Thread: Deer seen mainly directly ahead

When bush stalking I would say that around three-quarters of the deer (red) encountered are directly ahead of me - level with me on the game trail I'm sidling on, though I estimate that this accounts for no more than 15% of the visible ground covered given there is 5-25m visibility left/right, above/below, all well tracked. Area is south-eastern Ruahines in the open 500-800m belt.

Is this the usual experience please ? Any explanation for it ?

I would say because you are traveling on a game trail and because you are looking mostly ahead.

I often wonder how many I have walked past.

When they're Sika, they enjoy telling you are blind you are, then they tell the rest of world what they think of you.
If you're hunting into the wind, and you're at the right height, they should be in front of you.

I've walked past a few deer and later heard them crash off behind me. Makes sense your seeing them ahead if your following a game trail, its like driving on a motorway.

was guiding a yank in the haurangis,,i lead for a start just to give him a pointer and after we had walked past a mahoe tree i turned around to him and pointed out the tree with my finger to say that it was a favourite of deer and lo and behold there was a deer feeding in the branches at the end of my pointing finger fifteen yrds away and we had walked underneath the silly thing

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I would say because you are traveling on a game trail and because you are looking mostly ahead.

I often wonder how many I have walked past.

+1 We walk past many bush stalking without knowing it, be it if they seen or know we there or don't, I have no doubt about that. Like Veitnamcam said you travelling on a game trail and its likely that you going to see deer forward of you. If you stop more often, and look around (esp with fresh sign) you might be surprised how many animals you see above, below, out to the side, some sneaking out etc etc

Suppose you stalk for 1 km in the feed belt.
You search an area of bush 1 km long and 40 m wide. One 40m x 20m chunk at a time. Most of the area you see is in front of you when it first becomes visible.
Areas behind you have already been disturbed so you're much less likely to see a deer behind even if you spend half your time looking there.

Minor factors:
You will spend more time looking ahead than to the side, as you look for your footing and route finding.
Deer in front of you have less time to spot you or to decide to depart than those on the sides because you approach directly towards them, not obliquely.
Wind should be in your favour (if lucky) more often in front than to the sides or behind.
You will tend to move towards good deer spots due to your hunting skills.
You will tend to move towards clearer areas with better visibility because they are easier to move quietly through. Because you can see, you can see deer there.
If you see a deer up to 45 degrees either side you will immediately turn to face it and recall it as if it was in front.

So, I think it is a geometrical fact that deer most often seen more or less in front.
It's the same for me.
But I spend a lot of time stopping and looking all around, give them a chance to walk in to me.

Thanks for the insights so far.

Bit of clarification; South-eastern Ruahine feed belt and equally well used game trails on either side / above & below and crossing at right angles Sometime I'm on the most defined one within the viewing area, but just as often not. Viewing angle as I move through the bush concentrating on probably 45 degrees either side of in front, trying as best I can to visually penetrate the bush in the current view as we go...a few paces then stop, looking, repeat, or pausing when a new area comes into view - when cresting a rise etc, the usual stalking technique I believe. Sure I see a few moving off having been spooked to the side but mostly DIRECTLY in front of me, whether sidling or stalking down or up...very odd. Anyway is looks like I must be missing the ones off to the sides somehow...just need to figure out how it's happening. Most likely the natural tendency to move towards & between clearer areas where the deer are also more likely to be holding and be seen as per Bagheera's post.