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1.) luv2bowhunt - 08/15/2017
I was going over my latest scouting camera pics and found this so interesting. Notice the buck below as he hits my scent from the day before when I set up the camera.
In the first picture he hits the path where I walked in without rubber boots. He stood motionless for the first 6 minutes I guess, because I didn't get a second pic until then. Then it takes a full 26 minutes for him to travel the next 5 feet.
How often do we alert deer during the season and they are put on full alert like this? I really don't care where this camera is because I will not be hunting in this immediate area. Lesson learned though for placing stands and cameras during the season.
In the first picture he hits the path where I walked in without rubber boots. He stood motionless for the first 6 minutes I guess, because I didn't get a second pic until then. Then it takes a full 26 minutes for him to travel the next 5 feet.
How often do we alert deer during the season and they are put on full alert like this? I really don't care where this camera is because I will not be hunting in this immediate area. Lesson learned though for placing stands and cameras during the season.
2.) Swamp Fox - 08/15/2017
That's awesome. Do you mind if I steal those photos with the narration to share with a couple of friends of mine?
Not as dramatic or definitive as your story, but I've had several bucks alerted by cameras that 1) I never ever saw again in that area and/or 2) that I caught walking back the way they came in reaction to the first flash or click.
Not as dramatic or definitive as your story, but I've had several bucks alerted by cameras that 1) I never ever saw again in that area and/or 2) that I caught walking back the way they came in reaction to the first flash or click.
3.) Wild Bob - 08/15/2017
Interesting...it is also good testimony to the fact that the big ones don't get that way by being / living stupid. When you're low on the food chain; (and/or feeling pressured) caution is second nature.
Great point about how much pressure deer get that most folks don't even consider.
Great point about how much pressure deer get that most folks don't even consider.
4.) luv2bowhunt - 08/15/2017
Feel free to share with your friends or use as a talking point around the water cooler.
Believe me, I posted the abridged version of this buck. There were 13 pics in all spaced out over 26 minutes, for him to finally check out the stump. Never had one do that before. Normally, they either get over it right away, or most often, they vacate and come back later, sometimes days later, to check things out again.
This guy chose to just stand there and weigh out his options I guess.
Believe me, I posted the abridged version of this buck. There were 13 pics in all spaced out over 26 minutes, for him to finally check out the stump. Never had one do that before. Normally, they either get over it right away, or most often, they vacate and come back later, sometimes days later, to check things out again.
This guy chose to just stand there and weigh out his options I guess.
5.) DParker - 08/15/2017
[QUOTE=Wild Bob;50861]...it is also good testimony to the fact that the big ones don't get that way by being / living stupid.[/QUOTE]
That's what I keep telling people when they point at my gut, but I don't get the sense that it's been a convincing argument.
The interesting thing is that he doesn't seem to be looking around and scanning for threats, unless those are the photos that are missing from the collection. He just seems fixated on the stump.
That's what I keep telling people when they point at my gut, but I don't get the sense that it's been a convincing argument.
The interesting thing is that he doesn't seem to be looking around and scanning for threats, unless those are the photos that are missing from the collection. He just seems fixated on the stump.
6.) luv2bowhunt - 08/15/2017
[QUOTE=DParker;50866]The interesting thing is that he doesn't seem to be looking around and scanning for threats, unless those are the photos that are missing from the collection.[/QUOTE]
7.) DParker - 08/15/2017
8.) Swamp Fox - 08/15/2017
LOL...
I'm "sure" he caught some scent, though if it had been a day or half a day I'm thinking somebody should post a scientific study about how long human scent is detectable by whitetails on cool summer mornings. That would be a lot better than going by whatever I say. :-)
BUT...I wonder if he isn't also [B]looking[/B] at the new mineral block (or what looks like one) and thinking "Hmmm...That wasn't here yesterday."
It constantly amazes me how animals can notice the slightest change in their surroundings and go on high alert. For instance, I learned a long time ago not to leave anything at the base of my treestand, intentionally or unintentionally. I remember I left something on the ground once (don't ask me what at this point) and it seemed the visual was what spooked the deer. There's also the rather infamous incident of the PlotWatcher that through no fault of my own was involved in a missed opportunity at a nice buck from a ground blind. Didn't even get the bow back, LOL...
I'm "sure" he caught some scent, though if it had been a day or half a day I'm thinking somebody should post a scientific study about how long human scent is detectable by whitetails on cool summer mornings. That would be a lot better than going by whatever I say. :-)
BUT...I wonder if he isn't also [B]looking[/B] at the new mineral block (or what looks like one) and thinking "Hmmm...That wasn't here yesterday."
It constantly amazes me how animals can notice the slightest change in their surroundings and go on high alert. For instance, I learned a long time ago not to leave anything at the base of my treestand, intentionally or unintentionally. I remember I left something on the ground once (don't ask me what at this point) and it seemed the visual was what spooked the deer. There's also the rather infamous incident of the PlotWatcher that through no fault of my own was involved in a missed opportunity at a nice buck from a ground blind. Didn't even get the bow back, LOL...
9.) Jon - 08/16/2017
I guess we'll never KNOW what was going thru his head, was it a strange scent or was it a new mineral block that wasn't there yesterday? He seems more visually fixated than worried about a scent.
The things that we'll never no
The things that we'll never no
10.) luv2bowhunt - 08/16/2017
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;50870]I'm "sure" he caught some scent, though if it had been a day or half a day I'm thinking somebody should post a scientific study about how long human scent is detectable by whitetails on cool summer mornings..[/QUOTE]
I don't have any scientific data but I do have one incident that stuck in my mind all these years. I went in to setup a stand on a Thur. afternoon years ago. I found a nice spot on the edge of a clearcut, didn't need too much work to get it ready.
There was a nice open little flat spot (old coal hearth) right in front of the stand that had a deer trail leading out onto it. I had to cut a little brush and went through a little tunnel of brush where the trail met the opening. When I went through I took my hand and pushed up on the brush so I could get underneath it.
I didn't think much about it, got the stand hung and got out of there. Sat. morning I'm sitting in the stand watching the opening and sure enough here comes a doe with a fawn on the trail heading for my opening. When the doe gets to where I pushed the brush back with my hand she goes full alert, sniffing where I touched. She became extremely alert and eventually wheels around and blows out of there.
No doubt in my mind she smelled my scent on the brush from a day and half before. I'm sure our scent lingers longer and stronger than we think it does in the right situations. The lesson she taught me sticks with me today when I'm preparing my stands before or during the season.
As far as this buck is concerned, I was sprayed down with Deep Woods Off the day before, so that probably made matters worse. And yes, he sure seems transfixed on the mineral block or the stump. I guess the big take away is it took him 26 minutes to go a couple of feet once he was on alert.
I don't have any scientific data but I do have one incident that stuck in my mind all these years. I went in to setup a stand on a Thur. afternoon years ago. I found a nice spot on the edge of a clearcut, didn't need too much work to get it ready.
There was a nice open little flat spot (old coal hearth) right in front of the stand that had a deer trail leading out onto it. I had to cut a little brush and went through a little tunnel of brush where the trail met the opening. When I went through I took my hand and pushed up on the brush so I could get underneath it.
I didn't think much about it, got the stand hung and got out of there. Sat. morning I'm sitting in the stand watching the opening and sure enough here comes a doe with a fawn on the trail heading for my opening. When the doe gets to where I pushed the brush back with my hand she goes full alert, sniffing where I touched. She became extremely alert and eventually wheels around and blows out of there.
No doubt in my mind she smelled my scent on the brush from a day and half before. I'm sure our scent lingers longer and stronger than we think it does in the right situations. The lesson she taught me sticks with me today when I'm preparing my stands before or during the season.
As far as this buck is concerned, I was sprayed down with Deep Woods Off the day before, so that probably made matters worse. And yes, he sure seems transfixed on the mineral block or the stump. I guess the big take away is it took him 26 minutes to go a couple of feet once he was on alert.
11.) Jon - 08/16/2017
I've had very similar incidents as I'm sure we all have. Scent makes em flip out. Changing of surroundings makes em on edge but not necessarily split immediately.
You think they are aware, watch a fox cut your trail. They take about a micro-second before launching into space.
You think they are aware, watch a fox cut your trail. They take about a micro-second before launching into space.
12.) Swamp Fox - 08/16/2017
Do you all ever think that maybe you have some extra special body funk? :p
One of the coolest things is when a nice buck won't give you a shot until his little running buddy sticks his neck out first. My best buck was at my 7 o'clock for what seemed like forever, scenting and looking ahead, while his much smaller scout was a few steps ahead of him. It wasn't until the smaller deer proceeded that I got my chance. Have seen this a few times; this one just happened to involve a bow, so it was extra pulse-pounding.
One of the coolest things is when a nice buck won't give you a shot until his little running buddy sticks his neck out first. My best buck was at my 7 o'clock for what seemed like forever, scenting and looking ahead, while his much smaller scout was a few steps ahead of him. It wasn't until the smaller deer proceeded that I got my chance. Have seen this a few times; this one just happened to involve a bow, so it was extra pulse-pounding.