These of us who’re deer hunters all have pet theories we toss round. Some are based mostly on truth, a number of on expertise, and lots of on what I name outdated yarns. Reality is, there are some deer “truths” that get tossed round each fall that don’t all the time stand the check of the hunt. Listed here are my ideas on some widespread deer-hunting myths.
1. You’ll be able to’t make noise and kill a buck
Deer are masters of the world they reside in and are keenly conscious of surprising sounds. So, a human cough, enjoying music in your telephone, or speaking loudly on a walkie talkie is normally a deal breaker. But not all noise a hunter makes within the wooden is unhealthy. In case you have ever heard deer stroll within the woods, they make noise. Particularly in leaf litter. A buck may even crack sticks and thrash brush because it strikes. I’ve skilled a number of cases when a buck has approached my place as I’ve stalked by way of the bush, making extra noise than anticipated. Whether or not the deer thinks it’s one other deer or is simply curious is tough to say. Don’t assume a cracked stick on the bottom will ship all animals operating. Generally, a deer will merely act outdoors of the extraordinary traces. One memorable time, a gaggle of us have been extracting a big buck from the bush with an ATV and never being quiet about it. Two totally different instances, a yearling buck approached us as we have been pulling the deer out. This was not an city deer. We have been approach again within the bush. I usually marvel what that little buck thought was occurring.
2. If a buck will get your wind, the hunt is over
Deer have an unimaginable sense of scent. More often than not, after they scent a hunter, they hit the street quick. But I’ve had sufficient experiences with bucks sneaking up on me from a downwind place to conclude it’s not all the time the tip of a hunt. Like many hunters, I do put on scent-absorbing clothes and can even add masking or cowl scents. The much less you scent like a human the higher. So, if the wind does swing on you, don’t assume your probability of success has disappeared. If a deer will get your scent, and snorts off by way of the woods, it is probably not gone for good. A number of instances I’ve had bucks sneak again from the identical course they winded me. Do they neglect, or is it some bizarre reverse deer psychology? Solely the deer know for positive. Backside line is that this: management your scent and watch the wind, however by no means quit on the hunt.
3. Huge grunt, huge deer
It’s fairly unimaginable how a lot the deer-calling recreation has grown in searching. Simply three a long time in the past, deer calling as a searching approach actually didn’t exist. Now, grunt tubes are a standard piece of searching gear. There are lots of calls to select from, however the most well-liked appear to be the deep, throaty grunts that imitate a dominant buck. The considering is that it’s going to name within the largest animals. Whereas that could possibly be, my expertise is the deep grunt tubes are much less engaging to many bucks than skinny, reedier sounding ones. In different phrases, if you’re attempting to draw the biggest variety of bucks, don’t use a name that may intimidate. Consider me, a giant buck will come operating if he thinks some pencil-neck deer is sneaking into his harem.
4. Bucks go darkish as soon as the hunt begins
The arrival of the path digicam has been a combined blessing for a lot of hunters. On the plus aspect, we are able to see what is occurring within the areas the place we hunt when we aren’t there. On the draw back, it may be miserable to see all these deer romping round at midnight. That night time stalking appears particularly pronounced after the hunt begins. However are huge bucks solely shifting at night time as soon as the hunt is on? Whereas it could possibly appear that approach, take into accout the place a whole lot of these cameras are situated. Most hunters place them on their searching websites, usually close to a gap, subject, or meals plot. Deer are good at detecting areas the place people are frequenting and can get cautious. Huge bucks — significantly these chasing does — will probably be on the transfer in the course of the day. They simply gained’t be roaming round within the open and in identified searching areas. Not less than not persistently. That is once you would possibly need to slip into the again woods and sit in opposition to a tree in a swamp. Whereas not as comfy as blind or tree stand, the hunter who actually desires to show the tables of a giant buck would possibly need to get away from the standard spots. Deep within the woods is the place to be to search out daytime bucks in the course of the hunt.
5. Human urine scares deer
Pee jars are widespread in blinds and tree stands for varied causes. I’m not recommending doing in any other case right here. However a few years in the past, on an American searching present, I noticed a really compelling case in opposition to the necessity to include human urine. The host ate a giant steak, smoked a cigar, after which went to his stand. He wanted to urinate and did so in a jar. He then dumped these contents onto the bottom beneath his stand. Unhealthy for enterprise…proper? Effectively. As he would additionally present, a buck arrived a few half hour later and began sniffing the bottom. In a while, one other buck arrived and did the identical factor. Don’t flip your stand into a toilet, however don’t assume that you’ve got defiled your stand since you had an excessive amount of espresso.
Deer are the wiliest and most difficult animal in Ontario. Hold centered and keep within the recreation, even once you suppose it’s over. You is likely to be shocked how briskly your luck can change.
Initially revealed within the Fall 2021 situation of Ontario OUT of DOORS Journal
Senior Editor Gord Ellis is a journalist, radio broadcaster, photographer, {and professional} angler based mostly in Thunder Bay.
Attain Gord at: mail@oodmag.com; Twitter: @GordEllis.
