Eye contact w/ deer

[olddogrib]

How many of you believe in the deer's "sixth sense" about eye contact.  I'll confess with no proof other than  alot of experience, I absolutely believe it.  If a deer is alert and looks my way, I try to avert my eyes immediately without any head movement.  If I make no eye contact, a high percentage of the time the deer will eventually relax(even if it seems like an eternity).  I'm talking about when the wind is in your favor and the deer hasn't started the "head bob" or "hoof stomping" antics.  Even well camouflaged in good cover, if I maintain eye contact my experience is I'll lose that battle just as high a percentage of the time. Creeps me out!

[pintail_drake2004]

happened to me today while hunting. I have already taken 2 does, and have been hunting since the middle of Oct with nothing but my homemade set up (bbo with flint) and I rattled up a buck today. I have not hunted this stand in a while, today we had a South wind (the only wind i can hunt this stand) and he came from the south. He came in to 30 yards, I was trying my hardest to look at his tail, nose, ears, but my eyes kept crossing up to his antlers. Well one time my eye caught his and he immedately began acking spooky. he turned around and crossed a creek at 50 yds and left.

[Zmonster]

I agree 100%

Thats been my story this season. Everytime Ive maintained eye contact, I get the doe blow and they are outta dodge. I also try diverting my eyes, but sometimes its too late. I end up straining my eyes by using peripherals to watch them.

[JEFF B]

yup i Believe in the old Deers sixth sense for real any movement and your GoneBurger hell yeah.

[Stumpkiller]

I definately believe.  I make every effort not to look directly at a deer in close.  They may not be too concerned with an oddly shaped stump; but an oddly shaped stump with eyes gets them as nervous as you would be.

I squint until it's time to focus on "the spot".  ;-)

[BigCountryOK]

I would have to agree.  You look them in the eye and things go bad quick.  I'll even take it as far as your mental state can effect their level of alertness.  Seems to me when I'm relaxed I see more deer.

I'll take it one level further and say that I've learned that hunters develop a sixth sense as well. You learn to trust it and listen to it.  That urge to look over where you would never expect to see a deer, or pause for longer than normal while still hunting for some unknown reason.  Seems like everytime I fight it I wind up missing out.

[Hill Hunter]

I don't know if its a sixth since but it happens, I tend to think that a set of predator eyes is just something they pick up. looking away is not enough in my experience, squint or close your eyes.

[Izzy]

It happens to spook them for sure but I believe its due to Hill Hunters hypotheses. I wear a mask or paint most of the time and especially try to keep my eyes in shadows.

[broketooth]

ive tried not locking eyes! sometimes i cant help it . i want it so bad i can taste it. have you ever watched a cat get target fixation, to the point thier pupils dialate to let in every bit of available light , along with the adrenelin rush its hard to fight! thats what i feel like. ruddy

[ishiwannabe]

I am with Hill and Iz...I intentionally use black lines(camo paint) and go "through" my eyes. It keeps the outline of eyes down to a minimum and seems to work very well for me...

[Bill Turner]

No direct eye contact for me. I've seen it go wrong to many times.  

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Guarantee it, Everytime you look'em in the eye..... Your done.
 
 Stiks

[kennyb]

I'm with you old dog...avert the eyes and have faith in your camo and you can win the battle!!

[beetlebailey1977]

Yep I believe it....has happened to me.

[Dave Earley]

me too - usually I close 1 eye and use peripheral vision from the one that is open

[adeeden]

I always avoid eye contact. Never works out for me in fact i normaly just watch them in my perifical vision until I'm ready for the shot.

[lpcjon2]

I believe 100%,Every time I made eye contact I went home alone.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

It's not a sixth sense as others have said.  However, make eye contact and you're busted.  you have to try your best to keep the area around your eyes covered.  It's hard to keep that area "broken" like a camo pattern so your eyes tend to "glow" for lack of a better term.

[maineac]

Same with turkeys

[Friend]

Many critters within the animal kingdom take direct eye contact as a threat.

This may be quite apparent in dealing with very agressive dog breeds.