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Bottom Hunter

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Do you think that getting busted by a deer (blows)while turkey hunting hurts your chances at a bird and should you move if you do get busted?

BH
 
No, I do not think it hurts your chances. I don't think the turkeys will relate a deer's snorting as a warning of danger. It will get their attention, but if they don't see anything amiss, I would think they would normally not have much of a reaction. Just my opinion. Of course in each situation, there could be a different outcome.
 
Depends on how far away the turkey is.

I had a bird coming in one time, maybe 80-100 yds out. A deer wanders between us, gets my scent and starts snorting like crazy, and evidently ran right at the turkey. Never saw or heard it again that day.

Another time on Catoosa, I had worked a bird for over 3 hrs, and had stayed within 100 yds or so the whole time. It was a classic chess match, with multiple setup changes, even if it was just 20 yds.

Had him at about 80 yards (pretty thick, late season), when I heard footsteps coming from his direction. I just knew it was him, and was ready when a nice buck in velvet walked straight at me :eek: ! He veered off at about 30 yards, went another 10 yards to my left and laid down. He had the wind in his favor, and I just knew it was a matter of time before he busted me. After about 15-20 mins, he finally went back the way he came, and soon after the turkey gobbled to an airplane or something, and I knew I was back in business. Who knows, the gobbler may have sent the buck in to check things out :D !
 
if the trukey is far then no
if he is close yes
had a deer come up behind me and the bird was about 50 yards when the deer blowed and run off so did the bird
 
I have had it go both ways. I have had birds go completely silent and disappear. I have also had them gobble at the deer blowing, and march in to their death.

The worst is the spooked deer which runs right through the middle of the birds you are after.
 
No, just hope the deer doesn't blow past the turkey you are after
Ive had alot of deer blow at me and I just hang out for a little bit and most of the time the old bird will start up again after a little wait
 
I guess it all depends but I to have had them gobble at a snorting deer,don't think I've actually had a deer run one off...Now cows on the other hand...
 
Bottom Hunter said:
Do you think that getting busted by a deer (blows)while turkey hunting hurts your chances at a bird . . . .
Click to expand...
It absolutely "hurts your chances" at a bird.

Here's why I say YES --- it hurts your chances.

First, I've never been able to determine that a snorting deer helped my chances, and I have many times had a spooked deer cause turkey to stop approaching and/or turn and walk away.

Now, a feeding deer will make turkeys feel more comfortable, and they will both feed in close proximity. But if either spooks, the other other goes on higher alert, often just walking away from the area.

Of course, if there is no turkey within 200 yards, may not matter. But there are often turkeys nearer that you don't know about. Spooking a deer is a negative, and I hate it when deer come around while I'm turkey hunting. There is a difference between a deer snorting and a deer spooking. If the deer only snorts, then goes back to feeding or continuing whatever its behavior before the snort, not likely to hurt your chances. But if that deer snorts, then runs, snorts again, then runs away --- most turkeys that witness that aren't coming your direction.
 
Definitely depends on the situation. If a turkey is close enough to me and to the deer it could cause him to fold his wings and run. It only takes one scare to turn a hot mouthed gobbler into a road runner.
 

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