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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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)

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..?

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.

I always thought this was a sign of aggression?

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