What is your guys opinion on whether or not deer can tell something is up if you just stare at them when they are infront of you. Kind of like how people get that "someones staring at me" feeling. Do you think deer are the same way? I know when I have deer infront of me I try to look at where there going, whats behind them and whats infront of them. I never watch them directly for too long because I think it makes them edgy, maybe im just crazy?
I never look them directly in the eye. I fully believe they can sense a threat when you make direct eye contact with them, especially for any length of time. I have had several get jumpy when doing so, and they don't stick around long. Especially mature does.
I have found that if I raise my bow in front of my face (assuming that I haven't drawn yet) I'm guessing it helps to break up my form and they don't seem to spook as quickly and I can keep looking directly at them. They do the head bob but then go on about what they were doing.
I don't look the deer in the eye because it honestly scares me to death. There isn't really a good reason behind this because I'm at least 20ft in the air and have a bow in my hand but it still scares me.
I have looked a lot of deer right in the eye just to prove there is no truth to this. In a treestand or looking out the window at my house I have never had them react when I stare at them.
The only problem I have is is sometimes when I'm staring a deer down and they are staring at me is I get tunnel vision if I don't look off soon. Other than that I keep an eye on them. I don't want them to sneak off and be setting somewhere and I didn't see where they went. Plus I'm not very good at no look bow shots.
As a predator our eyes are close together so we can judge distance. A deer knows the look of a predator Looking a deer directly in the eyes will spook it, same as you getting the stair down from a pit bull.
What he just said... Deer identify the pattern of predator eyes in their surroundings the same way you would identify a sharks fin in the water. I'm sure deer have a genetic memory of what a predators eyes look like, much more so then recognizing hunter orange or whatever camo or the fletching on your arrows. That said, deer have terrible eyesight for anything not moving. But IMHO, deer do become more skittish if you're eyes make contact.
I don't buy it.....I've stared right at multiple deer for extended periods of time before I shot them....my buck this year was directly under my treestand rubbing on a licking branch staring right at me before he turned and gave me a shot....if you stay perfectly still it doesn't matter imo....at least that's my experience.....i do hold my bow in front of my face if I can though to just to break up my outline as said
i was all unprepared on time and just got in my stand and a buck run up under me.. well i wasn't ready yet so the buck and i had a 5 min stare down before he took off. .funny thing was i didn't stare him in the eyes that whole time. .lol.. and ill never be unprepared again!!
I look at them all the time and they don't care. As long as you don't move you'll be fine. Sometimes I avoid looking them right in the eye at close range when I'm on the ground (less than 10 yards) But usually they don't care unless maybe it's a mature buck.
Whenever I have deer look up at me I squint so they can't see the whites of my eyes. Sit still, no worries.
It seems like a lot of times when they make eye contact, it puts them on edge. I`d assume its due to blinking, and possible facial movements.
I have found squinting helps a lot, because you don't have to blink. When staring with open eyes you eventually have to blink, and I've been busted because of it.
^This^ Once I see them look my way, I move my eyes downward and use my peripheral vision to watch that deer until it looks away or starts to browse again.
I try to look use peripheral vision. I don't agree with some of these guys. Most predators of deer focus their eyes on the kill, so YES, I'm sure it matters.
I do the same thing. Or try not to make eye contact in general. I think deer can get suspicious of eyes at close range, whether you are moving or not.
