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Post by calsibley on Jun 17, 2006 1:42:16 GMT -5
Over the years I've noticed certain animals rarely if ever look up. A deer rarely spots a hunter in a tree stand. Maybe their eyes are limited in the amount of eye elevation they possess. I don't really know. On day upon exiting the woods where I live, Fritz, my current Giant Schnauzer's predecessor suddenly froze in place and started with a low growl. Sure enough, fairly high up was a squirrel on a power line. I was impressed because I had never noticed this behavior before. Now I find Franklin does the same thing. He's forever scanning the trees for squirrel and birds. He seems so damn frustrated because he can't simply fly up and grab it. Do you suppose this type of upward scanning behavior is common to certain types of animal, especially dogs, or what? Franklin has reached a point where he seems to spend as much time eyeballing what might be above him as to what is straight ahead.
Another piece of wierd behavior would occur when I'd throw rocks into the river. Fritz would swim to where the rock went in, then dive down for it. Just any rock wouldn't do. He'd surface after a while then go right back down again. This scared me somewhat because the current was fairly fast. Ultimately he'd swim back to shore with a rock in his mouth. I was never sure if it was the same one I had thrown, but I was certainly aware of his determination to bring the correct one back. Do they get your scent off the rock and retrieve it by that, and if so how can they do this under water? Sometimes our canine buddies are fascinating. Best wishes.
Cal - Montreal
Cal - Montreal
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Post by deputydon on Jun 17, 2006 7:15:19 GMT -5
I know a guy who's lab would do that in the missiouri river .  Now I should explain that I have traveled enough to know in most places a "river" is 20 to 30 yards wide and 4-6' deep ; That's the size of the "creek" by my back door. Our river is about a mile wide and in spots 35 to 40' deep!  At any rate Darryll would mark the rock to prove it was the same one and throw it and Shatc would dive and find it. I always thought that was awesome!!!!! |
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Post by Jack on Jun 17, 2006 7:51:51 GMT -5
"A deer rarely spots a hunter in a tree stand."
I know that's the conventional wisdom, but I think it isn't true so much any more. I've had more than 1 deer walk into an area where there is a tree stand and look right at it. They learn from experience, just like we do. Or so I think, at least.
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Post by jimh on Jun 17, 2006 8:24:29 GMT -5
"A deer rarely spots a hunter in a tree stand." I know that's the conventional wisdom, but I think it isn't true so much any more. I've had more than 1 deer walk into an area where there is a tree stand and look right at it. They learn from experience, just like we do. Or so I think, at least. had the same thing happen to me last fall. once you make a move or sound or even some sent drifting down to them, anything that gets their attention and signals caution to them they will always be on the alert when they come into that area. but in my opinion you have to give them a reason to be on the alert, after that they always seem to watch out for you. which i guess is why lots of guys have multiple stands so they can let a area cool down once they have been busted big time. |
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Post by bullseye on Jun 21, 2006 16:50:56 GMT -5
I agree with you Jack, animals adapt to their surroundings and danger. I started hunting in WI before we could hunt elevated in trees. We could hunt in windfalls but not standing trees. It took about 3-4 years after we went vertical and were allowed to hunt in trees before deer started looking up.
I would imagine deer out west where there is a mountain lion population look up. I believe deer are their #1 prey.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Jun 21, 2006 18:57:27 GMT -5
Yeah, cal you're outnumbered.
I personally think deer looking up and also scenting people is a public land thing. They tend to look up more than looking down.
But the private land I've hunted deer never looked up and hardly ever truely spooked b/c of wind.
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Post by stumpjumper on Jun 21, 2006 23:19:19 GMT -5
Deer know there surroundings better then we know them. I have had on several occasions deer look up at me while I was in my stand. I hunted this one buck for a couple years, & couldn't bring him to my table because he kept out smartin me. I have seen the evidents that he used a the trail goin' past my stand but when ever I sat in it , he would push out to a trail some 80 yards or so away. Makin a show of it because he new he got the best of me again. Well I was determined to get him & though of a way to out smart him. I came up with a plan, & put it in to motion. For all my efforts I finally got him. What I did was made a scarecrow type dummy & put him up in my stand & I moved on down where he came through when I sat in the stand. Funny thing is, he seemed to be makin' a show of it knowing he got the best of me again, but didn't no I was but about 12 yards from him. I was in a ground blind I fashioned earlier. I wanted him to get used to seein' it while I was in my stand. This way it wouldn't look outta place.
He wasn't the biggest 11 pointer I have put down, & the meat wasn't the best eating either, him bein' as old as he was. But he was one of the better tests I have had from a deer & he was my target because of the tough challenge he gave me. He was 10+ years. His teeth were all gone other then tinny nubs just about level with the gums. I dought he woulda made it threw the winter.
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Post by stumpjumper on Jun 21, 2006 23:31:04 GMT -5
"A deer rarely spots a hunter in a tree stand." which i guess is why lots of guys have multiple stands so they can let a area cool down once they have been busted big time. That is true Jim. I have several stands. I don't usually sit in a stand more then 3 times, even if I don't see a deer. Plus another thing I do, is I mark & name all of my stands. I make a card of each one. They are about the size as playing cards. I will draw a small map & put the location of the stand & sketch out where all of the deer trails are as well. Then I laminate them & keep all the cards together & keep them in my possibles bag. Oh yea. I also put on there the best time to hunt this stand by showing that this stain is good if there is a west wind, & the one my be best if there is a south wind. this way all I have to do is find out the wind direction & look at my cards & bam. I now no what stand is best for me to hunt this day. |
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Post by bullseye on Jun 23, 2006 15:28:07 GMT -5
Jim, in some ways I think this has come full circle. The deer used to look for hunters on the ground, then the hunters went up and had a number of years of success. Now the hunters are at a disadvantage in a tree because in general the deer can spot you long before you spot them. I have begun doing a number of ground blinds because like I said I think this is has come full circle. One major advantage I have found is a pit blind. It allows you to put most of your body below ground and minimize the profile you present.
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Post by jimiowa on Jun 23, 2006 23:20:09 GMT -5
Jim, in some ways I think this has come full circle. The deer used to look for hunters on the ground, then the hunters went up and had a number of years of success. Now the hunters are at a disadvantage in a tree because in general the deer can spot you long before you spot them. I have begun doing a number of ground blinds because like I said I think this is has come full circle. One major advantage I have found is a pit blind. It allows you to put most of your body below ground and minimize the profile you present. Wow Not only has it come full circle it's starting to simulate overlapping circles(same principle used in Cell phones). By adding pit blinds to the mix, deer will have to learn to look below ground too. I like the idea of pit blinds because wind currents are usually minumal at ground level and your scent is less likely to tip deer off too. |
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Now I should explain that I have traveled enough to know in most places a "river" is 20 to 30 yards wide and 4-6' deep ; That's the size of the "creek" by my back door. Our river is about a mile wide and in spots 35 to 40' deep! 
At any rate Darryll would mark the rock to prove it was the same one and throw it and Shatc would dive and find it. I always thought that was awesome!!!!! 
