Deck78
Well-Known Member
This is always a great reminder! Correct me if I am wrong, but don't you have roughly 70 stands allocated throughout your farm BSK?
-
Help Support TNDeer:
Overhunting stands
- Thread starter BSK
- Start date
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Another thing:
The general habitat of the general area, including how much is contiguous deer habitat.
When there exists several square miles of contiguous deer habit, over which deer may freely roam, they will generally be more "sensitive" to human disturbances, such as over-hunting a specific spot.
But when deer have a limited range dues to things such as housing subdivisions, and major movement barriers restricting their range, they are often much less effected by human intrusion to specific spots. Some of this can be habituation to humans, such as the deer which spend most their time in highly protected areas from hunting, but will frequent human encounters.
There can be huge difference in the hunting skills required to consistently have "urban" deer at close range vs. more "wilderness" deer.
The general habitat of the general area, including how much is contiguous deer habitat.
When there exists several square miles of contiguous deer habit, over which deer may freely roam, they will generally be more "sensitive" to human disturbances, such as over-hunting a specific spot.
But when deer have a limited range dues to things such as housing subdivisions, and major movement barriers restricting their range, they are often much less effected by human intrusion to specific spots. Some of this can be habituation to humans, such as the deer which spend most their time in highly protected areas from hunting, but will frequent human encounters.
There can be huge difference in the hunting skills required to consistently have "urban" deer at close range vs. more "wilderness" deer.
BSK
Well-Known Member
I've always wondered where the edge of the "hunting pressure bubble" is. Is it 75 yards, 100 yards, 150 yards? I don't know the answer, but suspect it is somewhere around 100 yards.
BSK
Well-Known Member
That's interesting.
That's even more interesting.
Completely agree with that. Hunting from a great distance from where you expect the deer to be will have little impact on that expected travel route.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Over a season.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Exactly. In fact, they don't even have to shift over. They simply shift to night-time movement through that area.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Deer are not "smart" by human standards, but they're ability to pick up on "dangerous" human activity (human activity that is dangerous to them) is amazingly good. They also pick up on patterns well, and one pattern it doesn't take deer long to learn is that Man is only a major danger during daylight.
In fact, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly deer pick up on hunting pressure and turn primarily nocturnal. If I'm running cameras in an area, I wouldn't need a calendar to figure out when hunting season opened. All I would need to do is look at the date the older bucks suddenly went nocturnal and back up 48 hours.
Omega
Well-Known Member
So, are mature bucks much smarter than mature does? I get two or three deer a year from the same stand, mostly does, and a buck now and then. I usually take a week each year to hunt, then after I revert to weekends, mostly on Saturday. One year, I was busted by the same three does twice, before I had a shot on the third sighting, all on different days.
Specializedjon
Well-Known Member
BSK...put me down for a 1st edition when you write your book. Seriously, I just sit back and learn. Much appreciated.
I said "WHEN", not if (please & thank you)
I said "WHEN", not if (please & thank you)
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Those old does can be just as smart. The difference is, older bucks tend to be more isolated and left alone (be by themselves), while does, even older does are more social and are typically wanting to be in a group. They feel more comfortable (safer) in a group and will move around much more than older bucks. More eyes, more noses and more ears. That gives the older does more comfort to move about.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Old does aren't smarter or less smart, they are just often allowed to get passed by hunters compared to older bucks.
Omega
Well-Known Member
This makes sense, every now and then one is still lactating, so the other does may be offspring.
Not by me.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Love the data. I remember you preaching this many years ago. I started moving the majority of my stands each year, even if that was only 50 yards. It is amazing how much difference just 50-75 yards can make on buck encounters and deer sightings in general.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
I have never paid any attention to the "overhunting" of a stand even though I agree to some extent. I have killed several mature bucks (and a pile of mature does) after hunting the same stand many days in a row. Longest I have hunted a single stand, and hunted it either all day or every single morning and evening, was 13 days straight and I killed a great, mature 10 ptr in a heavily hunted area.
There are almost no absolutes in deer hunting and as soon as someone says a deer will or will not do something, you can almost bet on the opposite. It just amazes me at how many people either don't hunt or hunt somewhere other than where they believe the best opportunity is to kill a deer, especially a mature buck, because someone told them they know "more than the deer".
Just wanted to add, this is the deer I waited 13 days for. I know he is to small for the "pros" on here, but he was good enough for me. Saw him the first morning and never saw another deer until I saw him on the 13th morning. Middle Tennessee, dressed 180 lbs. Just as happy with him today as I was then.
I hunt where I believe I have the best chance, from the thickest cover to wide open areas, wind, rain, hot, cold, etc. It does not matter. I know of so many who "read what the experts write, listen to what they say, watch the hunting shows, etc" and then spend so much time NOT hunting because of that. I know I have blown opportunities because I went against what the "experts" say, but I have killed a pile of deer because I did not pay any attention to what they say and many of them others would not have even had the opportunity. Not because I am better than anyone else, I am most likely one of the worst deer hunter/killers, especially on this site, not even close to many on here, if it can be done wrong deer hunting I have done it and still do. But I am probably the most persistent and I learned a long time ago, ignoring what so many say "is fact" about deer hunting is almost the best thing to to.
There are almost no absolutes in deer hunting and as soon as someone says a deer will or will not do something, you can almost bet on the opposite. It just amazes me at how many people either don't hunt or hunt somewhere other than where they believe the best opportunity is to kill a deer, especially a mature buck, because someone told them they know "more than the deer".
Just wanted to add, this is the deer I waited 13 days for. I know he is to small for the "pros" on here, but he was good enough for me. Saw him the first morning and never saw another deer until I saw him on the 13th morning. Middle Tennessee, dressed 180 lbs. Just as happy with him today as I was then.
I hunt where I believe I have the best chance, from the thickest cover to wide open areas, wind, rain, hot, cold, etc. It does not matter. I know of so many who "read what the experts write, listen to what they say, watch the hunting shows, etc" and then spend so much time NOT hunting because of that. I know I have blown opportunities because I went against what the "experts" say, but I have killed a pile of deer because I did not pay any attention to what they say and many of them others would not have even had the opportunity. Not because I am better than anyone else, I am most likely one of the worst deer hunter/killers, especially on this site, not even close to many on here, if it can be done wrong deer hunting I have done it and still do. But I am probably the most persistent and I learned a long time ago, ignoring what so many say "is fact" about deer hunting is almost the best thing to to.
Attachments
Last edited:
My only disagreement about this is the period when loverboy is blind with poonanny on his mind chasing a doe. HE WILL NOT CARE what he smells or sees. This is fact and all hunters who have witnessed this phenomenon will affirm it.
Willysman
Well-Known Member
Two or three comments. BSK said deer have excellent memories. I agree 100% with that despite what many "scientist" say. Sometimes when you don't have but one area to hunt you have to frequently hunt the same stands or not hunt at all. I would rather be in a stand as sitting in the recliner at home although you know your chances decrease with each sitting. I'm a deer hunter, not a trophy hunter. Also a comment was made about rubber boots vs. normal boots. Once met a game warden who had a dog that he was using to track illegal hunters. I asked him about rubber boots. He said it didn't make any difference to the dog. He would track them right to their stand no matter what type boots they were wearing.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Not an expert at all, but I have observed your thoughts on this subject. I think you are too hung up on the thought of folks just NOT HUNTING because the wind is wrong. You mention this on the majority of the posts you write in regards to wind. Most folks, including myself, are more inclined to simply hunt a different spot. Simple as that. We still go hunting, just in a different spot, so the opportunity for a kill is still there. We don't just sit and watch "Good Morning America" with a cup of coffee because there is a SW wind instead of a NW wind. Just food for thought. Nice buck by the way. Shooter in my book.
Last edited:
Willysman
Well-Known Member
You nailed it. Don't believe the experts. Deer do as deer wants to. They don't read the books.
Nice Buck...I'd take one just like that any day.
