Thread: Deer senses, particularly vision

A scientist explains detailed research findings.
https://youtu.be/bPW61VZXt2g?si=GDBi20UrteIDdr4t

I can say that sambar vision is not too flash after dark but a hog deer is the opposite.

Thanks, looks like it could be interesting.

Convert to mp3 via this website then upload to phone to listen to as a podcast when driving to work or whatever.

https://en.ytmp3s.nu/vq3x/

all I know is that deer have extremely good shape movement vision,they will pick up a human head/hand /arm/leg whatever movement a long way off,if you aren't moving like an animal they are onto you,but if you are not moving they won't pick you up unless very close within 10-20m

I try to treat the environment like a mirror flat pond that I’m trying to wade through without making a ripple when on final stalk. No sudden movements and slow, steady movements. Seams to work

Originally Posted by Jus

I try to treat the environment like a mirror flat pond that I’m trying to wade through without making a ripple when on final stalk. No sudden movements and slow, steady movements. Seams to work

That's very poetic and practical advice. I'll keep that in mind.

Haha I was thinking airy fairy.. pays to watch their heads too, if they’re down feeding or looking in your general direction

There is also the sixth sense, where they just know they are being watched! Rabbits have that too.

Listened to it. Lots of talk, some of the science is quite interesting, but few take home messages that are new.

- Deer learn to associate hunters with danger

- Deer have great low light/night vision

- Deer have a very large field of view

- Deer can see blue (and white) very well - interesting comment, "no one makes blue camo"!

- Deer pick up on movement more than anything else

Really interesting, have been listening to the series. Like anything, you tend to notice things through experience. I've been in a open field in front of a group of sika at 70 yards at first light, and they couldn't pick me up. Able to move to ground and place a shot. I have a hunch that they may struggle with picking up detail on change of light.

I always hunted with blue blaze on when hunting doc land, never noticed deer being able to see me more or less with it on. The science says they can see blue easier, but does it actually make a practical difference when hunting? I doubt it.

One day I was walking along the edge of a clearing ( checking possum lines not hunting) with blue blaze on and I saw a stag grazing in the clearing. I decided to see how close I could get to it, I would only move when it had its head down eating so it never saw me move.when I got to within 15 meters of it suddenly took note of me and just stared at me for seemed like minutes then just walked off whilst stopping every few steps to look. It never spooked but was definitely suspicious. My takeaway from this is that even if your in the open there unlikely to see you no matter what color you are if your not moving.

Towards the end of the podcast, they were saying that deer aren't inherently scared of any colour. Same goes for lights.

Hearing and smelling.

https://youtu.be/2js2_WdSrS8?si=0z27pFAh1qdKbKva

My son wears a bright blue hoodie when he is hunting with me and he shoots a lot of deer. Almost all of the deer we shoot haven’t seen us so it doesn’t really matter what colours we wear.

In my experience, deer eyesight is similar to that of a dog - they have very good eyesight for movement but seem to rely more heavily on their other senses so don’t notice you if you remain still unless you are quite close to them.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Hearing and smelling.

https://youtu.be/2js2_WdSrS8?si=0z27pFAh1qdKbKva

Again, a lot of talking, not much new information. Deer have very good hearing and sense of smell. You can make efforts to stop scent being on your clothes, but you can't hide it (maybe a reference to "scent killer" products).