| There is a great difference of opinion among hunters | | | | actions of deer in different situations and try to draw |
| about this matter, with some men giving the deer | | | | some conclusion from these actions. Since there is a |
| credit for having an almost human intelligence and | | | | difference in viewpoint of different men, there will |
| others claiming that they have practically no brain | | | | always be a difference of opinion in their findings, and |
| power at all. There is no way that I know to | | | | as a result there will always be room for argument. |
| evaluate this mental power except to observe the | | | | What one man might consider instinctive action on |
| actions of deer in different situations and try to draw | | | | the part of a deer, might be construed as planned |
| some conclusion from these actions. The bucks | | | | strategy by some other man; and this inability to |
| usually don't fight for the possession of the female | | | | distinguish between the reasons for certain actions of |
| doe. The cause of the fights may be for something | | | | the deer is where we fail in trying to establish their |
| else. | | | | reasoning powers. |
| I have tried to conceal my odor by adding the odor | | | | Any hunter who has hunted deer as part of a driving |
| of deer and I am sure that this practice has aided | | | | gang has probably had the experience of having |
| my hunting at times. I usually add the deer odor by | | | | some wise old buck avoid the drivers by slipping back |
| obtaining the glands that are located on the inner side | | | | through their lines or by hiding until he has been |
| of the back legs of a doe and rubbing these glands | | | | passed. Judging by human standards, this action |
| on my clothing. The odor from these tufts of hair is | | | | shows that the buck has evaluated the situation and |
| strong and distinctive enough to hide the human | | | | has acted in such a manner because it is the wisest |
| odor, and, as it is a natural deer odor, it is not | | | | thing for him to do in order to save his life. Looking |
| offensive to the deer. | | | | at it from a different angle, the deer's actions are |
| While bearing this scent, I have had bucks follow my | | | | purely instinctive. If the men who are waiting have |
| trail for long distances and nothing except lack of | | | | used proper caution, the buck can have no |
| patience prevented me from shooting some of them. | | | | knowledge of their presence and, not having this |
| I would lay a trail and then I would fail to wait long | | | | knowledge, the safest thing that he can do is to run |
| enough for them to overtake me. I am sure that it | | | | from the drivers. However, a deer's instinctive |
| was not just a coincidence that they followed my | | | | reaction to danger is either to run or to hide. It is |
| trail, for on one occasion, a buck followed me across | | | | more apt to run from an unexpected danger than |
| an open field to within two hundred yards of my | | | | from one that it is aware of. Another thing which has |
| house before he decided that he was wasting his | | | | a bearing on the decision to run or to hide is the |
| time. I had waited for him for over an hour and then | | | | stubborn resistance to being forced to travel in a |
| I had left the stand to go to the house for | | | | direction not of its own choice. |
| something to eat. The big disadvantage in making a | | | | You have better chances of bagging the deer if you |
| scent trail, such as this, is that a man can never be | | | | are hunting through trails and you are most likely end |
| sure that a buck will find and follow the trail. | | | | up empty when you are part of the driving gang on |
| If the hunter could know something of a deer's | | | | a hunt. The deer's instinctive reaction to danger is |
| mental ability, it would help in hunting the animal. | | | | either to run or to hide. |
| There is a great difference of opinion among hunters | | | | Concealing the original odor from the hunters using |
| about this matter, with some men giving the deer | | | | some commercial scents, which is natural for the |
| credit for having an almost human intelligence and | | | | deer, will help the hunters to get their target easier. |
| others claiming that they have practically no brain | | | | Therefore, it is important for the hunters to hide |
| power at all. There is no way that I know to | | | | their odor when they go for hunting. |
| evaluate this mental power except to observe the | | | | |