledge of whitetail. (a great story and one I will never forget).

Usually hunters dupe a deer.. or lure a deer.. and even surprise a deer (ambush most common).. and many just get lucky at times. But to truly outsmart them on a regular basis. I think not.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

If the deer locked on you and knew you were there....it acted jumpy.....you didn't out smart the deer....it out smarted you.....if it let you shoot it after that.....I feel its the brain matter or the experience for that individual deer....

If it locked on you and you still harvested the animal....I still think you lost.....Remember...you are man....that is an animal with different brain matter and different instincts......

I just want people to remember we are in their home.....not to analyze the details......

If it locked on you and saw you....it found you....you may get the deer....but it knew you were there...thats a fact.....

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Yeah, I would say a Chess game is a good analogy. It is preceded by a game of connect the dots.

Sorry, I cannot explain "beginner's luck".

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Deer just drop over dead when they hear my car pull into the parking area.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I'm not trying to start an argument.. but its the smallest of details that help us become better hunters.. isn't it.

I just believe that understanding the smallest differences when you are outsmarting a deer and luring a deer and ambushing a deer and the whos and whys in-between are what developes the predator (us) into more advanced hunters.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Is luring in a deer or ambushing them not outsmarting them?

I see what you are saying, but I believe that in most cases (not all) if you harvest a deer then you "out smarted" them in some way shape or form. Sure there is going to be that buck that completely lets his guard down during the rut during the rut and happens by your stand.

But its like Greg said, none of them let it happen and they are dead now because you did SOMETHING to beat them in their environment. Which to me is outsmarting them, beating them, what have you.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Not too often does the "winner" get field dressed, tagged, and have its head stuck onthe losers wall.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Even a blind squirrell finds an acorn once in a while

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Not always.. and in fact much less than you may think.

Most ambushes.. are just waiting games. Thats NOT outsmarting them at all.

And when someone lays down estrous to lure in a buck.. that is definately NOT outsmarting them.

Understand the difference is key to ones own evolution.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I woudn't say outsmarted:D

More like get lucky once in a while ;)

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I agree with you that luring in a buck isn't outsmarting one.

BUT think about the work and attention to detail that selecting the right ambush right requires. Not all ambush sights work, obviously.

Actually now that I think about it, I change my mind. I dont think you could ever "outsmart" a deer. The whitetailed deer is the ultimate survior and the most adaptive animal on the planet. So to think that you could outsmart them on a regular basis in terms of survival would be a difficult task.

The chess comparison is the perfect analogy. We win and lose, losing more often than we win. Furthermore, the deer is smarter than us because technically he "outsmarts" us more than we get lucky with him.

This gives me a headache. My opinion changes every minute.[&:]

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Its all good RockinChair...

I have been known to over analyze every detail of every experience I have ever had in the woods.

Quicksilver is the self-proclaimed King.. I'm the self-proclaimed deer nerd..

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

.... AND.. more often than not, some yahoo just plain gets lucky. He happens to be in the right place at the right time. The deer is just nosing along in his world and someone happens to be in a position to stick an arrow in him. How many macho deer have we read where the guy was on his first hunt, or looked out back and there stands a deer. It happens all the time and many of them are our biggest bow kills on record. I guess what I'm saying is we're not as smart as we like to believe at times. Many times it's just the way things happen and it wasn't some super duper skill that caused it. We outsmart outselves just about as often as we outsmart the deer.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I am the Buck Guru an old indian term for "He who outsmarts bucks" [:-]

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I hunt an area that was once rich in Algonquin Indian coulture on the far southern reach of their holdings. The coined a term to describe my type and it is a slang term used to this day.

"dollucitum orbay liltonca"

English traslation "Dances With Deer"

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Agreed.

Now THAT is deer hunting gospel! I've often thought of how the planets HAVE to align for us to kill a deer.......a certain deer.....a TARGETED/previously identified deer. We have to choose the right place that gives us the greatest odds. We have to pick the right time. We choose the weather (to set up where we do). We pick the time of day.......and base all these decisions on our instincts and what we've learned about their behavior. If we "outsmart" them......it's before we enter their "house".

But then it comes down to luck. What's the chances that buck takes THAT trail at THAT time of day.........during that time of year....during that weather occurrence? THEN....he has to come into your effective range. The odds of ALL this happening (especially on a specific animal) are staggering IMO.

Agreed.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

They always outsmart me, the only time I kill is when i get lucky...

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I agree with Jeff, yes I do. I believe we outsmart some, but most of the time it's ambush and they are unaware obviously, but there are times when they know they are being hunted and you still catch them off guard and get him. Most of the time they out smart us, it is a true testment to our abilities as hunters when we get so fortunate to out wit them. It doesn't happen too often when dealing with big mature bucks. I would say that the majority of quality bucks I have killed have made a mistake unknowingly of course, and I was in the right spot at the right time when he made thefatal mistake. Great question by the way!

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I just hope to be there the day one makes a mistake. Yeah I outsmart them sometimes, they outsmart me a lot more and there are certainly many times whenI didn't even know they were outsmarting me.

At first i didn't like the chess analogy but the more I think about it it works. I have this one guy at my work I play chess with, he is very good, we have great games but in the end he almost alwaysseems to outsmart me. Sure I occasinally catch him in a trap and scrape out a win.So it's kind of the same as hunting deer except for the end result. I catch one off guard occasionally or outsmart themand unfortunately for them that is the end of the game, they don't get to come back and try again tomorrow. We as hunters are lucky in that when we get outsmarted(which is often) it doesn't cost us much, just a bruised ego and were back at it the next day.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Since I am home for another few minutes I must elaborate on why the chess analogy is silly.

The whitetail is not playing a game versus us. The whitetail is trying to survive.. to live another day.

If it was like chess.. he would be trying to play against you.. he/she ain't! Whitetails going nocturnal cause you don't.. whitetails running away.. cause thats how he/she keeps away from you.. you are trying to kill him. It ain't no game to the whitetail!

If you think its like chess with a whitetail.. you must be prepared to play against yourself. Cause thats the only one whos playing with you.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

:D:D:D

I think they start getting nervous when the hear your wake up alarm go off in the morning!!!

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I follow you Duke, I thoughtthe analogy worked for mein that we are in their world so to speak and even though we "outsmart" them occasionally they outsmart us or survive us on a much more consistent basis. Kind of like the guy I play chess with, I beat him occasionally but the chess board is his world/his element and he survives my feeble attempts at outsmarting him much more often than not. Kind of comparing being in the woods with a whitetailto trying to beat this guy in his world(the chess board).For me that's whatI meant withthe comparison tochess, it'saboutgoing againstan opponent / prey(in regards to hunting) that hasan advantage in the sense that we are coming into theirelement andtrying to outsmart them. I definitely don't think of hunting as a game or a "sport" for the record and I would bet whitetails don't either.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

The only analogy I see to chess, Duke....is "sometimes" (through our own dumb actions).....he/she DOES know they're playing the game. Most times (if we do our homework and hunt smart)......they never know the game is on.

Playing the game smart v. dumb is the key. The key to being successful is him never knowing he's in the game.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Duke, Duke Duke, you are so very right!! It is not a game to them for sure, I think most on here know that though, but still, like I said many times before, deer are the masters of woods I hunt, every so often on lets his guard down for whatever reason and I may be the lucky one there to capitalize on it or I may not.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Low profile. Low Education. Low Impact.

A sound strategy fo sho.;)

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I agree

When it comes todeer hunting, most kills are ambush kills. To outsmart a deer it has to know that you are after him. Sitting in a tree and shooting an unsuspecting deer is not out smarting it at all. Its just called sitting in the right spot.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I'm having a tough time figuring out some of these responses with the people who don't think your out smarting the deer. For example, The buck I shot this last year I rattled in. I was trying to imitate 2 bucks fighting with each other, 20 minutes later he came to the exact tree I was rattling from. To me I outsmarted his butt, I fooled him into thinking there was 2 bucks fighting in his territory! That to me is out doing him. How can it not be??

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Schultzy.. you answered your own Q. You fooled him.. he thought you were 2 bucks fighting.. he didn't think "hey that noise is either 2 bucks fighting or a freakin' human setting up to take me".

He didn't even know you were there. That's not out-witting him at all. You duped him Schultzy.. nothing wrong with that.. duper..

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Totally agree

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Sometimes you lose and you don't even know you've lost.

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

Schultzy I agree. How ever it is worded ultimately the deer is dead.Let's ask the millions of deer put into freezers this year if they were outsmarted, duped, lured, tricked, ambushed, etc.:D I'm sure they don't care what termwe use to describe their demise it's really all semantics. I agree with you,your buckwas tricked, outsmarted, fooled and he paid. Other than home court advantage and an amazing survival instinct centered around great senseswe have every advantage, the most important one being intelligence. I mean let's face it they are deer they have pear sized brains and this isn't rocket science as much as some would like to make it out to be.;)

RE: Do you think you're out-smarting your whitetails??
 

I don't view it as outsmarting a deer. I look at it as using thier behavioral strengths & weaknesses in such a manner that allows you to kill them. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.