I have read about it for so long, but it was not until this fall that I have started to believe. I pass this field (click on photos) on the way to and from my Huntsville home on a daily basis. Like clockwork, there are deer on this field between 5:30 and 6:30pm. It would seem that this would part of their ‘routine’ (I hate to use a human word for this). This leads me to consider two thoughts.
1. How do deer know when it is time to hit this field at around the same time every day?
2. If these deer have a routine, then I can only assume the deer where I hunt have a similar routine or instinct.
Leaving thought #1 for the deer philosophers, my second thought excites me about our upcoming 2006 deer hunt. Scouting out deer trails and sign will take up most of my time before our hunt. Fortunately, our moose season starts next week and that will be when I will take the time to take mental note on when the trails are being used or where and when I see a deer on my way to a moose watch.
Deer will probably still be in their normal routine opening Monday (or early during the first week) before the shooting starts. If I watch those areas I see the deer sign (tracks, sightings, droppings) early on, I may be able to surprise a deer out of it’s routine. It may mean that you keep the dogs (if you hunt with them) at bay until mid-week of your hunt. Dogs may cause the deer to enter their stealth mode and very quickly exit your property.
End of routine.
Nothing new for you veterans out there, but it is starting to sink in to a rookie like me.
Bill Anderson
Muskoka Outdoors
