I wear two hearing aids due to occupational hearing loss. Last evening I had two does move in behind me, unfortunately downwind due to thermals shifting. As soon as they got directly behind (and below) me, they went on "high alert". About that time I heard a grunt and seen a mature buck dogging them from behind. For several minutes the three deer walked back and forth, attempting to find me (the threatening odor source).
At one point another doe, began to cautiously approach the other 3 deer from my right and above the other deer that were still behind me. The buck stood stoically and stared in the direction of the yet unseen to him doe. She also seemed locked on his position. As soon as she stepped to the edge of the flat, and into his view, he made a sound I have never heard in 50 years of hunting deer.
I've heard the grunt wheeze and have heard a couple mature (read old) bucks growl, but never heard this before. It was a short, high pitched "hiss". A bit like a "blow" or "snort" (as we call it here), but higher pitched and shorter in duration.
When he made the sound the doe froze in her tracks. She remained motionless until he dropped into a ravine where he obviously got a snootfull of me. He then snorted, or blew, and corralled his two does and was out of there.
Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.