How To NOT Be Seen By Deer - How To Stay Hidden
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ส.ค. 2024
- The dreaded foot stomp and head bob. The jig is up, you've been made. There is nothing worse than spending all of that time scouting, putting in habitat improvements along with hours in the tree only to be picked out by the deer you're targeting before ever getting an opportunity. Luckily there's quite a bit we can do to make sure that doesn't happen. And in this video we talk about several things we can do as hunters to NOT be seen by deer.
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Great video! I've picked up a few tips in my 50 deer seasons. The first one I share with new hunters is, Never Make Eye Contact with a deer!! Use the brim of your hat to hide your eyes. Squint your eyes, or even close them, especially when deer are close. If they see yours eyes looking at them, they are instantly alert and or gone! Guaranteed.
That's a great tip! Thanks for sharing it!
Strange but true!
Word......that and body movement. If those are under control they'll walk right under your ladder.
🗣😳🦌35 years ago the Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma whom I hunted with, taught me to squint at the deer. Buy don’t BLINK your eyes. It’s the MOVEMENT they pick up. 🤠
Good tip
I’m 6’6” 330lbs and love bow hunting from the ground. The majority of land I hunt is public but I find natural brush cover that has fallen and modify it in the pre-season to give me good cover and shooting lanes. I have had great success rubbing down with fresh cedar and dirt/mud/leaves before I walk into my hunting area
That's a great tip! Cover scents can be very useful. I know some guys that will store their gear in totes with pine branches to hopefully give their clothing a more natural smell.
When I scout & hunt I also forage for wild edibles as well. Rubbing some fresh mushrooms as a cover scent really works .
When I'm in cattle country out in western north Dakota it doesn't hurt to step in a fresh cowpie!
@JJH that's right big buddy!!! Rub that manly freshness in!!! LoL I actually do the same. I keep ceder and pine in my container I keep my clothes in during the off season
Now I know how Bigfoot does it!
every experienced hunter will know this but here’s a tip for sounds in the woods: usually the loudest thing in the North American woods will be a squirrel. They will drive you crazy if you don’t learn how to detect differences in the sounds that different wildlife make. As mentioned in the video, deer make almost no sound while walking. If leaves are damp, you’ll probably never hear them other than a possible twig snap. Deer are quite loud when they’re on the move like if a buck is tracking a doe. When you’re sitting in the woods for multiple hours trying to hunt, take that time to really recognize the sounds that animals make in leaves. You can recognize turkeys scratching. You can recognize a coyote trotting through dry leaves. You can easily recognize a squirrel. I think it’s very valuable to be able to know what an animal is solely based off of sound. That gives you time to prepare yourself before you see the animal, and before it potentially sees you
Great advice!
And mice too, there was one year where a family of mice decided to make their nest right under my stand. Holy crap did that drive me absolutely insane. I almost had mice for dinner that night haha
Downy woodpecker for me!
I have hunted successfully (mostly archery) for 50 years and this is the best tutorial I have seen. I knew much of this already but learned several new concepts I am looking forward to applying on my next hunt!
Hope they help! Good luck next season!
I use this technique with woman too! Don't make eye contact or mpve...😂
As far as being seen by deer, it is motion that gives you away. I have hunted deer for 60 years and it is human scent and movement that gives us away.
Can't disagree with that! Sit down and don't move!
Deer don’t see in color. They see in black and white. I’ve been standing in the open and didn’t move or move my eyes or blink and he couldn’t see me.
I just sit on my porch and watch them. Now Turkey is another matter
Where I live human scent and daily sounds dont seem bother them much. One place I hunt the owners walk their dogs all year, even during season and I still harvest 2 or 3 deer there a year. Now I still use a hunters soap from Duke cannon to help with scent and use cover scents just incase.
They definitely win starring contests though. Those little 4 legged fucks are Champs at that.
Noise an scent are the biggest. They have pretty poor eyesight but they do pick up movement.
What you stated in your video makes perfect sense to me now. Many years ago, my brother and I were scouting a hunting area on Sunday because we were not allowed to hunt on Sundays. We had no firearms with us. We spotted a herd of deer at the end of a cutline. We were dressed in bright orange hunting clothing and decided to walk straight down the center of the cutline instead of trying to hide ourselves on the sides of the cutline. There was a trail in the center, so it was easier to walk there. We also decided to only walk when we saw all of the deer heads down, grazing on the vegetation. After about 30 minutes, we had managed to get within 50 feet of the herd without startling them. We were both quite surprised at how close we got to them during hunting season. Suddenly a big buck noticed us and charged towards us and stopped within 15 feet of us. He stood there and stared at us for quite a long time but we stood perfectly still. He eventually snorted and the entire herd ran towards us and passed within feet of us. The large buck ran the other way and shortly afterwards snorted again and the herd turned around and ran past us again within feet of us. After this was all over, I thought to myself how stupid we were for doing this, as we could have easily been gored to death by this big buck. It was one of those life events that was just stunning to see. I only wish that we would have had some way to record this, but in those days, cell phones and cameras were not that popular.
I had a similar experience with some city deer in a little wooded area sandwiched between a golf course and a highway. Never got as close as you did, but I still remember that realization that these things could kill me if they wanted.
I am newbie. I just finished my 4th deer season. I am self taught and I gotta say that this is the most detailed explanation that I have heard since I started in the autumn of 2018.
I appreciate that! Hope you had a successful season and you continue to learn and grow as a hunter! Good luck!
@@whitetailevolution
I am pretty successful actually.
I got two 10point bucks and two does these past four years. An old gentleman fellow hunter said I am natural.
I will always remember you as the man who explained upwind/downwind to me. Thank you ❤️
Welcome to a an awesome hobby & life style, you will learn many things in the coming years, the best thing to remember is do not be in a hurry to get where you are going, slow down & enjoy the view, I started when there was long bows, then came recurve & then compound & lastly a crossbow, I have still hunted, treestand hunted & ground blind hunted for deer & each has there challenge & benefit depending on your area you are in, you will gain equipment for hunting like you never have had before, I use a monocular Instead of binoculars, just 1 lense to look threw & gives your other eye a chance to see other things that one eye cannot see. Learn yardage in the woods. You have a lot to learn. Good luck & don't give up. 🎯🦌👍🙏🙏🙏💤💤🦌🦌🦌💤💤💤👍
Do not look a deer in the eyes. You'll be busted if you do
bro im self taught as well this is gonna be my first season!
A simple lesson I learned early on: behave in the woods like you're trying to avoid alerting a predator to your existence. When the mindset becomes survival, the behavior becomes more important. Most of us don't actually _need_ to take the next deer in order to survive. We all need to avoid becoming bear or lion scat, though.
I actually move through woods like I am the predator. I constantly tell my self I'm moving to fast. If your questioning how fast your moving then yes your moving to fast
That's a great point. I think if most hunters took up this approach there would be a lot fewer cell phones out in the stand and a lot more deer sightings to go along with it.
@@ML-ks2lj Moving like a predator makes it easy to spook prey. They're looking for predators. Moving like prey makes you one of them and makes you keenly aware of the "why" that goes with their every move. You'll get much closer this way.
@@whitetailevolution Truth. It never ceases to amaze me how many hunters will go crunching right past me without realizing it. These types are the reason I'm looking for my own land to hunt, now. I'm tired of having hunts ruined by passersby. If I know you're there, the deer do, too.
@@TheCharleseye how does a predator get it's meal? By not being heard or seen or smelled. A deers instinct if it hears you and thinks you another deer is to get down wind of you. Therefore you are busted
Self taught hunter here..
Hunted for 2,3 years before a friend and I figured out deer could smell you. Lol, that was when I was 14 or so..still funny looking back at all the learning we had coming the hard way. But I'm getting ready to start my 44rth season...still shooting longbows, been vary successful but we had literally no one to teach us anything about deer or archery..
So with that being said..everything in this video, is years worth of knowledge so don't take it lightly.
I had lots of situations over the years that had to be experienced
(More than once) before you made a connection that that's happened to me before...I need to try something else. If you do what you always did...you'll always get what you always got. If you want better..remember what you learned in this video.
Thanks, nice video..you ain't lying.
Good luck this year.
THIS was an awesome video. This season will be my first time hunting with my bow. Watching this video makes me feel confident about the hunt. He gave me some shiny new training wheels to lean on! Every single subject he touches, he goes straight into it, and straight to the point. No stupid jokes, no annoying music. Just good clean Knowledge.
I appreciate your experienced advice. I think I’ve done everything wrong you’ve described and very little right. That would explain my failure to see any deer that once filled up my property when I first started. This is my first rodeo and I’m totally winging it. I just hope I can salvage this season.
All we can do is continue to learn and try to get better each year. Try to learn from the mistakes and success of others and also try to see where you might have made a mistake and try to figure out how you can correct it for the next time out. The more time you spend in the woods the more everything becomes second nature. Just like with anything you're trying to get better at, repetition / practice are huge. Keep at it and you'll be amazed and where you will be in a few seasons :)
Slow down, take your movement on 1/4 speeds ,if busted look down ,not at the deer, oh yeah, freeze sucker, you are busted. Lol
Hunt smart, hunt hard, and, most importantly, have fun! If you don’t care whether you shoot something or not, it’s amazing how much game you see and end up getting-your serenity leads to warm success, all by God’s Holy Grace!
Keep at it bro
Make an effort to stay out of that area during the off season and they will return.
When I stem on a stick and it snaps underfoot, I give myself a timeout standing motionless and quiet for a few minutes. 3-4 minutes later usually feels like a good time to continue. If your in a hurry, you’ll just scare the deer away quicker
That's a great tip. Whenever you do break a stick, you need to wait and give everything time to settle back down. Most hunters are in a hurry to get to their stand that they push deer away before even having a chance at them.
While turkey hunting last spring I walked up on 2 deer. So I tested a theory. I held everything in close to me and slowly, very slowly, walked straight at them. They stared at me but did not flintch. Got within 15 yards. At that point I took 1 tiny sideways step and they bolted. So yeah, no depth perception or very little. Also in my area theres lots of maple trees that loose their leaves early making for a crunchy walk. Have learned to kinda softly shuffle my feet intermittently, sounding more like a squirrel and also able to feel small twigs before stepping on them.
The SOFT SHUFFLE, that’s how the Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma taught me to walk thru the woods while STILL hunting 🤠
Great story David! Thanks for sharing!
While squirrel hunting you learn to walk. My grandfather taught me to shuffle small steps because your walking is calling squirrel. Funny how you always see deer while squirreling. And if you do walk out leave at night and move fast dont slow walk out only predators stalk if you walk fast they don't have time to confirm what you are. But to still avoid breaking sticks dont educate them.
I got within 15 yards of a doe just a couple weeks ago while holding my toddler. Same deal. Keep it tight and walk slowly toward them in a straight line.
Deer have 5 macular holes in each eye on a horizontal plane where as we have one which alows us to focus. On top of that, they also have orbital eyes, as do most herd animals. This allows there eyes to rotate when they put there heads down and stay focused on the horizon. Learning the science side of things made me a better hunter for sure👍
Thanks for sharing that Sean! That would explain why deer can pick us off when we think they are distracted with their head down feeding. Great information!
I am a firm advocate of using a light coming into your stand location. If it means that you will be more quiet, leaving less of a scent trail (brushing up on things less), and most importantly, not getting lost on the way out, it will be a net benefit to you.
Using a light is wise for sure, I don't usually take the advice though lol. I usually wait until it gets just daylight enough to see ,then ease in to my hunting spot as quiet as possible...I've spooked too many deer walking in before daylight. It's all just preference I guess . Ive never used a red flash light i might try that..A couple yrs ago I walked in before daylight and I was just slowly easing to my location and something started growling and snarling at me , I never could see it but it was there I had to back out and go back to the truck til it got light enough to see then go back in .I was on pins and needles my head was on a swivel, whatever that was had a deep, guttural growl and it was heavy, I found where whatever it was tore the ground and tree limbs all to hell ..We dont have bears in Middle Tn so I have no idea what kindof critter that was.. it was one of those days i would have killed for a strong flash light lol
That makes a lot of sense. Can be better to use the light and not leave a scent trail versus going in blind and bumping into everything on the way in. I use the red light to try to do both but using a white light is much easier to see.
I have spooked more deer before the sun comes up. I’m thinking I’ll do like you and wait until I can see with natural light then wait for them to bed in the afternoon. That way, I get a 2-3 hr nap too. Haha
@@poboy942hog or stray dog?
I’m pretty sure I have never commented on anyone’s TH-cam video ever before. I’m not the type to do so. However, I have to give a very well done to this gentleman. detailed, effective, and to the point without all the extra nonsense people tend to put in their own TH-cam videos regardless of the topic. But also, I have to confess it is exactly how I explain deer hunting stealth to the newbies that tagalong with me so admittedly I am self admiringly bias. 😊. Nice job buddy.
Thank you Nathan! I appreciate it man!
I am also a deer hunter but I cannot help but remember a bit by Ron White. He was relaying what his brother-in-law said. "I was carrying my .30-06 that fires a projectile at 2700 feet per second and it was January, 16 degrees. And as the deer raised up to lick the salt cube I had hung before, I got him right over the right eye."
Ron White said, "Yeah? Well I hit one in a minivan doing 55 mile per hour with the lights on and the horn a-blowing. If you slow that bullet down to 55 miles per hour and put some headlights on it, that deer will jump in front of it!"
Haha! That's great and very true!
When the deer is moving, you can move at their pace and not get picked up. By this I mean if they are walking you can reposition your body for your shot at the same pace as they are moving. I've been doing it for years and never busted, but you can't do this while in their direct line of vision but off to the side in their periphery.
I also use UV killer on all my camo and orange clothing. It makes a huge difference.
Sounds like an exciting method to get close to deer! I've had to do this a few times to sneak around deer on the way to the stand but I've never tried to get close to deer this way. But I can see how doing this would really increase your chances at success! Thanks for sharing!
It works, but it’s not a guarantee. I got within muzzleloader range from way past that, but it was bow season. Hunting…
Great video and content! Another benefit of using a red light...you don't lose your natural night vision. This is significant when considering it takes 30 minutes for your night vision to fully recover from exposure to other colors of light.
I am almost always on stand an hour and a half before daylight. You comment does not apply to me. LOL
Great comment! Thanks for pointing that out!
Excellent video! Carry a turkey diaphragm call ,that gives deer a reason for the two legged a sound they hear and if you hunt squirrels it's fantastic,they fall for it easy!
That's a great idea! Always see deer when out hunting turkeys.
I've been hunting 24 years. Wear a cover scent. Use mild mint high dollar mouth wash. And always ALWAYS if you feel like you're about to give up in the morning because its too cold wait 5 more minutes. The day I killed the biggest monster of my life I was just about to get down and it came in my head "Wait 5 more minutes". 5 minutes later Killed a 140 class buck.
Great advice Rob! Always need to try to wait those "5 more minutes"
As a hunter going out for my first time this year, this was very informative. I'm sure I'm going to screw up but this at least gives me a little more confidence.
This just popped up in my notifications and I needed to see this! I just walked up on a deer and it scared me and I scared it lol! Didn't even get the opportunity to pull up my rifle! Then after lunch I went back out and jumped another one! 🤦I need to work on being more sneaky!
Getting better at seeing them first helps a lot.
It's definitely startling when they take off out of no where. Happened to me this year as well. But I think you're doing a good job of being sneaky if you're able to get that close without them seeing you!
I wear a red flannel sitting in the open. All you need to do is sit still. The hard part is pulling the bow back slowly while 4-6 deer watching you.
I use a green light and have great success sneaking by bedded deer. But the most important thing is getting to your stand quietly. Clear a path if you haft to. Got my first Halloween buck yesterday. 21” inside spread 10pt Michigan toad!! 210 on my scale. Out of tags. No gun season for me. But he was worth it !! Good luck. Rut is on in the north east
Great job, no deer yet for me, in the northern part of the lower peninsula
@@bengreen4583 me neither, I am over by the Grand Traverse and Wexford county lines
@@seanoverhuel540 same, in Kingsley
Congrats on the buck! And you're right, getting to your stand quietly is key. I also like to clear out a path on the way to my stand prior to the start of the season. This greatly reduces the amount of noise you make walking in. Great job again on the successful season!
@@bengreen4583 Buckley
I'm 6'3 at 290lbs and u can't miss me in the woods lol. Lots of people worry way too much these days and buy all kinds of unnecessary crap. All that fancy equipment etc out there is a joke in my opinion.
Almost 40 years deer hunting (shotgun, bow and xbow) from the ground with no blind and no scents with just sitting in a chair and I harvest deer every year.
The 2 main things to remember is to break up your silhouette and move slowly. Although I like to say every area is different as some deer are use to certain things as to some aren't.
I also wear any color in the woods and never had a problem. Some of my best bucks harvested was when I was wearing blue jeans and a blue t-shirt with only being in my chair 30min lol.
I mostly set up just outside bed areas and along scrapes which I find best. U do mention some great points. I could say more but it would be a bigger novel lol.
Thanks for the comment and for the tips! Like you said, it could be a novel haha
Db Snyder and Michael Salfai,both gave very good advice.It is very important to remain stone still when a deer is near.I think they have a difficult time figuring out what you are.Another thing that i have found to be helpful when a deer does spook and snort.I have been able to stop them in their tracks on occasion by sharply blowing through my teeth immitating their natural sound.On at least one instance does have come closer after this maneuver.
Thanks for the tips Larry!
Good video, Aimed at property owners. Public hunting is about the same, but we don't have the luxuries of setting up the land the way we want. I quit private land "hunting" years ago when I realized it was just shooting a pet (when my daughter started naming the deer). Public land is more challenging as one has to outsmart both the deeer and the other hunters who may want in on your area. Public hunters often do not get to choose entry points, based upon the wind, either. My advice here is to KNOW your chosen route in and out, and clear that path of twigs and noisy things if possible. I walk about half a mile in to my stand area and have had a deer in my sights within my sights every year (on opening day) for the last 20 years or so. No matter who sets up next to me. Heighth is a way to offset scent. I have read that 15 feet up and your scent will waft upwards and not swirl., Not sure if this is true, but I am about twenty feet up ever since reading this and it seems to work.
Great comment James! And I will agree that hunting public land is more challenging for the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for sharing the tips on your entry / exit along with your recommendation on stand height to assist with your scent signature. Good luck this season!
The point brought up at 8:25 regarding deer seeing blue well is why I don't like using 3D printed camo for deer hunting. As a career printer I can tell you that most of it is a bit oversaturated with Cyan (blue) and the Magenta (red) tens to fade over time. I use military spot color camo and, while it will fade over time, it does so evenly.
I'm a print mechanic, but on foam cups. Will you please clarify on the 3d printed clothes a bit more?
Good advice B sims! Thanks for sharing.
Good basics. Refreshes experienced hunters memories and teaches rookies. I appreciate it not being a commercial.
I went hunting with my dad every year for 10 years or longer and we were never quiet, we talked to each other, we smoked cigarettes we smoked pot and we always brought home at least one but usually two deer every year. I know everyone says not to do those things but we never had any problems.
Hard to say for sure, but one reason might be because you guys were always downwind of the deer travel. Either way it's awesome you got to spend time with your dad in the woods for so many years. Great memories!
Deer don’t seem to be bothered by the smell of cigarette smoke. My buddy always insisted that I don’t smoke while hunting until he watched me shoot a few with my cigarette still hanging out of my mouth. Native Americans used to stand in the smoke of a fire before hunting to cover their scent so maybe that’s why.
Who wants to be in the same woods with a hunter that's high?
Dope is for dopes.
@@darryladams519the deer do because they have a better chance of not being seen or shot🤔😳😂
When I saw this title I immediately thought "stay home?" haha. I think the red light tip was a great point. I think the biggest thing I overlooked when I began bowhunting was definitely the wind. Now it's something I pay close attention to.
Staying home has been a popular strategy / comment haha
I use Pure Whitail Dirt scented scent eliminator. It is the best I've ever used. It smells just like dirt. I have had 3 different deer come in down wind of me and one came in right under me. I know you can't beat their smell 100 % but I do know this stuff works! I need to clear a path to my main saddle hunting tree. Tons of small sticks from when the logged a portion of the property a few years ago. Thanks for the tips!
Great tip Jon! Cover scents are a great way to help mask our scent as hunters. I have never used that particular product but I might have to give it a try!
Just had my first deer hunt this morning. Got to my make shift ground blind at around 530am. Heard alot of moving around 630 but nothing on the trails i scouted. Around 830 started a hike with my bow in hopes to find them. I found them but they were about 80-100 yards away and heard me. Going to go back next weekend.
Thanks for the great tips.
Don't move and wait on them stay in blind , hopefully you have a good location.
One thing I believe you left out is the fact that some deer have the "sixth sense". I have been in many situations where I have followed all your recommendations and have had a few deer just glare at me from distance even though I saw a statue in the stand, good fore and background cover, and the wind perfect.
Nah, they smelled you. People underestimate how thermals work. That nose is POWERFUL.
@@cha-ka8671 absolutely not.
I've heard about the sixth sense but never really looked into it. I do wonder if their other senses are so good that it seems like a sixth sense when it might just be a combination of their amazing sense of smell or their ability to pick out movement from hundreds of yards away. Or maybe it's the sixth sense! I'll have to check that out.
Good info but I also believe that even though you practice stringent scent control when you walk through the woods you are disturbing what is laying on the ground and it releases scent from the disturbance
You’re absolutely right. Ground disturbance is another way deer can figure out that we’re hunting. We try our best to keep our access towards the perimeter of our property as much as we can go reduce the chances that they detect where we are walking. But they can definitely tell you’re right. When is one of these hunting companies going to come out with an electric hoverboard!?
I've used fat tire bikes to access spots and it seems to help. Less scent deposited and able to roll over terrain with both patches touching at all times. With low tire pressure, the surface area in contact is greater than when on one heal for example, so like snow shoes, it sinks in less, hence reduced disturbance.
Every young hunter should watch and apply this video when they start hunting. We need a vid like this for waterfowl, just say'n 😁
Thanks! I appreciate the comment!
Great tips! I am brand new hunter and ive never knew most of this stuff. The info about their sight and how they buikd a mental picture by moving their head and looking away and back is golden knowledge. Ive been close to deer outside of hunting situations and seen them do that. Obviously i knew they were looking at me, but i didnt know whay they were actually doing.
If you learn to mimic the sounds of small animals while moving through the woods you can walk right up on deer. The same is true for deer. When there are several squirrels or armadillo's scratching around in the leaves I have completely ignored a good buck walking up on me until I accidentally saw it.
Good video. Not all applicable to where I hunt because we don't use stands. I live out west and I'm either hunting public or reservation land. There's no tree stand hunting but agree with a lot of tips on movement through the woods. Patience is a must while paying attention to your movement and playing the wind. Some areas I hunt are very open so wind isn't always so much of an issue, especially if there's a predictable breeze. In open country, it doesn't have much time to linger around. You gotta beat their eyes though. BTW, I'm chasing mule deer but I hunt them in thick timber and the high desert. Both terrains present different challenges.
I have one trick I discovered by mistake and has happened to me many times to the point where I purposely run around my spot to Make noise to fool deer into thinking I’m a deer and as curious as they are if they’re within earshot chances are they’ll come running.
By this point I’m safely tucked into a natural blind , a ladder or simply standing in the middle of the game trail wearing a leafy camo suit .
I’ve had so many deer run up to me practicing this little tactic that other hunters with hunting shows have actually made fun of me or acted like asses to me because it goes against their lifelong stealthy, quiet deer hunting ideals that they purport on their channels.
Where’s I really don’t give a crap what they think but it’s funny cause a lot of these guys will say “Always try new things and get creative” yet they will make fun of you for doing something so simple by mimicking deer activity and using tricks that have worked for you
In the past.
I have lots of tricks I won’t even bother to share in their pages because they’re too stuck on themselves, their sponsored products and their “expert” advice.
Hypocrites.
Message me please
I do the same thing in our corn field. Make noise at one end and walk quietly to the other. You are on to something.
That's a great idea! I can see how that would work. We watch deer come in to investigate noises all the time and if we were able to simulate that I can see how it would draw them in. Thanks for sharing!!
I once spooked a group of deer. I turned and walked away. Fifty yards later I turned and they were following me. So I tried to use this as a tactic. After a few years I finally scored. They are curious.
I have gotten a few deer doing this, with witnesseswho will vouch for it.
I think this video is on point. movement and smell is where they'll get you busted. I had a very nice 8 point walk in on me and I waited till I thought he wasn't looking and moved to get better position and he instantly saw me did a few head bobs and took off running. I was so upset! On the other hand I've had small bucks walk in that I knew I was going to pass on so I just stayed perfectly still and they can almost walk right past you.
Hopefully you'll get some redemption this year! Good luck!
@@whitetailevolution lol, It's all good, I just enjoy being out even if I don't get one. Good luck this season!
One of the hardest things for new hunters to learn and remember is to SIT STILL at all times. You never know when a deer might be approaching, sometimes it seems they appear from nowhere. If you move and they spot you they will sneak away and you'll never even know they were there.
100% agree. I'm trying to teach my son that right now. We currently have different definitions of "sitting still" lol
Today I was solo hunting for the first time. A doe and fawn walked around the hill I had behind me and they surprised me! I managed to stay relatively still for being scared, but it was enough they didn't notice me and were feeding for about 30 minutes 25 yards out. 😅
I'm 61 and I learned a lot, especially about deer peripheral vision.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good info here. I'm just getting into wildlife photography, and I would really like to get some good natural shots of deer. But I'm not a hunter, and so I don't already have that skillset. The more I learn, the more I wonder if it is something I can even accomplish.
Getting close to whitetails and watching them interact is so much fun! If you ask any hunter they'd say being among them is just as fun as harvesting the animal. You gain an appreciation for all wildlife by spending time outdoors, even if you're only escaping from life for a moment. Outside of what we talked about in the video, the best tip I can give you is to just get out there and start learning. The best way to learn is by doing it yourself :) Have fun and I hope you take some great pictures!
I worked with a guy who was an outstanding wildlife photographer. When he seriously took up hunting, he had no problems.
Very interesting, a lot of times it’s things we already know but it’s good to be reminded
Thanks 🙏
Any time!
My Dad started hunting deer in 1966, bow and rifle ,when he returned home from military service . Baught a 35 Remington from Sears. He died Nov 25th 2020 of cancer. He had a perfect record of killing at least one deer per year from 1966 to 2019. Opening day of deer season in 2020 we put up a deer target and gave him a nerf gun. Being around helicopters and jet engines his whole life he couldn't hear and refused hearing aids . He always called deer pop up targets , the deer were always that quiet moving thru the woods they would just all of a sudden appear. He ask us to sprinkle his ashes at his favorite deer stand on the farm.
That is a great story Paul. Thank you for sharing it. I know your dad is with you when you are out at the farm, and smiling while watching you drop a few more pop up targets. Thank you again for sharing that about your dad.
About deer's sight , the shape of the head and shoulders . No matter what color the head and sholders is what most animals see ( the large hood on a old ancient hunting cloak had a purpose) ! Blue glows to deer like a we might see something lit with ultraviolet light ( black light ) , but to the deer it's like a glowing poster under a black light .
Great information ! This information used to be hard to find , so few knew !
Excellent video! I did not know that a deer could see 300° so that is very useful information. Thanks !
Anytime! I've been busted enough times to confirm deer can see 300° haha.
Apparently driving down the highway at 8pm in rural Georgia in October in a 2 ton shiny white vehicle with high intensity headlights works pretty well.
Unfortunately that works too often..
A tall stand can avoid their wide field of sight. I also use a lot of cover around trails to hide my movements rather than cover around my stands. It allows me to spot them long before they spot me and gives me good windows to move or draw my bow. They can’t see in 3D and don’t have a shot in hell focusing on my picking up my bow with a wall of briers or laid down tree in their face but at the same time i can time my movements perfectly. I have not been spotted by a deer that saw the next day in years.
Great Tips Henry! Thanks for sharing them!
New hunter here. Thank you for bringing up sky lighting. I spooked 3 bucks this season and was wondering how in the world they saw me. I was about 25-30ft up in a tree and they somehow would always look up at me and do that head nod then dip. I guess I have to pick my trees out a little more careful and find some cover around them 🤦🏽♂️
any time. that's something not many people think about. But after getting busted a few times you'll always make sure your silhouette is broken up 🙂
Very good. Killed my first deer in 1960 and in the years since have put a lot of thought into this subject, and your video is one of the best that I have seen. Forwarded it on to my boys. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Gene! I appreciate it. Good luck to you guys this season!
Good video. I suggestion to all hunters. In your preseason hunt move branches and twigs from your trail in yo avoid noise going in. Also wear cloths with outer shell that doesn't make noise when you brush up against branches and tall grasses.
Your all's videos have awesome information. Great job explaining all these concepts!
Thanks Matthew! I really appreciate it!
I recently started putting carpeting on the bottom of my shoes.. it muffles the sharp snap of branches and also muffles walking in general. Everything walking becomes quieter with less effort
Great video well done love the info we always learn something by listening to other hunters advice like yours!
Thanks Carol! I appreciate it! We'll keep them coming!
very few times have i had deer spook on scent alone. I use little to no scent control, and they seem to walk right through where I walked without a second thought. I would definitely avoid walking on game trails, and trying to hunt up-wind, but deer don't seem to spook when they cross where I walked. i also don't consider wind when accessing my stand. It is all about distance. The less time you are in the woods walking, the less animals you are going to spook.
Sometimes I have similar experiences in that deer will get downwind and have no reaction whatsoever. However other times they seem to really notice something is different bust out of there. It might have something to do with how strong the wind is, temperature or just that deer and their fear / flight response. With older deer I tend to see that they will have a negative reaction more often than not so I like to practice good scent control and hunt downwind as much as I can to not alert the deer I'm targeting.
I Was told to put my toes down first while walking in the woods. The natural gait puts the heel first, by putting you toes down first slows you down. Thus making you quieter.
If you’re on “easy “ ground, try setting your foot down evenly and slowly like a cat. It tends to work for me.
I've always walked heel to toe but I understand what you're saying. If it works for you and you're able to stay quiet, I say do it!
Grew up hunting under the supervision of my grandfather. He's hunted all over the world. Bagged dangerous game & all. I don't think he's ever not been wearing levi's & a white tee shirt. Never used any sort of scent stuff either. Staying down wind & out of sight is part of the hunt, it's a big part of the hunt! Wind can change up, so you might have to hustle bigtime to change location. Our east coast friends just can't fathom that.
You're right about that. If you can stay out of sight and down wind, that chances of getting busted drops significantly.
Funny, I'm East coast and have p*ssed out of a climber and still bagged deer. I have also smoked cigarettes out of a stand and bagged deer. But you know how us East coasters don't understand.
@@taduncan6614 Lemme tell you a secret. The east coast is overpopulated with deer, come out west where the "terrain" is like nothing you've ever seen before & try to bag yourself a Boone & Crocket blacktail. Tree stands don't work where the only trees are Spanish Oaks. Tree stands don't work where the timber is within arm's reach from tree to tree.
But mostly, hunting from a tree stand is fuckin BORING!
@@elonmust7470 who said we don't ground hunt? As always, the "pros" making assumptions. You don't think we have mountains here with "terrain"? I also have access to a 900 yard range where I shoot regularly. Get off your high 🐎
As a side note, my freezer stays packed so it's all good.
@@taduncan6614 I've hunted all over NC & VA, cut millions upon millions of feet of timber there, too. I'm right familiar with the terrain & the techniques.
YOU are the one with the chip on his shoulders. All I did was talk about my grandpa a little.
It’s so hard playing the wind in the mountains in north Ga.
It blows in circles so you’ll look at the forecasted wind direction, verify it’s blowing that way, sneak into your stand without blowing your scent to your hunt spot then once settled the wind changes and start going all over the place….lol.
Never fails but I’ve just accepted this so I always create a scent perimeter on the ground and as high as I can reach to spray trees or leaves.
I’ve had awesome success with fatal obsession spray and I’ll spray in a triangular pattern as mentioned above about 30 yards in each direction of my chosen tree to climb.
I’ll hit my boots with it a little to mask my scent on the way in.
Sometimes they follow the scent right to my tree and look up at me.
If you don’t move during these stare downs they really can’t make you out unless they’re pressured and used to human silhouettes.
I once had a stare down with a buck in my ladder.
My feet were freezing so I wiggled my toe inside my boot……I dunno if he saw a slight movement or he heard something I didn’t but he bolted.
I didn’t see him again till next season and busted him when he snuck silently into my peripheral and stopped to sniff a tree I sprayed with fatal obsession.
So far I’ve tried many lures, cover scents and such but this fatal
Obsession has been the buck lure for me…..better than tinks 69 doe in heat.
I think when it comes to bucks especially. When they’re not actively chasing does they’re more concerned with competition than they are getting some lovin.
I could be wrong…..just my observations.
I learn something new every day and I’ve been hunting alone for the past 30 years.
Certain areas are definitely harder to hunt than others due to the constant swirling wind. I hunt a few stands that I had to go into the offseason with smoke bombs to see how the wind actually moved through the area. That actually might make a cool video... Anyways you are right about scent control as well. Extremely important.
Keep at it and keep learning! Each one of us learns something every year :) That's the only way to improve!
I hunt western NC mountains and the wind sucks 😂 it changes every 10 mins ground hunting is hard because of that .. so I try to climb 30+ feet that helps. I got busted 2 days ago from a big buck and my wind was blowing the complete different direction and he was 150 yards away 😂
Should you step on a stick or make other noise while walking, yes, take a time out, but this may be a good time to tap your grunt and slide your for four gently add if making a scrape. When you believe things have settled down, spill a drop or two of deer urine and move on smartly. Also take sometime in late summer to clear your paths of sticks, branches and the like.
Great idea! I've also heard of guys bringing their turkey calls with them when access in the afternoon. They try to simulate a hen walking around to mask their access.
Just today I was bow hunting on the ground, and had a 4 point buck walk within 30 yards of me and never knew I was there. I was wearing ZERO camo at all. It's all about scent and movement control. Camo isn't necessarily needed folks.
That's awesome! Play the wind and sit still, the most important factors when it comes to staying invisible to deer. Good luck this season!
I think a more important reason to use a Red light to access your stand is that it doesn't ruin your own night vision, so you can rely on the artificial light far less, which further reduces your detection chances.
That's a great point. Thanks for sharing!
What about using a green light?? I keep hearing deer dont see the green light very well. What are your thoughts??
I'm convinced that in many (most?) cases deer see us just fine. "What's that human doing just sitting there? Should I be worried? If he makes a suspicious move, I'll run...."
That could be. I think they look towards us and can tell something is different. That log looks different than it did the day before, making them focus on us a little harder. And as soon as we twitch - they're gone. This is why sitting still is so important. Once they "clear" the suspicious object that wasn't there before, they usually will go back to doing what they were doing.
Great video, thanks for taking the time to put this together and sharing it with everyone!
Anytime Bill! Thanks for the comment!
Great tips, thanks!! I have heard that deer see white as fluorescent, almost like a glow under a black light. Not sure if any truth to that, but figured that's why they can spot your eyes so well.
Thanks! I've heard something similar with their ability to see UV light. A lot of people have commented about that as well. Hopefully they are still researching their vision so we can understand more.
Outstanding video! I agree 💯 percent with your assessment and advice.
Thanks Mike!! Appreciate it!
Dr Alan grant I love it .deer can't see us if we don't move but they can sure in the hell smell us if we don't us a scent killer hahaha 🤣
No scent products can eliminate human oder, and fool a mature deer's nose. Being aware of your scent and the direction your scent will travel, is the only way to stay 100% undetected
"He can't see us if we don't move!" Ha. And you're right, unlike that TREX if a deer gets a whiff of us, they're gone! Scent control and trying your best to stay downwind are so important to staying hidden from deer.
I used a uv blocker for washing my hunting clothes and it really works well. I also like to get into the shadows of trees. Thanks for sharing.
Well done. A lot of information in a short time. It is difficult to get new hunters to slow down and pick up their feet. Dragging your feet in the dry leaves drives me crazy! Also you can't go fast if you are looking for sticks and branches to avoid and during daylight hours looking for deer on your way. There is no fresher deer sign than tracks that have deer feet still in them. One question I have. When you do snap a twig or crunch dry leaves which is bound to happen to the best of us do you ever make a deer grunt to sound like a deer moving through the woods? I don't know if that helps or not but I've tried it. Jury is still out on that one.
I've heard of guys who do that to simulate a deer or turkey, I personally have not tried it. I just wait a bit and then continue walking. My fear is if I grunt, I might spark the interest of a deer and they'll come investigate..
You beat me to it! I’ve learned how to sound like a turkey with just my mouth, and I just purr and cluck. In the past, I’d wait about five minutes after snapping a twig.
Oh, and in the places I hunt, if you sound like a deer, they’ll circle downwind to confirm if you’re really another deer.
This video is good enough to come back to often. Lots of good information.
Thanks Jean!
With 20 minutes of legal light left, a spike buck appeared 40 yards in front of me. Then I heard a deer walking, from close behind me. I didn't move because he was very close. By the time the sound was to my side I looked slowly, it was a GIANT 10 point, giving me the perfect shot. He only stood there for 5 seconds and It wasn't enough Time to get a shot off 😒
Moral of the story - there's a fine balance between minimal movement & knowing what's going on around you!
Absolutely. Hopefully you'll get redemption this season!
Great video my friend. I have over 20 years of walking with wild whitetail, am associate to a matriarchy for longer than that, buddy to my deer family who I spend 20 hrs a week with..even when one of them snap a stick, everyone flinches in the second before it is processed.
*THEIR EARS ARE AMAZING.. IVE WATCHED THEM USE ECHO-LOCATION OFF FENCES, CLIFFS, TREELINES ETC! I WOULDNT PLAY POOL WITH A DEER!😂👍
Great video. Also if they are looking right at you , Don`t move at all. they will sometimes look up maybe they busted other hunters, but don`t move. when they flick there tail and look away they are not considered threatened.
Thanks! And you're absolutely right. Stay still and normally when they give the tail flicker, that means they are comfortable and will continue with doing whatever it is they were doing.
Had this happen to me as well. Just wait a good 10 seconds after they look away. I didnt know about the tail flicker but it makes sense!
I have been in a stand and had deer look right at me, and I did not blink and I and I put their head down and walked away.
I will also say this, that I’ve had deer walk up behind me when I was climbing in my stand making noise and I guess they were curious.
Very informative video, but I take exception to one thing. I have hunted deer for 60 years, beginning before there was blaze orange clothing. Once we made the transition, it became very obvious deer can see that . I hunt from the ground and need to be extra careful, but under most light conditions, deer will see the orange immediately. They probably see it as bright white (look at a black and white photo of deer hunters and notice the "white" jackets), but it is not like the old days before orange when deer would walk right by at 10 yards.
Interesting observation. Probably something to that. Maybe it was the shade or color pattern of the orange rather than the color itself?
Great video man! I would like to mention on being seen by deer I’ve always noticed the higher I’m hunting the less chance I have of deer seeing me. Down south we hunt bare pine trees up 30 to 35 feet with a rifle. It works great! Really appreciate your videos please keep them coming!
Thanks and that's a great tip! The higher you're able to get the less likely the deer will notice you. Now you don't want to get too carried away with that, but it's easier to remain hidden the higher you are for sure.
I've never hunted a deer. But if I do, I'm sure to get one, thanks to you!
Well thank you very much! I have confidence that if you go out, you will get one too!
Have any of you had an old doe stalk through the woods looking for hunters in trees? That happened to my dad, and she saw him and disappeared.
Yes I've had that happen. Was hunting a 1ac food plot. 2 yearlings came out in the food plot but Mom stayed just inside the wood line. She circled the food plot until she found me. Had several encounters with her that season.
I've had them cut my tracks and then walk my trail to the base of the tree. Try to figure out what it is and then take off. Very hard to trick that nose.
Thank you for a very informative video. I have learned quite a bit and look forward to trying some of your tips.
Once again, thank you!
Any time Fred! Glad they helped! Thanks for the comment.
The red flashlight should also have a lesser impact on ambient light, making it easier on your eyes and less noticeable.
I'm new to hunting, but worked in a planetarium for years
That's another reason I really like the red light for access. Not only is it harder for the deer to pick up but it's a lot easier on our eyes as well.
I put on a ghilli suit. I have started killing a lot of bow bucks from the ground, once I started doing this. It also hides a little bit of small movements if you have to adjust for comfort. I’m 6’1 and 260 pounds. Coyotes bobcats and deer just look through you. Best 100 dollars you will ever spend.
Always hunt the wind. But I use some fresh earth discs on my ghillie suit and put some stick applied deer bedding scent which remarkably calms semi alert deer(Evercalm I think)wind is most important and confusing the deers nose with familiar and reassuring smells allows you to get super close. I hope this helps some of you all out there. This just works for me.
Great tip! I've never used a Ghilli suit but it sounds like it could be fun when hunting from the ground. Do you ever have the suit get in the way when trying to draw back?
@@whitetailevolution no not really. The strands of thread do pick up leaves and sometimes sticks which makes it awkward to walk in. What threads do get in the way of the string at release don’t seem to hinder flight path. Practice in the ghilllie suit and shorten some of the threads that might get in the way. I switched to a crossbow a few years back and it’s a lesser concern.
Great vid and great advice. I hunt PA WMU 5A and my struggle has always been some sort of cover while in my tree stand. I do my best to control scent...use the wind to my advantage...use same trails in and out...but trying for cover in my stand is a challenge. Thanks again for the great advice.
They make skirts to help with that
If you're hunting out of a hang on or single ladder stand you could buy some fake Christmas tree branches and put those behind your stand to break up your silhouette. If you're hunting out of a double ladder with a shooting rail, they make canvas that will wrap around the rail to help conceal you as well.
When setting up my tree stand in an evergreen tree, any branches that I cut are kept up in the tree to build a brush blind. Kind of like a nest.
Since I am right handed I brush in my right side and my back side. Let's say from my 3 to my 6. The rest is open for shooting. But that bit of brush camo gives me some ability to move occasionally.
Those are great tips Mike. Thank you for sharing them!
This is the exact reason that I took up saddle hunting this last year. Killed my first big buck ever, I was 22' up in the air, he went right under me, never knew I was there. Killed a pig the next day, same situation. Neither would have happened if I was still hunting from the ground. As for me, do everything in this video and add some height to your hunt.
Congratulations! And you're right, adding some height to your setup will definitely help you stay hidden.
I have been deer hunting for 30 years in several different states on both private and public land. I don't care what science says about their eyesight in regards to seeing certain colors , mature whitetail deer can see florescent orange a mile away. I have been busted at ranges up to 300 yards away the very second they look in my direction. Not yearlings, but mature deer who I truly believe that after surviving a couple of seasons of deer hunting they remember that color however they interpret it or maybe it the brightness and associate that color with danger. Also believe that wearing any that's a solid one color silhouettes and outlines your body. The trick I've learned to do is to wear highly faded orange camouflage which does help some.
Thanks for the comment Rob! There is some research that has shown deer can see UV brighteners that are put into some detergents. So even though deer cannot see red / orange very well, they can pick you up if the suit was washed with detergent containing brighteners.
I wonder if in dry conditions, that moccasins might be quieter than a hard soled boot or shoe I've never heard this mentioned
That's a good question and I'm not sure as I've never worn them hunting. I never want to risk my feet getting cold or leaving scent behind so I wear rubber boots to the stand.
Our house with a small pond is backed up to the woods, and we see a lot of deer. I heard something about deer not seeing you if you don’t move, so I tried it out. When they put their heads down to eat or drink, I would run closer to them. When they lifted their heads, I would stop dead like a statue, in plain sight. They would look at me, stop for a moment, then keep eating. I did this for or five times and got pretty close to them until I couldn’t discern all their movements and they ran. I was on the lawn so there was no noise of breaking twigs. I did have a hard time not laughing out loud though because it was so funny.
That's a great story and thanks for sharing it! Sounds like a new hunting approach lol. Run at them and when they look STOP!
I’ve been hunting for close to. 40 years and in my opinion the most important thing is to be still. They see motion. If you don’t move, they won’t see you. I’ve worn blaze orange jackets and have da deer walk right by me within spitting distance while I’m standing on the ground leaning against a tree. I don’t use tree stands. Anyway, if you don’t move they’ll walk right past you. They may stop and look at you for a very long few seconds, but they’ll keep going. But if you move, they’re gone.
Couldn't agree more. Play the wind and sit still.
Everyone talking about wearing camo etc .. in NB Canada we have to wear bright blaze Orange while hunting by law. So tree stands are the way to go.
Being elevated and staying still. We are required to wear something blaze orange during the firearm season as well.
This video is amazing. Thanks and good luck out there!
Thank you Travis! I hope it helps!
Every deer I've ever shot was done on the ground in a prone position with an old .50 muzzleloader and within 15 minutes of me calling them. Don't call too often. Stay low and very still..when you move, move very slowly.. it helps to cover your face and even close/squint your eyes if they look directly at you within a certain range. Even very smart and skittish deer will walk up to you when they're curious or trying to pinpoint the call. Camo can be overrated but it definitely helps although if you're very low in brush, on ground, or against a tree you can still blend in or be impossible to spot.
I have it on good authority from my 3 year old , if you close your eyes they can’t see you .
LoL
Tell him it works! My son says the same thing :)
Thanks for the video. Just another reminder of always going in early to hunt so you don’t have to walk so fast.
I have a friend a buck hunter two weeks before the seasons opens he goes to hunt location parks his vehicle. Takes a leaf rake with him and every step of the way he cleans his path of leaves, sticks and stones. So on opening day he will have very miminal ground noise. (PS he has hunted the same property for 30 plus years). Very few years is he buckless.
Now here's what I do:
I educate people on how they may know they can have eternal life! People are like computers; we all have a default mode. It is that we are all sinners, headed toward hell.
GOD's Word declares, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God....Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. That if thou shalt call on his name in faith believing thou shalt be saved.
Amen!
Also your friend's plan is a good one. We clear off our access trails prior to the season starting as well. Minimize that noise walking in.
Hallelujah
@@gp8315 like your sign
JESUS SAVES
Right on. Preach it Brother!
I agree on what you said about being quiet & being calm amongst other things, I already know all of this from my father, & he taught me differently than what you said about walking in & out of your hunting blind on the ground or tree, he was a trained sniper in the Army during Vietnam War & showed me how to walk quietly in & out, & I figured out how to build my ground blind so the deer can't see, hear & smell me, my blind was built exactly the way that deer didn't know I was in my blind cause it was pitch dark, I had enough of walls to block the winds, & other elements of mother nature, rain, snow etc! I never had a deer notice me in my blind cause I studied how & where to build it in the beginning of my swamp area & it's already dark there so I camouflage myself well! And always got my buck the 1st week & after that does got shot during the 2nd week before Thanksgiving Day, my father said I did a superb job making my blind! Jim Greszczuk
Stay quiet and don't move. Fred. bear said the beat camo is being quiet.
He's absolutely right.
“The best camouflage pattern is called, “Sit down and be quiet!” Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second.”
We sometimes rake the trail get rid if sticks and leaves and those ankle breaking round stones
How to NOT be seen by deer: Get in your car and drive down highway.
Ha I should've added that in there.
Actually you have hit on a common mistake. Not going to the same stand every day or when the wind direction is wrong for that location. Staying out of bedding areas and avoiding the area in front of your stand where you expect the deer to approach. Luck and effort play a big part but learning to hunt smarter pays off as you become a wise old woodsman.
In terms of safety, using a flashlight for accessing your hunting site is a good way to let other hunters know your not a deer. I know two hunters who have been shot because they were not using a flashlight and were mistaken for a deer walking through the woods.