Shane G Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Are you spooking the deer on your way to your stand? The answer to this is of course you are. And if they are not, they are aware of your presence. All the pre scouting and work to get your stand just perfect, might well be all for nothing. Have you ever been on your way to your stand and see tails fleeing or hear deer snorting? Sure you have, we all have. Now you get in your stand and your confidence and excitement level is not the same as when you started out. After sitting awhile with out seeing a deer you start to doubt your chances and abandon your stand. If this sounds familiar your not alone. This is something all deer hunters face and no sure fire solution. I have taken many hunters to a stand over the years as well as gone to a few stands myself. I have learned some things about how to increase your odds of the deer not knowing your in your stand. There are many products on the market that help hunters get deer to come within sight, scents, calls, camo you name it it is all for the same goal. The problem is if the deer already know you are there your in for a long day. Let me tell you about this one occurance I observed, This one stand I was in is at least a half a mile from any road that is solid bush and no clearings, and you could hear the traffic go buy . I had been in the stand about a half hour when this 11 point buck appeared. He was slowly walking and feeding without a care in the world. He could hear the traffic as well and paid no attention to it. Then for some reason a vehicle that I could hear heading down the road, started slowing down and eventually stopped. Now remember this is a half mile away from me with solid timber the whole way. As the vehicle slowed to a stop, the buck lifted his head and totally froze. There was a big broadleaf plant in his mouth and he even stopped chewing. The vehicle eventually started off again and the farther it went the more relaxed the buck got . The buck eventually fed his way out of sight. Now you may think that this is nothing new or no big deal but all this took place with the buck only 20 yards from me, he never had a clue I was there. He showed more attention to a sound a half mile away from him, without any concern that I was above him. Now just imagine that vehicle which stopped out at the road was me, and I was on my way to the stand that I was already sitting in. Would that buck be in the area by the time I got to the stand? Would I be able to lure him back out with calls? Of course not , he would already be wise to what was going on. Whitetails ( espeacially bucks) are creatures of habit and routine. The plan years ago to get to a stand was to use the four wheeler the majority of the way then walk the rest. Makes sence right? wrong. In 1995 a older gentleman from New York was hunting with me. Getting off the four wheeler and starting our walk in the dark was starting to get to much for the hunter. One morning he asked me to take him right to the stand with the four wheeler , I stated that this would spook the deer and to walk in quiet would be best. He then stated that we were probably spooking them more by trying to walk in quiet, he said take me right to the stand but do not turn off the four wheeler or shine a light up to the stand to help him see to get in, once he was in the stand and set up I was then and only then to get out of there. The old fellow killed a good buck at first light that morning, he told me that evening that as soon as I left him he was watching the lights of the four wheeler weave its way back through the bush when two bucks started to spar about 100 yards from him. Now those bucks were probably sparring while we were on are way in, and seen and heard the four wheeler coming. They simply stopped and watched the four wheeler come and then go and resumed there match. As daylight approached they had no idea the hunter was in the stand. The 11 pointer I watched from the stand that listened to the traffic, I had someone bring me to the stand with the four wheeler that day, once i was in the stand the four wheeler left, eventuallly it got back to the road and i could hear it being loaded in the truck. I heard all of that and so did the deer. If you can get the deer in your area to get accustomed to hearing a four wheeler coming in and going out with out ever being shut off I would bet you see more deer. To the deer when they hear you coming they think trouble is coming, when the four wheeler leaves they think trouble gone. Do not shut the motor off tho , let the deer concentrate on the bike. My trail camera pics also prove this method works, I have had pics of deer looking in the direction that I always approach when I come to exchange the card for the camera and then I get pics of deer right after I have gone. Try it this fall for yourself early in the year start riding into your stand, sit a few minutes with the motor running then leave. The deer will get accustomed to this activity and figure they have you patterened. Have a friend bring you in to your stand when season starts, maybe you can return the favour to your friend. I hope this helps someone get the trophy buck of there dreams.........................Shane Gulbrandsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works This method has worked for us in reverse seversl times to get someone out of a stand at dark when the deer wouldn't leave and we didn't want to spook them. Good tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HaDeRonDa Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works How many times have you seen deer in the woods and acted all friendly with them. You know, like a little kid may act to a kitten. Hello... Hi.... it's ok.. and then you keep walking. Then they go about their business. No harm done. We always walk to our stand all stealthy. Haven't we figured out yet that all predators act this way? Stealthy. Walk to your stand everytime whistling or even singing in a soft tone. You'll spook less deer and when they do see you, you may be a familiar face with that non- threatening voice they remember. So many think silience is hte key when walking to their stand and it may be in some instances but i'm willing to bet that it's not the best practice. Great tip shane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works I started a little test of my own concerning this. Mine is a bit differnet but for the same reasons. All my woods and stands are across one field or another. No way to access the back of my property where the stands are without going across said fields. I have forever gone in at o-dark:30am and tried like heck to be quiet and no flashlight, sticking to the hedge rows and ditches, etc. About 1/2 way across the fields the deer blow out of them. I then tried leaving a flashlight on purposely vs going along in the dark. They seem to be curious about the bobbing spot of light and probably can not see the human holding it as its brighter then the surroundings. I have not seen any difference in just keeping it shining on the ground in front of me or spot lighting the entire feild scanning for deer. The effect seems to be the same on the deer. As a matter of fact, I scan the fields to see if deer are out there and 100% of the time they have been and I had not bumped one deer out of my feilds by doing this. I believe I have had more morning sightings of deer coming from the fields to the bedding areas my stands cover. I still make no noise, or as little as possible, but I do not turn my flashlights off anymore. Once at the tree I do but not while walking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane G Posted June 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works It seems that anything that causes attention to itself, being by sight or noise the deer feel less threatened by it. and not thought of as a predator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HaDeRonDa Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works Vtbowman, interesting thoughts with the flashlight. I wonder how many times we all have walked right on by deer before twilight and not spooked them with a light on and they just let us walk on by. Thanks for passing this on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works I would not be surprized to see many deer just sit and watch the little light bounce on by. LOL I know one morning we had 32 "deer" before first light just sit and watch us walk in. It was amazing. Were they big bucks? Probably not. Of coarse we have very few big bucks on my property or my area at all. Deer are curious animals which this flashlight trick just uses that against them. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works Well thats sounds like a great tip thanks for sharing. I walk a good distance to my stand and have a new spot for this year and find myself wondering how to get to it without spooking deer. i dont use a four wheeler where i hunt . i have a set path to tak in my head however i have to weave in and out of woods and a corn fieldjust wish i could tella port right to it...lol. i think this is going to be a evning stand but im not sure yet we will see how the patterns change of the deer. Normaly i just keep my light low to the ground point in front of me and walk slow but steady. probably not the best way to get in but what else can i do. i have always thought when I step out of the truck and shut the door those deer are heading out that back 40 away from me becuase the old majestic big antlered one must know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gitcha_some Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works thats some really good stuff right there, good thinking guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODH Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works that's a good idea, I might try that this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works great tips thanks guys. I generally walk to my stands, I dont like using the 4wheeler cause of it spooking deer. But I do go quitley but often talking or whistling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works You are absolutely right about the deer patterning man Shane. Used to be an old buck I kind of jokingly said would watch me every morning from the woods beside the house. We do not use the 4 wheeler to ride in, but have many times considered doing just what you say riding in and dropping off right at the ladders for the stands then riding out. No human scent laid down that way, and the deer like you say are left thinking the danger has passed. We have always walked in though, but still have problems. I usually bump deer especially early season before I even get out of view of my house. The furthest stand is about 1/2 mile walk from the house. Have on several occasions considered rifle hunting during the rut from my roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works Here is a picture of where I hunted on the opening day of rifle season last year in West Virginia. In the very center of the pic is the tree that has my ladderstand in it and it is directly under the bunch of leaves that are still left on the treetops in the center. While walking with my father towards this spot from out of view to the left our lights showed 3 deer standing on the small plataeu of grass that is in the pic on the left. We could see these deer from 100-125 yds away and they simply just stood there watching us walk in and talking about them. My father continued on to his ground blind which would be behind the camera view and I walked down the slight grade along the fence to my stand. The deer stood there until I got to the dark clump of grass in the fenceline and I said out loud: "Just stand there until light comes"...about 15-20yds away from them then they just walked slowly back into the woods on the left I setup 3 Renzo's Decoys then I got in my stand and waited for shooting light. After watching 20+ deer go from left to right in this picture I grunted after 3 deer came out and stood at the edge of the woods on the left...they started walking towards my stand while feeding! I have to believe that the one I shot that morning could have been one of them that just watched me(and my flashlight) walk by! I dont think they care about lights or talking as long as you dont stop to look Hey VTBowman...I've got to rub it in a little bit This was the stand spot I was going to set you up in last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane G Posted June 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works It would seem we have all witnessed and observed how deer react to a quiet approach vrs a noisey approach. I am not saying we should all beat pots and pans on our way in and out of stands, but if you can possably drive in and out of your stands befor season and get a routine going the deer will get accustomed to that activity. Once they are on to the routine they will quickly drop there gaurd as soon as the quad leaves. I mean if you have done this say several times befor season and the deer havent encountered any hunters that day, they have no reason to be leary the first time you are in your stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works Last year at the beginning of the season, a bunch of deer decided to use the area right under my stand as a bedding spot. I would literally walk through the middle of them in the dark. They would get up and trot off about a hundred yards while I climed up into a 15 foot tripod, then they would drift back in after 30 minutes or so. One of those deer was a 3.5 year old 10 point and he was one of the worst about not running off. He'd stand there and stare at me from 50 yards in the dark without the least bit of concern. My only explanation for it is that the deer on this ranch very rarely get shot at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works That is a great tip I always though driving the 4 wheeler through the woods scares them all off to, but never thought about them being used to hearing it and not having it bother them much. Thanks for the helpful tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Re: Heres a tip that really works Interesting. Sounds like I need to go buy a 4 wheeler now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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