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Woodsmanship - Other Animals

I think the coyote thing is very situational. Did he see the coyote from across an open field, or smell it sneaking up from behind him in his bedding area? Is the area loaded with yotes, or do they just pass through every once in a while? Is there an abundance of other prey around for the coyotes to eat? Are there other predators in the area? Are we talking about the jack russell sized coyotes out west or the German Shepard sized ones in the Northeast?
 
I’ve heard that bit about squirrels having different vocalizations for “in the air” vs “on the ground” threats. But I don’t have the experience to confirm or debunk it. I do know that blue jays and mocking birds will stir up a ruckus when anything at all comes around. I tend to pay more attention to how long that ruckus lasts, if nothing else just to keep myself from whipping my head around at every bird noise.
 
If I hear squirrels start barking (red, gray, black or fox) a little ways off, I pay attention, something is moving and has them on edge.

Bluejays are the "tattletale of the woods". If they start going crazy, I pay attention.

I've had deer kick up grouse, so if one comes flying thru like his tail feathers are on fire, I pay attention.

Turkeys and deer will eat some of the same foods and frequent some of the same areas, so if there are calm turkeys nearby (that word is relative, nearby doesn't mean right on top of me) I know the animals are not on alert. I have on MANY occasions walked in and used a turkey call to sound like a bird walking thru the woods. Cluck or yelp a little, scratch in the leaves, works good.
 
I havent seen deer spooked by squirrels unless it is combined with birds or other animals. More of a several variable thing imo. I hate a barking squirrel by me though. Any sudden noise is gonna make them look that way. Got something for em this year though. Suppressed buckmark. Pot getting filled one way or another.
 
For the geometrically inclined; squirrels are squares and deer are rectangles. Meaning a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square. Once you’ve spent enough time hunting deer you can hear a squirrel and think it’s a deer, but when you hear a deer you KNOW it’s a deer.
 
dalton916 said:
For the geometrically inclined; squirrels are squares and deer are rectangles. Meaning a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square. Once you’ve spent enough time hunting deer you can hear a squirrel and think it’s a deer, but when you hear a deer you KNOW it’s a deer.
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You're on a roll today. That sums it up wonderfully.
 
dalton916 said:
For the geometrically inclined; squirrels are squares and deer are rectangles. Meaning a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square. Once you’ve spent enough time hunting deer you can hear a squirrel and think it’s a deer, but when you hear a deer you KNOW it’s a deer.
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What is an armadillo?
 
dalton916 said:
For the geometrically inclined; squirrels are squares and deer are rectangles. Meaning a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square. Once you’ve spent enough time hunting deer you can hear a squirrel and think it’s a deer, but when you hear a deer you KNOW it’s a deer.
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Very true

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
 
Weldabeast said:
What is an armadillo?
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Spawn of Satan.

I hunted a WMA down below Tuscabammerville back in ‘93 and my nerves were shot after the first day because of those dang things. We’re starting to get them now and as God is my witness I will kill every single one I ever see. Every. Single. One.
 
Patriot said:
What about a coyote or two trotting around the area? I had a great field in the middle of the woods I was hunting last year and every hunt I saw a lot of deer except the morning that two coyotes trotted through the field. Was that just a coincidence or do coyotes kill your hunt?
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My first year archery hunting I got in a tree at pre dawn and five minutes later a lone coyote came by right underneath my stand and then left through the field I was watching. An hour later a buck came up the hill and he got real edgy when he crossed the coyotes trail. I think that is why he dropped enough to only get a little haircut that day. He was at 22 yes and had no idea i was there.
A few years ago i watched a coyote come down the hill by me and get a drink. All of a sudden he got still and looked hard in one direction. The next thing i saw was a white tail bounding off. He scared my deer away! I let him go anyway.
 
Nutterbuster said:
Ornithology is a secondary hobby of mine. I can identify all of our native birds and probably 90% of our migrants. I am usually bird-watching to some extent if I'm in the stand.
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An ornithologist that doesn't carry binoc's? Blasphemous!
 
OspreyZB said:
I've seen red winged black birds harass deer. They're extremely territorial. Particularly during their nesting season in the summer, but I saw a lone male red winged black bird dive bombing a nice buck in tall marsh grass last October. I don't think I would have seen the buck if I didn't look to see what the bird was messing with.

A couple years ago I was walking back to my truck on the main hiking trail after a late October morning hunt and heard a bunch of bluejays going nuts in a tree up ahead. I was walking at a brisk pace, looking up at the blue jays. When I got under the tree they were in I looked down and was face to face with a giant buck (for my area) standing there with a doe, about 20 yards broadside. He stood there staring at me like a dummy while I fumbled around trying to knock an arrow until the doe bolted, taking him with her. Now I ALWAYS pay attention when I hear blue jays harassing something.
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Blue jays have been an alarm system for me my entire hunting career. I actually had a small buck come by me 4 times in 5 days one year and the blue jays sounded off about 5 to ten minutes before I saw him every time. I think they were squawking when he got out of bed because I saw him 10 to 15 minutes before dark every time.
 
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