The Carolinas, despite their rural setting, are far from what most people would call a wilderness. The overwhelming majority of the states’ deer population is accustomed to automobile horns, sirens, dogs barking and other symptoms of human occupancy.
But Jonathan Shaw, the lead deer biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, said hunting pressure is one thing to which deer will respond, and not positively.
“According to recent research, in areas with high hunting pressure, deer will change their movement patterns and rely more on nightly feeds,” he said.
A nocturnal deer is a survivor, and little can be done to manipulate the system to get these deer to swap out their safe nocturnal feeding behaviors for daytime movements. A stealthy approach to and from stands is, to Rick Grubbs of Waccamaw Hunting Services in Hemingway, S.C, the only way to keep deer in the dark and unaware of human presence.
“You can’t let the deer know you are in the woods. They are accustomed to tractors and house dogs barking, but not dragging feet and crinkling water bottles,” Grubbs said. “From the time you get out of the truck until you get back in the truck, you have to literally turn into a ninja, producing little to no noise at all.”
Grubbs’ property offers a wide range of stands, from ladders and towers to ground blinds. When he can, he will use ground or box blinds to prevent excessive noise and disturbances.
“You make less noise getting into them as opposed to tree stands,” said Grubbs.
During periods of unsettled weather, including rain and wind, hunters have a better shot slipping into stands without being noticed. But wind and rain can also work against hunters; deer detect smells more efficiently under wet conditions than when it’s hot and dry, and the wind can blow the unsightly smells right into their noses.
“Always be mindful of scent and play the wind in your favor. You can fool his eyes and ears sometimes, but you will never fool his nose,” Grubbs said.
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