They do remember. If they get spooked by something they avoid that area for days. In the area of Mich I hunted deer walked checking up in the trees for danger every year with so many bow hunters. Deer must have memories.

 

Good topic. I imagine many of us envision deer having memories like we do, but I'm sure that's not true. I can't say that I've ever had the same buck bust me in a stand location more than once.

But I've encountered more than one doe that absolutely seemed to know where to look for me. Could be she just knew to look in trees, but then that would be learned - from experience/memories.

But I guess that could fall into a deer not really knowing why it should react in a certain way, just that it should react in that way.

I'm sure we've mostly all seen deer categorize something they encounter as dangerous (time to leave), when really there was no danger. I guess life would be different for a prey animal.

 

Definitely absolutely positively yes....

 

I agree.
I used to hunt one buck for a few years and was able to take several shots at him and missed every time.
That buck had sent me thank you cards until he died of old age. YUP, they remember.
😃

 

I agree with Wapster. I have had way too many does bust me in a stand over the years and then come back in days or even weeks later checking out that tree to see if I was in it. I usually never see a buck again if I was busted by sight or smell in the same location. I will go a year or two usually once busted in a tree before I will climb that tree again.

 

I never asked one.

 

I know one thing for fact last season I was busted by a Doe. She either caught some movement of scented me while I was in my blind. She came in it was late Morning and I didn't see her until she was standing in front of my Blind at maybe 40 yards which was on another property I don't have permission to hunt on. She just stood there with her eyes locked on my blind and doing the one foot stomp. Then she ran off waving the white flag. After that every time she came in she would stop and stair in my direction and when I was there she would turn and leave. Funny thing is when I wasn't there I had her on camera coming with in 20 yards. I figured out she was watching to see if the blind window was open. When I left the blind I would close the window and when I was there the window was open. So I started leaving the window open all the time and she eventually got used to it and the next time I was there she got a free ride in the back of my Ford. So yes I do believe Deer remember things.

 

Good question.
I remember a university study which proved 15 minutes was it for memory. That study/report was many years ago,
I have seen young deer who fell into this time frame for reference. I cannot say the same for deer 3 years or older.

 

A far as a rut crazed buck he probably can't remember anything except what's he's looking for, but like many others I've had adult does bust me in a stand and come back again and again looking at the stand. A lot of my hunting friends and family also have experienced the same thing over the years with big adult does. I normally try to kill those big does if I get the opportunity so they don't alert every other deer in the woods.

 

Well, let's put it this way and no I haven't lost my marbles...
Believe it or not, some have shown that water has a memory and reacts to external stimuli.

So, in short, my answer is yes, by all means, deer do have a memory.


"Don’t discount deer’s intelligence, they’re smarter than you think; they actually possess a memory of negative experiences, learn from them and adapt their habits accordingly. Deer know they’re greatly exposed to danger due to hunters and predators in woodlands and have moved right to the edge of woodlands, in close proximity to suburban neighborhoods, where they’ve learned they’re safe."

Source:

Deer are smarter than you think | Union Daily Times

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It’s spring time….time to beautify outside space with pretty and practical (veggies and herbs) plants. Plants –and investment in landscapes- requires proven protection from deer…

www.uniondailytimes.com

 

Oh yea....they can remember.

 

Of course they have memories. If they didn’t have memories they would wonder around lost in the woods all the time. Why else would the first thing some deer do upon stepping into a shooting lane is to look at a known permanent stand location.

 

Memory or conditioning, is there a even a difference? If my cows won't touch an electric fence is it because they remember the shock? Obviously on some level yes. If you have a feeder do the deer need to find it by smell or accident every day, of course not. But much of what people may attribute to memory may actually be explained by a deers tremendous sense of smell.

 

Just dump out some corn -- they remeber where the goddies are.

Horns

 

Deer do have memories why else would you get deer that are nocturnal in high pressure hunting areas. They deer know they don't need to look out for humans at night.

 

'My' big swamp buck I'm sure knows everything about me!!!.......