Deer body language:
My experiences here at The hunting Channel Online have allowed me to meet some of the best hunters in the world and I have been able to learn priceless information from them, like reading deer body language.
One of the most important things a deer hunter should learn is how to read the body language of your quarry. I feel it’s a very valuable asset to add to your repertoire.
These are postures that I feel are essential to learn:
Buck Prancing (a buck with it’s head held high and tail held half-way out)
This is a threatening posture, it say that the buck may be searching for another buck. Although he may just be responding to your grunts or rattling there may be a slim chance that there is another buck in the tree line that you cant see. So it is important for you to take a second to look a little harder to make sure there isn’t a larger buck you may be overlooking in the shadows.
A doe with her tail held straight out and slightly off to one side:
This is the “golden goose†this doe is displaying full estrus and is excepting bucks. Undoubtedly she is being followed by a buck . And most likely if the first buck that passes by is a dink, eventually another buck will pass hot on their trail.
Lip Curling:
If you see a buck lip curling he is more then likely hot on the trail of a hot doe and he is trying to determine the source of the scent he is following. This buck won’t be around for long so you will have to make a decision to take him rather quickly.
Head Bobbing:
Deer bob their heads with the hope to fake you out. When a deer senses something is wrong but cant quit make it out they will head fake. They pretend to put their head down to simulate feeding and quickly lift their head back up trying to get you to move. If a deer is staring at you and for a few moments and then goes to feed don’t move until you have let him feed for a couple of minutes. So you can be sure he is really relaxed.
Foot stomping:
Deer will stomp for many reasons, but the main reason deer stomp is because they are alarmed. This action sends visual and aural warnings to other deer, and while the deer is stomping it is actually leaving a chemical message for other deer that there was danger here. Fortunately a deer must pass over that exact spot to sense this warning. Some hunters feel that you may have to relocate your stand if a deer repeatedly stomps leaving a much more distinct sign. I have not found this to be true, again unless a deer is right over that spot. Sometimes, I have gotten out of the stand and sprayed mock scrap or scent eliminator on the area.
I had a small 3 pt buck come down a trail and stand right in the same spot as a doe that busted me did earlier and start stomping and looking in all directions for danger he basically ran around in circles for 5 mins before he decided to leave. And other times I have had deer pass right over a similar spot and not even hesitated.
A doe with one ear forward and one ear cupped back:
This means one thing the doe is surveying ahead for danger and listing behind for either: her fawns, a predator, or a trailing buck. If you observe a doe displaying this type of body language hold tight you may get a chance to whack a coyote or better yet a big old buck.
A buck with an arch back and hairs on neck and back standing up:
Bucks display this type of posture to show aggression. Often because there is a much larger buck approaching. Large bucks are less likely to show aggression until they are engaged in combat where smaller bucks display aggression when larger bucks are around to deter the more dominant bucks from engaging them. Take care and look in the direction the agitated buck is looking you may be able to pick out the other right away, so you can make your decision to take this buck or hold tight.
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