Deer remain among the trickiest animals known to hunters. This is true because of their senses which you must devise ways to negate. In this article, we have featured three deer senses every hunter needs to know and how you can make them work to your advantage.
Table of Contents
Sense of Sight
Studies show that deer possess a peripheral vision that ranges between 250 degrees to 270degrees. This wider angle of vision helps them scan the bushes and timely spot a predator’s movement. Remaining unseen by a deer that you are hunting is relatively easy.
Always remain still when on the stand, and if you must move, do it slowly. Instead of walking through an open field, walk against anything that might hide you from a deer’s prying eyes. Preferably, walk in a ditch or along the edge.
Can you use deer’s sense of sight to your advantage? Sure, you can with the help of deep decay. You can place a decoy in an open field to attract your target deer.
Sense of Hearing
Deer also have a strong sense of hearing which every hunter must know. They come in two forms: natural and unnatural. Deer are accustomed to natural sounds. These include sounds produced by birds, squirrels, and the wind.
Unnatural sounds are sounds that deer are not accustomed to such as your walking pace, coughs, or sound from disturbing leaves or other animals. Being quiet while walking on your hunting location is imperative to success. Try not to bang anything and if possible, hold your coughs.
Can you users hear of sight to your advantage? Yes. You can mimic natural sounds that deer are accustomed to. For example, a fawn-in-distress or fawn bleat call will attract deer that often come in looking for a fight.
Sense of Smell
A deer’s sense of smell is better than that of human beings. A deer can smell your presence, the place you had recently passed, as well as how long ago you were there. It is therefore very important to control your own odor when hunting. Because of these animals’ strong sense of smell, it is recommended you ‘play the wind.’ Your body continually produces a unique smell, so you should position yourself in a hunting location where the wind blows your smell away from the target deer or to unproductive areas.
Can you use deer’s sense of smell to your advantage? Definitely. There are different types of scents that you can use to attract deer. These include food-related cover scents such as persimmon and acorn odors. Urine is also another common cent that you can use to attract deer.