Sticks, Aiders, Saddles vs the deer’s senses.

[bigjoe]

[QUOTE="huck72412, post: 69833, member: 258I'll ask " are you upset about something "? To that she immediately replies "I'm fine" . I guess we don't really know too much based on visual clues and body language etc.[/QUOTE]

That must be a wife thing

 

[Dakotablues]

I most definitely believe an aider flapping in the wind that was "new" to that deer could easily alert it enough to make it change course. I also think it has a lot to do with the location of the new interaction. Cameras are more readily tolerated near feeding fields for example than deep in bedding areas. Scent has a lot to do with that too, and the cameras do make minor noise when they fire. As you get closer and closer to hunting those reclusive areas, ANYTHING out of place is going to gain a mature buck's attention IMO.

A long-term habitat guy here in Michigan told me a funny analogy, but it really hit home.

Suppose you leave your house one morning, get on the local freeway, and a mile after you're on the freeway the car in front of you flicks a cigarette out the window. It gains your attention for a second, but no big deal. Now suppose you return home after work, and you head out to get the mail from the mailbox, and you notice a cigarette butt on the ground there (and you don't smoke, nor do your family members). This certainly gets your attention, much more so. Now you head on inside, and there is a cigarette butt on the counter. You are on HIGH alert - something is completely wrong! Same item in every case, but where you see something unusual is a VERY important part of the assessment you make about the item. I truly believe deer are no different. Applies to scent as well obviously.

 

[g2outdoors]

I most definitely believe an aider flapping in the wind that was "new" to that deer could easily alert it enough to make it change course. I also think it has a lot to do with the location of the new interaction. Cameras are more readily tolerated near feeding fields for example than deep in bedding areas. Scent has a lot to do with that too, and the cameras do make minor noise when they fire. As you get closer and closer to hunting those reclusive areas, ANYTHING out of place is going to gain a mature buck's attention IMO.

A long-term habitat guy here in Michigan told me a funny analogy, but it really hit home.

Suppose you leave your house one morning, get on the local freeway, and a mile after you're on the freeway the car in front of you flicks a cigarette out the window. It gains your attention for a second, but no big deal. Now suppose you return home after work, and you head out to get the mail from the mailbox, and you notice a cigarette butt on the ground there (and you don't smoke, nor do your family members). This certainly gets your attention, much more so. No you head on inside, and there is a cigarette butt on the counter. You are on HIGH alert - something is completely wrong! Same item in every case, but where you see something unusual is a VERY important part of the assessment you make about the item. I truly believe deer are no different.

That's a good analogy and I think it holds a lot of weight. It's always been my opinion that ladders and climbing sticks that have been hanging for months draw no attention. I think a rutting buck outside of his area, wouldn't notice them more than likely. I believe the issue arises when the deer is familiar with the area and notices new sticks/aiders/ladders/whatever.

 

[pilgrimhunter]

That does make sense. Makes me really think about Spurs where legal.

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[BassBoysLLP]

That does make sense. Makes me really think about Spurs where legal.

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It is very difficult to beat spurs IMHO.

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[g2outdoors]

I certainly haven't found a method that beats spurs. I HATED my spurs the first half dozen times I used them. I was nervous and scared. Once I got the hang of it, I realized how effective they are. You can really take your time, go slow, be quiet, and still climb a tree in less than 5 minutes.

 

[Sipsey]

I remember reading an article about a guide that put dressed dummies in his permanent stands. He left them there all year and routinely walked to each stand and back on a regular basis before the season. His success rate for clients was very good. Since most of us don’t have that sort of time, we take the opposite approach.
There are a variety of hunting styles that will work, we each eventually adopt till we find one that works for our physique, budget and time.

 

[Apex7]

I agree that we can't rule out the wind... Ever. But in some scenarios, like my second, it is way more likely the deer saw something...not for sure, not certainly, and not definitely, but probably.

I think experienced hunters generally know what went wrong when they get busted. The deer usually give it away based on their body language and reactions. Of course there are exceptions, but I believe that to be generally true.



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It's hard to say what the deer saw or smelled. But to take a guess I would lean toward smell. Its amazing how little scent a deer needs to go on alert.

 

[Chistavocat]

Last year I was hunting one of my best rut spots. From sunrise until 11am I saw 12 bucks. 2 were repeats. Most of the action was 150yds from my location, down the creek I was sitting along, which gave me a good visual lane. The action slowed so I decided to move to the hot spot. I snuck in and set up. Once at hunting height I noticed I was only a few feet from a well used trail. I would have set up back farther if I had spotted it. The wind was from the trail to me, so I stayed. A while later a buck came down the trail towards me at a fast walk with nose to the ground. He raised his head and froze, looking at my 3 step aider hanging on the tree he had probably passed numerous times. Immediately he turned and snuck away. Curiosity got the best of him as he circled to take another look, giving me a 35 yd shot. He didn’t cross my sent on the ground because I entered from along the creek and he didn’t wind me because the wind was from the trail to me. He saw my sticks and more likely the aiders. It wasn’t even windy so they were still. He immediately spotted something out of place.
I need to do a good camo job on my muddys and I will re-make my aider so that I can use one and carry it up with me. (Thanks DaveT for that idea)


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[DaveT1963]

Last year I was hunting one of my best rut spots. From sunrise until 11am I saw 12 bucks. 2 were repeats. Most of the action was 150yds from my location, down the creek I was sitting along, which gave me a good visual lane. The action slowed so I decided to move to the hot spot. I snuck in and set up. Once at hunting height I noticed I was only a few feet from a well used trail. I would have set up back farther if I had spotted it. The wind was from the trail to me, so I stayed. A while later a buck came down the trail towards me at a fast walk with nose to the ground. He raised his head and froze, looking at my 3 step aider hanging on the tree he had probably passed numerous times. Immediately he turned and snuck away. Curiosity got the best of him as he circled to take another look, giving me a 35 yd shot. He didn’t cross my sent on the ground because I entered from along the creek and he didn’t wind me because the wind was from the trail to me. He saw my sticks and more likely the aiders. It wasn’t even windy so they were still. He immediately spotted something out of place.
I need to do a good camo job on my muddys and I will re-make my aider so that I can use one and carry it up with me. (Thanks DaveT for that idea)


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It was a joint effort. But I fully agree with your assessment.... there is no doubt in my mind that older bucks will notice new things showing up in their core area.... especially if it is moving