How to not jump deer?
 

I've been scouting two days and jumped three does and two bucks. How do you guys see them before they see you? I've had them jump from creeks and under trees less than twenty yards from me. Also do you think they will return to the areas that they were in?

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

walk slow...watch where your walking..walk on the balls of your feet...and check around corners before proceeding

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

I think it depends on where you hunt. meaning are the deer used to being spooked by humans every now and then or it it where humans are very few...in farm country dont worry about it, deer are used to human scent enough the idea of spooking a buck out of the country or making him going nocturnal from a chance meeting is not true

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

The areas thatI hunt are pretty much right off of seasonal dirt roads. I wouldn't say they are use to seeing humans but it is almost impossible to hike through the brush around here without making allot of noise. That's why I stick to the trails and dirt roads. What's crazy is that I was looking right at him and didn't even see him until he jumped. Maybe I'm just going too fast? It was 102 and humid yesterday! Would it be better to just go to a spot and sit until they come out? One of the deer I spooked yesterday had atleast 6-points which is a huge trophy around here, and that's why I'm freaking out a bit.:(

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Try to be as quiet as possible. They will return...

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

What kind of area are you scouting? Farmland? Big timber?

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

It's allot of oak trees mixed with some smaller pines that were planted a couple years ago after a fire swept through the area. The ground is covered with crunchy oak leaves and accorn shells.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

When your out scouting around your woods , walk as if you where still hunting you know the old stop - n - stalk routine.
Ilike to go out after a good rain when everything is wet and soft that way when you step on leaves and twigs they don't make noise.
Go slow and take your time, look at everything real good wait a while then take a few more steps.
If you do bump a deer just stop, wait awhileand watch remember where that deer was and on the way back out stop to see if thatdeer came back.
Don't forget to take notes and mark your map, good luck.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Become one with the deer! walk like they do, not like a human! In other words eat alot of leaves walk on all fours and change the way you smell!:D

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Is it not a little strange that they let me practicaly walk right on top of them without me really not trying to be quiet? I was just trying to find some sign and maybe see a few from a distance. The dirt road/trail I was on was a little sandy and was very quiet to walk on but I'm sure I could have been alot quieter.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

I have herd that you should walk like your on a hiking trail..... If you walk like your on a stalk they think that your stalking them!!!

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Maybe they like my sweaty orange hat, sweaty orange shirt,sweaty little buddies in my cammo shorts and Old Spice deodorant! Stealthy!!!;)

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

If your deer woods look anything like mine this time of year good luck spotting deer before they spot you. With all of the foliage on the deer usually hang tighter than other times of the year. And, they are not as spooky. Slow down, way down and look around for any and all sign.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

The deer you have "jumped" knew you were there, knew you were coming and just hoped you'd go right on by. But they got a little nervous and headed off.

I would say 90% of the people I've seen "stalking" move along WAY TOO FAST. I don't know how slow you're going but it's got to be slow.

I don't look for deer. I look for pieces of deer. A little patch of brown. A little patch of white. An ear. An antler. A nose. An eye. Any slight movement or sound gets me to stick in that place twice as long.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Unless they're being heavily pressured deer will normally return to the spot from which they were bumped within 20 minutes or so . I've bumped the same deer from a spot more than once several times in the past .

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Walk softly watching were you step, about every 25yds Stop, Look and Listen. Keep doing this while stalking. A deer will run off about 25yds, Stop and Watch you, unless it's being pursued by dogs or the hunting pressure is high. If you work the wind, you can do better.
In normal conditions where the habitat is good(Food,Water and Shelter) a deers domain is 1 mile sq.

Watch some videos on Lionesses while they are stalking Gazelles.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

I honestly didn't expect the deer to be so close to the dirt road/trail, so I was walking at pretty much full speed while still being mindfull of where I was stepping. I was thinking of finding an area down a hill or on a slope and then stop and glass from the road. It sounds like from the moment I leave my truck I need to act like I'm hunting instead of sight seeing.
The big buck ran off out of sight while the smaller buck ran 20 yards behind a bush. I'm obviouslymore concerned about the larger buck!I'm not too sure how much pressure if any the area gets since I got the information on the spot from a Department of Forestry biologist.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

well put R.H. yes the deer will return, i killed a nice 8pt. one year, (by jumping him up and couldn't get a shot.) i waited around 3 to 5 days with the wind right, and he had a bad day.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

If you're in the woods, I don't think there is much you can do about jumping them. Yes you can walk slowly, but they know you're there. I believe they're hoping you walk right by and sometimes they wait until the last second to bolt. Like this one did to me!

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

Dude, straight up, in my opinion, if you are hunting a new area and not jumping deer, I'd be worried!

That's the nice thing about this time of year. Get out, learn it, hang stands, and stay out until you are ready to hunt. It will give them plenty of time to calm back down, and that's just part of the deal. Heck, one of the best hunters I know will sometimes go into areas during the season to purposely "bump" bucks from they're beds so he can tell where they are bedding. He'll then go back a couple days later and hunt the stand he hung right when he bumped the buck the first time! He's killed some pigs, so I'm listening.....

I was out today and bumped a few deer on a new piece. Learned 2 bedding areas in the process, and scouted as soon as I did for future November rut stands. Bumping deer is just part of the deal, unless you already have a very good knowledge of the area. The more I scout, the better I do because I'm on the deer, and use the fresh sign to dicate where I hunt.

RE: How to not jump deer?
 

I went to two different areas...one area I hiked for two hours finding only a couple small tracks. The second area just felt right, and it is probably the area I'll spend some serious time this season. Two nice bucks within 200 yards of my truck! Thanks for giving me some reasuance that I didn't ruin what appears to be a great spot. Now I just have to go back and hang my stand.