Understanding a Deer's Senses: How Well Can Deer See?

Bill Kinney Photography

In order to get your prey you need to understand it right?  Here is a little more insight into a deer's sight.

Sight
Deer have a good sense of sight, but compared to other hunting animals such as turkeys, it is not their most dependable sense.  Studies into how well a deer can actually see have found that deer have less rods in their eyes than a human does making them partly color blind.  They also have poor day time vision and see colors in the red spectrum, such as a hunting vest, as more of a grey color.  This is why hunters wear orange vests, because to a deer it is not anymore noticeable than the color of a pile of leaves.  Something to keep in mind, however,  is that to a deer that solid grey patch and is more noticeable when moving.  Therefore, if you can, find an orange vest with a camo pattern to make you further blend in to your surroundings.

Another problem hunter's have is underestimating a deer's sight...or overestimating it.  More than one hunter has made the mistake of, thinking they were spotted, they began to make their move too soon.  Maybe they thought it would be their only chance or they just got too excited, but if a deer hears you, pinpoints you, and stares directly at you, the best thing you can do is sit completely still and pretend you are a tree.  At that point the deer is accessing you, it wants to make sure that you are not a threat.  It is trying to decide if you are a predator or part of that tree you are sitting in.  If you start moving right then, the deer is going to know and make a run for it.  It is essential that you understand exactly what the deer is seeing and know what it is doing so that you don't miss an opportunity.  Camouflage is one of your most important tools when on a hunt and knowing how a deer's eyes perceive you is important in understanding what you should include in your hunting wardrobe.

What recent studies have brought to light is that deer have better night vision than humans and can perhaps see better in the UV lighting spectrum.  This is equivalent to what we see in a room with a black light.  Humans have a filter on their eyes so they do not have this type of perception, but deer may be more alert to bright colors such as those found in our clothing.  To some hunters this could be perceived as a problem.  The reason is because some clothing and laundry detergents are treated with a color brightener which would technically enhance the color of the clothing in a deer's eyes, making the wearer "glow" in a sense.  Luckily this vision is primarily enhanced in low lighting such as dusk and dawn and not noticed in the daytime.   It may be wise to look into laundry detergents that do not have color enhancers.  This doesn't mean you need to go crazy about your laundry detergent and fabric dyes.  Keep in mind that hunters have for years been wearing the same clothing, went out in the same situation and found success.

It should be kept in mind that, although these studies provide good evidence towards the likelihood of deer having such sight, the studies are not completely conclusive.   Whether or not deer have such acute seeing senses, it seems to rely more on the technique and skill of the hunter than just the color of his vest.

Do you have the problem of always being spotted when in your stand?  Does it seem to occur more frequently to you than others?  Or at certain times of day?

Understanding a Deer's Senses:  How Well Can Deer Hear? >

Hunting Tips: Hand Warmers

Have you ever been out hunting and realized you can't feel your fingers and toes?  It happens to the best, but the problem is that some of us missed that perfect shot because our fingers were too cold to feel the trigger!  Now that's a problem.

What can we do about this?  First off, you need to get some nice gloves.  These may be something you don't want to splurge on, but the mobility of your fingers is very important when out hunting.  As with all clothing, you need to think in terms of layers.  Have a thinner pair of moisture wicking gloves so you can move your fingers around and zip up your jacket.  On top of those have a nice thick, water resistant pair to keep your hands dry and warm.  One major thing you want to avoid is getting your hands wet, that is one of the quickest ways to lose the feeling in those digits!  A nicer pair of gloves should also go further up your wrist, preferably under your coat sleeve, and have a nice Velcro strap.  This will ensure snow and wind don't make their way to your skin.

Hunting Tips: Layers

Bill Kinney Photography

Everyone knows that no matter where you are the weather is completely unpredictable.  You can check the weekly weather forecast daily and, although it told you that the next four weeks were supposed to be perfect and sunny, that day you go out to the hunting stand it is going to start raining.  If you are smart you have water resistant clothing, but that still won't protect you when it begins to sleet.  Basically the golden rule here is to never trust the weather.  Be prepared for anything and assume the worst.  Knowing what you're in for can make a hunting trip that much more enjoyable and can lead to success!!

The most important thing to remember when getting ready to go out is layers!  Whether you're at the edge of a Midwest cornfield waiting on deer or the side of a mountain chasing elk, layers are you're key to success.