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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > Hunting Articles Archives > Scanning Techniques for Spotting Deer
Scanning Techniques for Spotting Deer
Chris Fullilove - JHO Pro Staff
February 06, 2004
One of the best ways to increase your advantage while still hunting is to identify your game early. The earlier you can spot your target, the more preparation you will be able to do in analyzing and harvesting the animal. The converse of this is identifying your target too late. Identifying your target too late, or not at all, can lead to missed opportunities.
One of the hardest situations when deer hunting is identifying deer in moderate to heavy cover. Usually hunters will position themselves nearby or within the heavier cover, with shooting opportunities in nearby openings. These openings can be, roads, fields, meadows, creeks, or brush that is sparse or thinned out. The hunter's primary sense for identifying deer is his/her eyes. Occasionally the circumstances allow the hunter to hear the animal approaching, but visually locating and identifying it early is still essential. Identifying deer in their element can be challenging. They typically blend in very well, they are extremely silent(sleuth like), and they are not prone to sudden movements.
Allow me to detail a few fundamental eye exercises and techniques to follow next time you are in the woods. Usually there are subtle clues to look for that will help you identify your target alot sooner. Often times the hunter is "looking for the actual deer", when in fact, he/she could be scanning more ground more effeciently by adhering to a couple of principles when hunting.
1.) Mother nature grows up
Most of the foliage in a brushy area grows in a vertical direction. Some may grow at an angle,or even somewhat horizontal sometimes, but close to 85% of the brush will be flowing upwards. The hunter can use this to his/her advantage. One of the most common ways I have ever realized that a deer existed in a patch of brush was by recognizing the horizontal plane of a deer's back. It sticks out very visibly. Even if the rest of the animal can not be distinguished. The horizontal line of their back is one of the first attributes that my eyes flag as a potential deer. The reason why is because the horizontal plane contradicts the flow of mother nature.
2.) Movement
Another key attribute to look for is movement. Sometimes you will be able to see general movement in the brush before you actually make out the details of the animal. It will seem as if the woods just moved, or you will notice a change in contrast all of the sudden from light to dark, or vice versa. When the hunter detects movement in the woods, attention can then be focused on identifying what moved and prepare before the animal is officially identified in the open areas. So while scanning, hone in on movement in order to get a jump on identification and shave seconds off of your reaction time.
3.) Ears
So many times, I have observed a large buck walk up to the edge of a thick patch of brush, and come to a dead stop. He will stand still for a long time, so long in fact that I start to second guess myself as to whether I actually saw a buck or not. Then all of the sudden I see his ears move, and his identity and location is confirmed. It is typical behavior of big bucks to come to a complete stop and stand completely still right before crossing a road, an opening, or before entering a less protective environment. While they stand completely still and observe their surroundings, you will occasionally notice them only move their ears. While this is a subtle clue, it may be one of the last indications you will have before they cross the opening with greater urgency. Many times, noticing ear movement is more helpful for identifying a deer that you have been watching come through the brush, but briefly lost their location because they stopped moving.
These techniques while simple, may just do the trick next time you are hunting in a new location or even an old one. The hunter has limited vision when trying to peer through the thick stuff, but keep an eye out for movement, the horizontal plane of a deer's back, and the flip of their ears. These may be the keys that tip you off a little sooner that the action is coming your way.
~ Chris Fullilove
JHO field writer & pro staff
See more of Chris's photography at http://www.whitetail-photography.com
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