Deer University
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
N8tureBoy's Link
Hi guys. These are some very good podcasts from MSU. I have been listening to them on commute to work for the past couple of weeks. Very informative.
Hope you guys like it. I have learned a lot. If you play it back at 1.5x speed, the southern accents sound closer to peeps from Connecticut...
N8tureBoy's Link
This is another good site from PA. Tons of podcasts and info about wildlife research including info on GPS collared deer and their travel habits and response to hunting pressure, etc. There is a library of old info and a link on the page if you want to subscribe to future podcasts.
Deer are simple animals and creatures of habit. They are not smart as one person has stated, they base everything they do on one thing,.....survival.
Remove their food source and they will relocate to another feeding area. Remove their bedding area and they will relocate to find another. Add pressure to them in one area of their home range, and they move to other side of their home range. Deer do not get on a bus and drive miles away when hunting pressure occurs.
I've stated several times that finding a back door to the area you want to hunt is a huge advantage. Why? Because I allow the pressure of other hunters or dog walkers to "naturally" move the deer in my direction. If you're hunting an area where you're restricted in your stand locations, like someone's backyard, then your success is limited by your ability to move, it's not because the deer are smarter than you. I think most of us that have hunted for more than a season or two understand how to do the dance. It's not rocket surgery or brain science :)
True BBB... But it's still interesting seeing actual science that may indicate additional info to consider. Winter range shifting, rut travels, pressure impact etc... Some neat stuff to be learned.