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