I made mention of this on the live from the stand thread earlier. I went out to my property this morning, got up in the stand and started waiting. I was sitting their minding my own business, when all of a sudden, from about 40 yds. I heard a buck (assuming) make an extremely loud blow. To try and paint the picture for you, it sounded like a whale blowing water from his blow hole. It was loud. It actually startled me when it happened. Being the rookie that I am, I quickly turned my head to look (rather than slowly). I couldn't see anything as it was still quite dark. So what do I do? I grab my deer call, and I mimick the sound back at him. (did I do right or wrong). One quick loud blow. He blew back at me again, I saw some leaves rustle and he was gone. I never got a glimpse of him but from the sound of him, he sounds large. Now, I've had trailcams out for the better part of 2 months, I've never got a single picture of a buck. fast forward to late morning today, I hear a faint bleat from about 50 yds. I bleat back, within 10 minutes or so, I see this little lady walk into my killzone. (She got a pass today, just too small). Checked my trail cam pics when I got home today, this same doe has been traveling with her mother until today (coincidentally, the same day I have my arrow nocked.) So here are my questions. 1. I googled the buck sound....It says that it's a warning to other bucks, but it can also be used to keep a breeding doe in line. Do you think he busted me? Do you think it was a coincidence and I just assumed he was talking to me? 2. I'm in MI...Do you think it's too early for the buck to start chasing the does around? And is that possibly why the small doe isn't with it's mother anymore? 3. Did I screw up by repeating the call to him? What should be my next steps, if any? I'm going back out everyday until Friday. Sorry for the longwinded post, just trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible. As always, any help is greatly appreciated. Here's a pic of the small doe. I threw out a bunch of carrots, and some CRUSH beet attractant. Let's just say the carrots worked pretty well.
You were busted, happens all the time. And it could have easily been a doe also, they will blow the same way, not just bucks
I had a doe make that exact sound at me after I sent an arrow underneath her belly. She was pi55ed! Ha ha. I would have heard her blow a half a mile away. Good thing it was at the end of the day because my hunt was over after that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
First deer I killed with a bow was 30 minutes after her and another deer blew at each other for five min. Sometimes they blow cause the see something and don't know what it is. If I can see the deer I will blow back, I've had does circle around me back and forth trying to figure me out. If I can't see the deer I don't know what it is blowing at, could be another deer. So I sit very still and wait . Good luck.
I would say you could have a productive sit in the same blind but the deer that busted you will not be there. If there are other deer that frequent the same area but are not on the same patterns as the one that busted you, they may show up tomorrow. On some of the properties I hunt, there are many small herds within the same home range. Different deer show up in the same exact place at different times. I remember last season I got busted right when I settled into my stand at about 5:30am. I stumbled and tripped and barreled my way to the stand (not on purpose though, my headlamp batteries quit on me within the first 20 yards of my trek). She must have been about 10 yards from my tree, and even though my uncoordinated attempts to enter with stealth didnt scare her, she caught my scent and let out the loudest blow I've ever heard and thundered off. I must have jumped about two feet off my seat it startled me so bad. I shook for an hour after that.
It was very likely a doe that cut your wind. Not that bucks wont snort, but its an alarm signal and does do it ALL the time to warn other deer of danger.
True dat... And what you googled was most likely the snort wheeze, very different meaning and somewhat different sound to what you encountered.
I had it happen to me tonight and shot a doe about a hour later. It doesn't always mean you'll have a bad sit.
I got busted by a small 3 pointer opening weekend and I never knew bucks blew at you I always thought that was s doe thing it blew my mind lol I learn something new everytime I go in the woods
Yeah you got busted. I will give my opinion on deer blowing. I feel deer will most likely blow at you when they catch your wind. I mean dont get me wrong, they will blow at you if they see your movement as well, but it seems not until the deer has ran off and got downwind of you.
Congratulations on being busted by your scent for the first time! Itll happen many more times! Usually be a big mature doe. Many times they'll stand at a distance and blow and blow and blow.
It means the same as "Aloha." Same word with a dozen possible meanings. Most often it means... I smell something I don't like. Though it may sometimes mean... hey ya'll... watch this! Either way, don't give up, stay put... I have had deer come in to investigate... blowing every few steps.
A doe busted me at 730 am yesterday, I harvested the same doe at 530pm yesterday evening. It doesn't necessarily kill that spot, it's just a lesson they teach you. Now you know another direction they will come from lol. Next time don't blow back at them that blow is a warning to other deer that there is danger or something off in the area and time to GTFO.
Just because you get busted and the deer is blowing doesnt mean that your hunt is over. It doesnt mean that it has scared away/warned all the deer in the area. Sunday morning I was walking into my stand and kicked up a deer that I couldnt see. It went crashing away as I kicked myself for not being quieter and it blew for about 5 minutes at me. I got on my stand and about 5 minutes later a 2 1/2 year old 9 pointer walked out to within 8 yards of me. He definitely seemed on edge and was looking towards the area where the deer was blowing about 5 minites before that. You just never know when a deer is going to present itself.
