Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

This question may apply more to hunters in the South-East. Do you guys think that squirrel activity hampers deer movement? This was just something that I was thinking of yesterday as I was sitting in my stand watching no less than a dozen squirrels getting fat off of this years bumper acorn crop. I didn't see any deer, but I know where I am going squirrel hunting after deer season.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

That's a good question. I have wondered the same thing about the flocks of turkeys I have been seeing this fall. Man they make more noise than anything in the fall woods! Now back to your question. Ihave never seen deer pay any attention to squirels but I have watched several times as squirrels barked at deer.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

they dont have an effect. i wondered the same thing but have watched deer walk up and feed with them 3-4 ft away. i think the deer hear the difference. squirrels seem to make noise for like 5-6 seconds then stop. its like rustle rustle.....pause.....rustle rustle. i think the deer know it when they walk towards them.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

man i hope they don't, if they do i'm going squarrel hunting hard and heavy,must be mating season cause i've been seeing three and four chasing each other.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

I really didn't think thatthey did, but the Oak ridge that I have been hunting is wrapped up with them. Like I said after January 1 I will be scouting the area with my newly rebarreled 10/22 so that I can cook up some fried squirrel and gravy.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

I've heard that turkeys make a deer feel more comfortable.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Squirrels should make deer feel more comfortable too since they are some of the best watchdogs in the woods. I have shot deer with squirrels only a few yards away.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

There can be too many squirrels. [:'(]
I had too many at one time and they wood raise sand when the deer came out or atME. They were too noisy. The deer would be more jumpy and would just leave or travel aroundavoid that area all together.
But a few is good. I use them to alert me of things. Shoot I have seen Eagles thanks to the squirrels yackin out.
So the answer is to many is not good, but a few is great. That is unless you makin squirrel PIE!
Dag-burncrows get on my nerves [:@]

Use all of nature for a better hunt and a good lesson in.............................SURVIVAL!!

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

I was just thinking about the birds and squirrels feeding over the weekend. sat. it was quiet and no birds or squirrels around.then in about 45 min. or so all of a sudden I heard the birds singing and the squirrels started to feed. lots of brush noise.
then in about 10 to 15 min. a nice 6pt. came into a lane and started to feed.now I can start to feed on him.;)

it is a good thing to watch whats going on around in the woods. if things start to move, keep a close eye.

I have taken deer with squirrels feeding right with them,several at a time. so I don't think they bother them,I think it helps to have them around.they all take Q's from one another. JMHO.:D

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

I agree with Tree Climber,they are just part of the woods and the deer no they are there.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Squirrels don't bother deer but the deer bother squirrels.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Squirrels sometime helps the hunter and sometimes it alerts the deer of danger!
Have you ever seen a squirrel on a tree trunk look at you and than look at the direction the deer is comming from?
The sounds that birds make sometimes is a warning to the deer. Study nature and you will harvest more game!;)

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

I have seen deer act real spooky when there are alot of tree rats in the leaves.

I agree with Rebel Hog about the birds too. I am convinced those D$%n crows are out to get me![8D]



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RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Just out of curiosity, Tree climber, do you happen to know what the moon was doing that day? Maybe the lull and rush of activity coincided with moonrise?

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Well, I was hunting the other day and the squirrel had a negative effect on my outing. There were a bunch of squirrels on the ground and all of the sudden here comes a fox trotting through. Well the squirrels head for the trees and start barking there furry little butts off. About this time I here two does (I assume) blow and run off before they could get into sight. This time of the year I am looking to take a doe for the freezer. Maybe I should blame it on the fox.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

I have good luck when I am in a spot where I see squirrels.They don't bother the deer IMO.Usually when I see a flock of turkeys come through I know I'm gonna see a deer.Usually about 80% of the time.I listen for squirrels,and go to them,because they usually stay with the freshest food source,unless they are eating pine cones then it doesn't apply.:D

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

i agree with frizz on this one. i believe squirells can help and hurt your hunt. learning from my time in the stand, it seems wildlife "feed" off of each other. i have watched squirells "bark" at deer for eating "their" acorns on the ground and did not bother the deer.

on the other hand, if you have ever been busted by a squirell sitting in your treestand you know they will "bark" at you for what seems to be forever. i think deer know that if it's not them being barked at, that there's something wrong and will not come towards the "barking" squirell. just a thought...because i have never seen deer in my stand while a squirrel was barking at me.

i have seen deer while hunting thanks to the squirells "barking" at them and letting me know where the deer was. i would have never seen the deer if i wouldn't have turned around to see what the squirell was so pissed off about.

this is just my theory, so next time your in the woods hunting and you hear a squirell "barking" and you know he's not "barking" at you...keep your eye on that area. a big buck might just be walking in your area.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Alot of truth there camocop.I would like to share a story.I was Bowhunting in the river swamp,and looking around when I looked to my left there was a huge buck staring at me.He looked behind himself,and then looked at me.He did that about 3 times.Now I can't stand up,and my bow is too long to try,and shoot from a treestand sitting down.So I begin to pray.Please lord let him go to feeding..ya'll know how it is.Then he looked back at me,and slowly raised his foot.[:o]I said to myself no no no no no no please no..Stomp,he raised it again...no no no no no please don't do that.He stomped again.I got a sick feeling in my stomach.He blew,and turn to run off:(.He had gotten a few yards away when a squirrel in the tree started barking like crazy at him.He whirled around,and looked back at us.When the squirrel settled down he went about his business feeding.Never to come back in range of course[:@].I thought that would be an interesting story to go along with camocops post.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

man that sucks ranch, did you ever get that buck on a later hunt? by the way, i know the prayer you were saying all to well...lmao

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

Nope,never saw that deer again.You know how it is down here.If you see them once it's usually the first,and last time you ever see them.;)We don't have big fields to glass,and pick,and choose our deer.Hehehe.

RE: Squirrel's effect on deer.
 

i heard that, sometimes i don't think these northern hunters quite understand what we go through for our "little" bucks. not saying all, but reading some of these forums it sounds like they just throw a corn feeder up a month or two in advance and their idea of scouting is refilling the feeder. or the ones that never scout, just hunt on the edge of a planted field.

we on the other hand spend ALL year scouting and wading through swamps (by the way, a swamp is not a revine with a creek and one cypress tree...lol). i think it's alot tougher to hunt down south than up north. i know it's cold up there but half the time it's so hot here that iam soaked with sweat just walking to my stand. to top it off, the skeeters are unbearable...even with a thermacell. i know going weeks without seeing deer is common here. i read a post from a northern hunter the other day and he was upset because he hadn't seen a day the last few days....geesh. sometimes i think some hunters are spoile.

if any northern hunters read this, i am not saying all of you are like this and i am not trying to start a forum fight. i was just giving insight on what we go through.