What do you think of eye contact?

[Ben Woodring]

Can they "feel" you looking at them?  I've been experimenting and I'm almost ready to say "yes they can!"

[BigRonHuntAlot]

I wouldnt look them in the eye anyway, You gotta look at em to get a shot though... LOL

[pseman]

I think so too. I try to never look at a deer in the eyes when hunting. I have have experiences in the past when I feel it got me busted. If the deer is looking at me, I just look at the ground and follow the deer with my peripheral vision.

Mark

[southernarcher]

I try to never look them in the eyes myself.Like pseman look at the ground in front of them and use my periphrial vision to keep check on them,well the best I can.

[TexMex]

I see dead deer      :D

[waiting4fall]

I always wear polarized sunglasses for this very reason.

[Bjorn]

If they catch you looking you are very quickly tagged as a predator. My experience anyway.

[eagle24]

Don't do it!  I ended up married and don't get to hunt nearly as much.    

[longbowman]

I try to avoid it on both deer and women.  The first spooks the deer and second spooks the women.

[Stone Knife]

I feel once you lock eyes, you have been made.

[snag]

If I don't have to "read" them because they are alerted to my presence I don't even look at their head. I have seen elk become a little nervous when I stare at their heads. Kind of like they feel something isn't quite right. Have you ever felt that someone is watching you and you look over your shoulder and your kid is standing there or someone else? Their sences are more highly tuned to their surroundings and so this comes more into play when closing the gap. Imho.....

[non-typical]

I agree. I don't make eye contact and if it's a doe I don't look at her breasts either

[Talondale]

If I recall correctly; only predators have close set, forward looking eyes.  It could be that the two dark circles are universally recognized as "predator".  Think of mimick patterns on moths and others.

[amicus]

non-typical, thats funny.

[John Nail]

good way to pick up girls, but a good way to spook deer.....

[Ben Woodring]

I'm intrigued with the universal predator look answer. I hadn't thought of it that way.

[Brian Krebs]

I noticed that eye contact was such a no-no a long time ago; and as a result; I have squinted my eyes to the point: some people don't think I have any.
  You should be staring at the spot your arrow will hit  

[Bonebuster]

I have no doubt that looking into their eyes is a
bad idea. Especially with mature deer.

[GingivitisKahn]

Rabbits and squirrels feel an intense stare as well, or so it seems to me.  Personally, I think you're best off keeping a soft focus on whatever it is you plan to shoot (as opposed to really eyeballing it).

Heck, when my cat is sleeping, if I stare at her, before long she opens up an eye or two and looks at me as if to say 'knock it off'.

[Jedimaster]

No one ever taught me not to look them in the eye, but I learned a long time ago that they somehow know if you do.  In my experience turkeys are just as bad if not worse. I guess there eyesight is better. Infact, if a turkey is facing me, I won't even blink.  They are just that sharp sometimes.