One Less

[Tom Flanigan]

Deer are very in tune with what occurs in their habitat. They can pattern hunters and probably predators. Hunt from a particular stand too many times and they will avoid the area. I’ve experienced it many times years ago before I knew better. It’s why I never overhunt a stand and have multiple stands that I can use. When hunting the fields, I never leave if there are deer still feeding. My goal is not to spook them and make them aware I am in the area. Sometimes I have to sit till well after dark before I leave a field if the deer are still out. If you spook them a few times from a field they most likely will avoid it.

As far as gunshots, some run when they hear them, others don’t. A shot that is very close usually scares them. However, this year, while bow hunting, I was watching a three and a half year old buck with five does in the field with him. He had a wide nine point rack and was feeding his way toward me. I decided to take him if he came within thirty yards.

There is a horse farm on the southern side of the property about a quarter of a mile away. Someone decided to shoot a pistol. At the first shot, all heads went up. At the second shot, the buck bolted for the woods and the does followed him. Gunshots usually do scare deer, depending on the distance, although I was puzzled that they still bolted given the remoteness of the shots.