I've noticed that while in the saddle and waiting on deer, if a squirrel spots me and becomes spooked, that gently swaying (swinging from the tether) seems to calm him down very quickly. In almost 40 years of hunting from stands it seems to me that once a squirrel (or a few) get wigged out over my presence just remaining motionless or wiggling a single finger to imitate a little critter doesn't do much to shut 'em up... it seems more like they just forget what they were freaked out about over time and go back to their business.
For some reason the gentle rocking/swaying motion seems to calm them more quickly. I have all kinds of ideas as to why, but I've stopped trying to figure out what's in any animal's head.
For some reason the gentle rocking/swaying motion seems to calm them more quickly. I have all kinds of ideas as to why, but I've stopped trying to figure out what's in any animal's head.