Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

SO I'm in a tree, this morning, waiting on daylight. I had a bunch of deer come by me in the darkness, yesterday (allmost in the same spot)....and it got me thinking.

I've talked to Rob about this before.....and we both think we can discern a doe from a buck as we hear it walking through the woods. We think a buck walks more "deliberately"....and hearing all the deer go by me in the darkness this morning made me ponder....

I don't think I've ever seen or heard a buck coming.....when he was "sneaking". I see does do it all the time......"snaek" through the woods. Ican't recall ever seeing a buck do that. Maybe it's the fact that a buck is more sure of his surroundings (hence him feeling safe in that area).....but I just can't recall ever seeing/hearing a buck "sneaking" around.

What's been your experience in this regard?

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I agree...I think I can tell the difference as well. Normally, I would think that a buck or doe would be "sneaking" through an area if they've already had an "encounter" with you in that area before. I.E. they smelled you, seen you, or cut your track before.

I have noticed thought that it seems a walking deer can be distinguished a bit easier in the dark versus daytime. The bucks seem to take their time a bit more at night/early morning.

Could it be that a buck maybe taking his time (sneaking) because it is the time of year when he has left his "core area" and is venturing in tounknown territory so his guard may be a bit higher than normal?

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I guess what I'm getting at is.....I've never had an encounter with a buck when he appeared to be trying "mask" his approach. Does.....all the time.....they "sneak". My encounters with bucks....they just walk about like they own the place.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I think some young bucks are the same way as does. I've had several big deer that were very deliberate in where they were going. It's almost as if they know exactly where there going and just want to get there (kind of like men when shopping, we just want to get in and out). I had a nice buck walk within' 20 yards on saturday but with the skiddish young buck in the area I was unable to judge him and make a shot. The larger buck was there and gone in a minute or less.

I totally agree.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I forgot who it was but, a hunter the Hunter Specialties' videos always said, "you get five seconds to see the buck, judge the size and distance, and take the shot". A lot of truth to that in my experience.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Yes I hear the same thing Jeff.

Crunch crunch pause crunch crunch pause=doe

crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch and I don't care=buck(most of the time)

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Question. You posted this at 9 am and you are referring to a hunt from this morning. Gosh how long did you hunt? An hour, hour and a half tops..?:D

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I watched a buck Sneak behind a guy that was walking near my stand.
he was damn near belly crawling through the multiflora rose. every once and a while his antlers would get cought up and he would just kinda slowly move his head around till they were free. IT WAS REALLY NEAT
i have also seen a decent 2.5yr old eight sneak away when this monster 8 came into the area...
pinned his ears back, bent his legs and put his head down and slipped out. big boy never saw him.

does do have a distinctive walk. I think you can usually tell a difference.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I always thought this was a sign of aggression?

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I dunno, he certainly didnt look agressive. He was def tryin to get away!

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

GMMAT...Where I hunt outside of the rut, it's totally opposite from what you are experiencing. The Bucks take a few steps then stop and just stare while their ears are full alert and rotating towards every little sound. The Does just kinda wander, sniffing this, sniffing that.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

My experience.....I look over and they're standing there. I have NO idea how an animal that large can be so stealthy walking through dried up, crunchy leaves.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

hahaha!!
one minute your looking out over a valley cause you thought you heard "something"
look at your feet for s econd and catch a movement out of the corner of your eye, right next to you... hahaha
their ability to move quietly when they want to blows my mind.
especially with that rock hard footwear they sport. lol

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

in all my years of hunting, I can say that a buck is the loudest animal in the woods when he walks...does are slick, but he walks with authority.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

This is true, I have never been in a stand before dark and heard a buck cautiously walk through the woods(sneaking). I never really thought of it but thats pretty good awareness... Bucks do tend to walk like they own the woods and does have a more slow cautious approach.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Maybe they're doing a good job at sneaking. Maybe some of them got you figured out.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I have seen bucks take a few steps and browse or look around as does often do but I have also seen both come through on a beeline to their destination...I think it has more to do with mood and goal than sex in this case.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

same here ...

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Bucks seem to walk more "stiff" legged, in my experiences anyway..

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I think all in all does are quieter walking through the woods but thebucks can be just as quiet when they want to. I think it depends alot on pressure. When bucks are feeling pressured they become more nocturnal and tend to slip around a lot more when they do move during daylight. When they aren't felling as pressured they tend to "tromp" around the woods. While does tend to "slip" most of the time. Maybe it has to do with the fact that does have to be cautious for a longer portion of the year due to having fawns and then hunting season following. Bucks that aren't pressured tend to walk with a steadier gate that's just plain louder and more distinct. Also, I have noticed that I rarely hear a doe snap a twig when walking. I don't know if it's a weight issue or not but when I hear a twig snap, I reach for my bow....

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Sitting in the darkness......listening to deer parade by.....makes a man ponder these things.

I swear the bucks act like they haven't a care in the world about being stealthy. In the darkness....I can't attribute all of that to avoiding hunters. We are not their only predators.

I've seen (and identified) bucks walking through my set in the darkness. I've also seen them running (trotting) back to their beds. I've never seen a doe do that.

Just makes me think.....they don't care too much about being quiet. They're moving with a deliberate purpose. Point A to Point B.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I have to agree with you Jeff, almost every time a buck comes in, its a continous crunch, with hardly a pause.

Good news is your giving them a false sense of security, maybe that means your preparation is perfect??;)

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

yep i agree gmmat. it seems bucks just walk right through w/o pausing and the does seem to be careful.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I agree with ya pal

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Still wondering how you went on a morning hunt and were home and posting by 9 am.. :D

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Fingerz....

You can ask ROb and Frank.....

This one spot.....it's "over" by 8:00. Period. I saw a doe and two fawns that came out of the bedding area to get a nibble, yesterday.....but they go by in the dark....and if you're lucky....you'll catch one in the daylight. But.....it's gonna have to be quick. This woodlot borders the actual park (the part people actually use) and there's walkers in there by first light. I get a precious few minutes to get a crack at one of them. I've seen a LOT of deeer int his spot....but I was reminded yesterday that Ive never taken a deer from that woodlot.

Rest assured.....lol....by 8:00....it's "over". I cam down at 8:30, yesterday (with Frank)....and 8:55, this morning.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

I have a spot like this. By 7:30 is pretty much over. I usually stay til 9 but it's right away or nothing. Its like that at last light too, its at dark or after.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

id tend to agree....but it almost seems to me bucks move slower....and like you said maybe more deliberately...

ive had does come in and i could hear them the whole way..crunch crunch crunch...on a mission to get to the acorns that were falling around my stand....bucks ive noticed they seem to just "appear" if im REALLY keyed in, i can usually pick up a noise they made...but ive noticed if im not actively scanning, bucks can come and go and not notice them if they arent real close...

actually missed out on a BRUISER 2 rifle seasons ago....i just happened to look up and there he stood...25yds away...with another buck..not sure on size but nowhere near his size so i didnt look....i never got a shot off...he had me nailed....he slowly walked off and i never got the shot....he just "appeard"...he was walking withing 30yds of me and i never noticed...

had the same 2 bucks within peeing distance pre light...i didnt hear much walking...but they were grunting back and forth and i know they were moving...i know it was them because i saw the biggun in the moonlight....(yep...law abiding mauser passed up the shot...no doubt i could DRILLED him dead)

usually the only thing that will catch my attention is a single snag of a twig or something similar....

didnt get a shot at one in a drive one year because he snuck right by....seen me(facing the wrong way) i heard a twig snap...turned around and there he stood....

does definently seem to make alot more noise...

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

Disagree. A buck, in my experience, doesn't make much attempt to mask hiscoming and going.

And I've never seen a doe running (trotting) to get back to her bed. I've seen a buck do this .....when he seemingly was caught out after light. It's a neat thing to see. I think a doe just carefully makes her way the best she can.

Bottom line is.....I've never seen a buck sneaking around.Every buck I've everSEEN has walked about like he owned the woods.

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

ok then we disagree then....lol...i must read the post wrong...but thats been my experience...

i also believe our bucks know the bone on their head gets them in trouble...ive seen bucks practically crawl with their head on the ground...i havent seen nearly as many does act like that...we do alot of driving through rifle and flintlock seasons...we see alot of alert and spooked and deer jumped from their beds...not overly hard to "call" a buck by body language just by the way he acts....


maybe does make more noise to me because they almost always have a yearling or 2 or 3 with them...and usually more does with them as well.....

i guess i do see what you mean about does "sneaking" though...ive seen that as well...maybe its the "mother" instinct kinda thing....bucks are typically alone and arent worried about the lives of their young...

definently amazing animals....

RE: Sitting in a tree in the dark....makes you think.
 

bucks dont mask their approach they have already winded you and have snuck away before you ever see or hearthem.. ;)