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Hunting when getting busted by deer

meyeri

meyeri

PMA Member
I was reading the other day about how deer have a gland that releases a scent when they are alarmed to alert other deer in the area.

This being said there have been days I have been busted or bumped deer and still saw plenty deer shortly thereafter. Other times I have been busted and not seen anything the rest of the day.

I'm sure there are a lot of variables that factor into whether the scent alerts other deer or not, but what experiences have you guys had? If you do get busted and the deer blows multiple times do you move to a new spot?

Thoughts?
 
I got busted earlier this year and the doe blew 47 times.. counted them all but she would not leave the field and she was under 20 yards the entire time just couldn't get a shot. Didn't seem to bother the two other deer in the field either.
 
I have heard that as well. I've been busted several times (who hasn't!), with deer blowing as well as just turning around and running off. I'm in the same boat, sometimes I see other deer come thru and others I don't see anything at all. I usually just stick it out for the rest of the hunt. I suppose if it was a morning hunt, I might consider moving for the afternoon, but a lot of times if I wait long enough, something else comes along. A lot of times if it's an afternoon hunt, by the time the deer come thru and bust me, there really isn't much time left to move anyway.

On a related note, I've heard that if a deer busts you or you spook it, it will take 3 days for it to get comfortable with that spot again. The presence of food would probably help reduce that. And I'm not sure if that is the truth, but it was what one long time hunter told me several years ago, based on his experience.
 
Good question, I think based on a variety of scenarios there are multiple, and possibly very different answers to your question from my experience. I have seen the same deer return to a field after being spooked out of it probably as soon as 30 minutes later. I have also seen specific deer get spooked off an area and that is the last time you see them there in the daylight.

For the most part though, I do not think the hunt is over because of a given deer snorting nearby. True, that is not what you want at all, but it is not necessarily the end of the hunt. Years ago, I had a deer snorting at me and I started snorting back and we kept it up until she walked back down the hill into bow range. The only thing that saved her then was my bad shooting. :D

But for the most part, mature bucks will not tolerate disturbances that they can associate with humans.
 
A replay of my hunt this Nov. Doe leading the 4yr old buck. She spotted me. Crained her neck around, started to stiff leg/stomp. I figured a snort was next, but luckily she did not. The love sick buck however was not affected by stomping,,unlucky for him.:D
 
During late season when hunting over good food it seems like they always come back. On Jan. 7th I hunted a new spot... walked out there, looked for sign and set up where I thought would be good. It wasnt and 3 different times I had small groups of deer walk up behind me, spot my blind, blow and go. I decided to get up after the 3rd time and go for a walk. When I got out of the blind I looked behind me and there was yet another group of 3 walking up.
 
Daver said:
Good question, I think based on a variety of scenarios there are multiple, and possibly very different answers to your question from my experience. I have seen the same deer return to a field after being spooked out of it probably as soon as 30 minutes later. I have also seen specific deer get spooked off an area and that is the last time you see them there in the daylight.

For the most part though, I do not think the hunt is over because of a given deer snorting nearby. True, that is not what you want at all, but it is not necessarily the end of the hunt. Years ago, I had a deer snorting at me and I started snorting back and we kept it up until she walked back down the hill into bow range. The only thing that saved her then was my bad shooting. :D

But for the most part, mature bucks will not tolerate disturbances that they can associate with humans.
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Yep, One thing to keep in my guys.. Is that you may see more deer that night.. But over the course of the next couple of days your sightings will drop. The scent secreted by deer and your own scent act as a 'DO NOT ENTER' Zone. It basically tells other deer in the other that there is trouble or trouble was here.. They will naturally begin to avoid the area over time. That's why it's so important to make sure your boots are clean with scent elimination spray or masked with some kind of cover scent. It has been documented that deer who come across even a stick that was touched by a human will start to blow, stomp and begin to flee the area..

Another thing you can do is buy a snort call. When you hear a deer that blows at you.. Snort back at the deer and it will make anything that is alerted think there is another deer in your direction. It'll make them stay an extra couple of seconds and the deer may begin to calm down..
 
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