I wouldn't think so...maybe they caught wind of you?

 

I think they winded you.

If your heart was going that fast, how fast were you breathing? When I first took up bowhunting, I know one of the first times I had deer come in, I was so excited, I think they might of heard me breathing hard. But the deer were alot closer, in maybe 7-10 yards from me. Wow that was fun! And keeps me coming back!

Good luck!

 

Sounds like they winded you.

 

I agree that they most likely winded you although I have seen deer startled by other aninmals in the woods. The difference is that they may jump and move a bit but would not have left the area. One of the biggest lesson for most to learn when starting to bowhunt is to not underestimate their sense of smell. They are incredible with their sense of smell. While at times they may not be alarmed by what they smell there are other times and other deer that react to every smell of humans. That shoudl serve as a constant reminder to you to take proper care to eliminate as much scent as possible and more importantly to situate yourself where you stand the best chance of your scent being blown away from the incoming deer.

 

I would 2nd the wind, a **** may spook them a little but I do not think they would bust out of there like that over a ****. I was out last night also and had a real nice 8 come in to tend a scrape. The wind was pretty much in my favor the whole afternoon but it shifted just slightly for a second and he could just a little whiff and melted into the brush before I could get a decent shot.

 

hey catfish..I would also agree with wind.

On a side note..work on slowing your breating and if possible your heart rate or all your hard work to get a deer into 10-20 yards will be a loss if you cant get good and relaxed for the shot.

I use to get wayyyy to excited and have wasted many opertunities in my youner years of hunting because i would loose my head on the shot.

I also FIRMLY believe even though you may have the wind in your favor, i believe deer can sense your excitemtent. Have you ever had that feeling someone is watching you, you look back and there was?

Ever watch the Dog whisper? When he talks about "Energy". You know they say a dog can sense fear. It is a proven fact. A calm asertive vibe from an owner will put a dog in the perfect CALM SUBMISSIVE state of mind. (If you havent watched that show..do it..its AMAZING!!)

I firmly believe deer have this ability. Its just something they sense. I dont know how many deer over the years i have seen simply just get nervous or stand and just do the blank stare move...even with the wind in my face, you can tell they know something is just not right. Its up to you to fight that vibe you are putting off. Many times it means the difference from them wagging their tail quickly signaling all that the coast is clear..its ok to feed....or the stomp will start..and off they go. Like some others have said, many times the deer know your there, its just weather or not they choose to except that fact and feel safe. A calm passive energy in the stand often can make the difference. I have even many times when I get does in front of me (when buck hunting) I will even look the other way and quit staring at them haaaa..think of my kids..golf..anything to take my mind out of that "Pumped up half freaked out there are deer in front of me" state of mind !! lol I want to keep them in the area..in a calm feeding mindset. Bucks can see and read those ladies body language from a long way away. Expecially in a field edge setting. You want those girl content and displaying a possotive vibe so mr big will waltz in for a "piece of tail" and hopefully the end of you arrow!!

What i have done over the years is when i start seeing deer, I instantly get excited...but also instantly start fighting it. Work on your breathing.. take nice big long breaths with the exhale..let that "Excited energy" drain. You can honestly feel it leave your body.... and I have seen it calm a group of deer many times.

Some may call me a WHACKO...but i have seen it time and time again if I am calm..the deer are calm.

PR

 

I was watching deer feed on a corn pile for about 20 minutes once and then a flock of turkey come running through the woods and they took off before the turkeys were in sight, but a flock of turkeys make a little more noise the a ****

 

***** will run deer off i had it happen to me a couple of times. i hung my stand in a new spot and not 50 yards away was a den tree. had 6 does coming down the fence row to me and the ***** started climbing the tree to den and those deer just turned and ran the other way and they were about 200 yards out straight up wind. another time during the rut i had couple of does feeding wihtin 20 yards of me and then this crunching comes from the thicket where the big bucks like to bed down so i grab my bow and think here is coming right to me and i'll be damned if it wasn't another **** turned to look at the does and they were gone took off so fast I don't know wehre they went. do like i did if this occurs more often spend a couple of nights **** hunting and problem solved.

 

I am by no means an experienced hunter but I didn't see something in your post which always happens to me when I get busted.

First of all did you get to hear the Whew-Whew call from the lead doe?

And secondly when they ran off was it a fast trot or a boing-boing tail in the air run??

If they just briskly walked off they probably sensed something was up but didn't know what and knew they needed to leave. If you heard the blow and the tails were up you were busted, I would think you may want to leave that spot alone for about a week. Just my inexperienced opinion. Someone please correct me if I am wrong as I am also trying to learn here.

 

My heart was beating fast and I was excited but, I was breathing calm, deep breaths and didnt move at all....When they ran the lead doe just turned and ran...Then the others turned and ran as soon as she did...


I figured that they winded me but I wasnt sure...

 

Wow, this brings up a great topic for me to contribute to. in my past years of bowhunting, i have seen and been close to many many deer, as have most of you.

When it comes to "buck fever"/"excited anxiety" as soon as i begin to sense it, i immeadiatly begin to tell myself:
"you gotta calm down, you gotta sit still, and you gotta keep your wits Casey"...
"if you move, or breath any harder, these deer will be gone, and you might as well go home and watch football."
" i know these deer are intimidating and exciting to see, but you cant afford to waste hours of sitting, just because you cant handle the presence of a wild animal"

I also think of myself as a bit BONKERZ but im sure you all talk to yourselves in your head when your in the woods. its good for you, it keeps you alert, it helps you to organize. and its your best friend when the time comes for a shot.

When im faced with excitement, i repeatedly tell myself to calm DOWN!!
I've had Does look right in my direction and Smell me, yet somehow they cant pinpoint me and go back to feeding because im not giving them any clues as to where i am/what i am.

And when i comes to *****, It has happened a few times when im hunting in my favorite swamp timber, when a family of ***** comes down a tree, (mabye smelling the **** p*ss on my boots) and spooking seemingly calm deer immediatly. i dont know what it is, but the way i see it is, when were not watching, what kind of disputes/rivalrys/instinct do these larger animals have between each other.

Even an experienced hunter has trouble keeping his/her cool(especially with boomers, or when the deer senses danger), but it("calmness") is very important. it takes complete stealth, and "statue-ness" to get deer within reasonable bow range.

Most hunters know the consequences that come with "buck fever/disruptive excitement".
Good Luck to All. sorry i had to ramble/rant

 

I have pics on my game cam of ***** feeding side by side with deer. Same with opossums.

 

Pure River,

I liek what you wrote about the deer senceing the energy we put off. I really like that and I think you are 100% right.

 

glad you said it first pureriver, I never wanted to sound nuts...

 

The other night my boy and I were sitting in a stand overlooking the edge of a bean field and there was a doe and twin yearlings grazing right alongside a groundhog. They were up the field a little ways but I don't think they were more that 6-8 feet from each moving about. I think once they know what the other animal is making the raucous entering the woods they are fine being around each other. It is the way that sometimes the smaller creatures stumble in sounding much larger than they are that startles the deer.

 

I talk to myself as well..as long as I dont start answering myself I think I will be ok!! HAAAAAAAAA

But you are exactly right..you have to do what it takes. It is what seperates the superstars from the "so-so's"

We tend to take our brains and the power they have for granted. I'm an avid golfer and I see the same thing on the golf course. I can stand on the range and stick a ball on the pin time and time again..but being able to carry that blank confidence onto the course it a whole other monster.

Something about that 150 yard shot all carry water to an island green really seems to mess with your head. Same with when you hear a twig break, look up and here he comes!! those who have the ability to control their mind are a major step ahead of the rest.

I really struggled with this when i was younger. You sit out there for hours freezing your butt off for that 10 second chance only to blow it because you cant control your mind.

I have been able to "talk myself down" in recent years which has dramitically increased my success rate.

"Its just a target...relax....let him come..its just a target...you got this!!

PR

 

haha, i know what you mean... i spent some time with a sports psychologist for my golf game! now i really sound nuts