lswoody

parked vehicles during hunting season? Or do they just stroll on by them like they are a natural part of the enviroment?Thanks, Scott Woody

James B

Out in the farmland where I hunt the deer pay little attention to trucks and tractors as they see them every day. That trophy and or non trophy deer. I have set in my pick-up out in the hayfield and had them walk within 25 yards and unless I move inside the cab, they hardly look my way. Even if I get out and stand beside the pick-up they just trot away. During the heavy part of the seasons though its hard to drive closer than 200-300 yards before they bolt. However even during season the pay little attention if the truck is sitting still with the window up so they don't catch humane sent. These however are mule deer. The whitetails are a bit more skiddish. They are not apt to come closer than 300-400 yards of a parked outfit. After season has been over for a few weeks then the whitetail relax a little and act more like thier Mulie cousins

Coastie

I have seen, on any number of occaisions, Deer walking within a few feet of hunters parked vehicles. The vehicle itself represents no threat and even though it smells funny, it is ignored.

BarnesX.308

After finishing a drive, a buddy of mine and his step-dad returned to his truck. When he opened the door, I huge buck bolted from some brush that was only a couple of yards away.

BarnesX.308

I forgot to add - that situation is very different, in my opinion, than a parking area for public lands. There would be a lot of activity and people coming and going from the woods. The situation I was talking about involved a solitary, stationary truck that was parked in the same place for a couple of hours.

skeeter 7MM

While I still go through the effort of parking my Truck or ATV concealed and away from my hunting area. I have countlessly seen game not shy from these man used forms. In fact last week at moose camp we had several deer, moose and other forest creatures come right through our camp. One day 5 deer walked through as we sat sipping our coffee under our canopy and paid little attention until I made a move for my camera. Movement the will take notice but stationary none threating objects I don't think they associate with danger. I might add we were deep in the forest where very few animals see vehicles or humans unlike some farmland areas where it is daily routine.

As far as horn size that don't matter either, I witnessed some years ago while eating lunch a very nice 5x5 buck get shot for poking his nose out at the wrong time with hunters breaking for eats. We weren't quiet or loud just lightly chatted when out he popped where one quick thinking hunter grabbed his gun vs binos.

davidhardegree

I've parked in a field near where I was scouting. Upon returning I jumped several does just yards from my truck.

jaysweet3

When I was in my teens I worked on several farms bailing hay, cleaning stalls, feeding livestock. Basic kid grunt stuff. I was raking hay, when a bachelor group walked out of a tree line a few feet into the field not far from where I was driving the tractor and started feeding. They didn't give me a second glance. I can also remember being on horseback doing some trail riding and not spooking deer they would look but not spook. Really cool.

Hiawatha

My experiences have taught me that every animal is different. Some could care less while others will avoid the area like the plauge. Even deer that will spook one day may not the next. Now i am not currently studying whitetail psycology but this is what i have gathered. Some of the biggest deer i have seen was while i was running the combine while deer were feeding 1/4 mile away. We had fellas camped on my land a few years back in a draw elk season. They guys were sittin around camp in the afternoon and a cow ran right through camp and back into the bush. Of course the guys never had a rifle ready to rumble so they were useless as tits on a tomcat. One of the best lessons i have been taught the hard way is expect the unexpected. Murphy's law if it can happen it most likely will. I would sooner be safe than sorry and leave my vehicle a good distance away but don't be suprised if there are a few animals hangin' around near the vehicle. Sometimes i just think curiousity gets the best of them.

Allen Denton

I hear of farmers seeing big bucks evr year while on their farm equipment. I know that during the season they seem to be much more aware of the things going on around them. I have seen deer go by trucks that have been parked but it seems that moving trucks almost always spook the bucks.