[Onlyaspike]

Great Buck!!! Congrats!!!! I believe that some deer truly do have a "sixth sense " , but I know for a fact that they notice the smallest change in their core areas....a hunters outline 20' up in a tree...a shadow/blob that wasn't there the last time they walked through that spot....the slight odor change....we're talking the deers house/bedroom

Humans have the same ability....when you keep your house organized a certain way....you might notice a item out of place, item moved, or a subtle difference when you come back home...it would catch your eye just like that Buck noticed something was wrong IMO.

 

[vaguru]

Yes, they do see it, same happened to me last year.

 

[AJ01]

Onlyaspike said it best, you are in HIS bedroom, living room or whatever you want to call it. Deer notice things! It's how they survive in a world full of predators. I've seen deer walk by tree stands a hundred times and never look up, you put a hunter in that stand, and they'll stop and stare at it like a fat gal looking at a cake!
They are wired that way, it's something different in their home.

As for lights emitting from a lit reticle, if you can see it, so can they. However, they would have to be looking directly at you back up the scope tube to your face. So, it's not really a concern to me. I have never used a lit reticle to kill a deer. My scopes have that feature, I just don't use it.

What the deer notice most is the different "blob" on that stand, or even a darker spot in that bush that's always been there.
I remember going to a sniper school many years ago and the main thing they harped on the most in "field craft" was the ability to match your immediate surroundings. One little thing out of the ordinary would get you spotted and "killed".
The instructors would be up on towers looking for you with binos. You had a starting point, about 1/4 mile away and would have to "travel undetected" to within 100 yards of your target, all the time being looked for.
Sure makes you think twice about your 'camo".

Just think of that "target buck" as your instructor looking for you!

 

[archer36]

Even if they see it, does it necessarily alarm them. They may get curious and stand still long enough for a shot.

 

[Wexford XBow Hunter]

Deer don't see red spectrum light well, no? I don't see this as a big issue.

 

[robertyb]

IMO your buck is a mature buck and my experience is if a mature buck sees something that puts it on alert in the least he will not take another step into the open but will back out and disappear fast. They don't get to 4 years or older by being stupid until the rut is in. I think his 6th sense made him stare in your direction and he decided there was nothing to worry about so he took that final step. Congrats on a very nice 8 point.

 

[Stalker]

Onlyaspike said it best, you are in HIS bedroom, living room or whatever you want to call it. Deer notice things! It's how they survive in a world full of predators. I've seen deer walk by tree stands a hundred times and never look up, you put a hunter in that stand, and they'll stop and stare at it like a fat gal looking at a cake!
They are wired that way, it's something different in their home.

As for lights emitting from a lit reticle, if you can see it, so can they. However, they would have to be looking directly at you back up the scope tube to your face. So, it's not really a concern to me. I have never used a lit reticle to kill a deer. My scopes have that feature, I just don't use it.

What the deer notice most is the different "blob" on that stand, or even a darker spot in that bush that's always been there.
I remember going to a sniper school many years ago and the main thing they harped on the most in "field craft" was the ability to match your immediate surroundings. One little thing out of the ordinary would get you spotted and "killed".
The instructors would be up on towers looking for you with binos. You had a starting point, about 1/4 mile away and would have to "travel undetected" to within 100 yards of your target, all the time being looked for.
Sure makes you think twice about your 'camo".

Just think of that "target buck" as your instructor looking for you!

Im very camo conscious. Earlier on this hunt I had a Doe see me as I arrived and was settling in my spot. She wasn't sure what I was and came in for a closer look. After a few minutes of staring and uneasyness she wandered off. About an hour and half later she snuck in undetected and caught me moving my head. She did the whole stomp stare thing trying to get me to move again at 20 yards. She finally relaxed and meandered off again. This was my first hunt of the season. For some reason my little turkey seat seamed to be sitting higher than normal. Exposing my shoulders and head more than normal maybe 2 inches. Made me feel like I was sticking out like a sore thumb! I tried to dig out underneath the legs with my fingers and a stick but the ground was just too hard so I had to go with it. The buck wasn't alarmed like she was and I hadn't moved at all. I just thought it possibly may have been the scope. Then again like you and others have said. I was something new to his world.

Here's my camo setup.

About all they can see of me is the top of my head behind the limbs and scope. And maybe my beady little eyes

 

[USMC Dawg]

Not sure on whether or not he saw the lit crosshairs, I would think not unless the crosshairs were aiming on an exact plane with his eyes and any slightest deviation would’ve made the crosshair disappear, prob more of he just knew something was a little iffy and couldn’t figure it out…helluva 8-pointer!

 

[Stalker]

I think your probably right like others have said too.

Mainly because he turned his head back and slowly took that last step.

It did scare the hell out of me though, Thinking he may bolt and be gone.

 

[trailcamguy]

I think your probably right like others have said too.

Mainly because he turned his head back and slowly took that last step.

It did scare the hell out of me though, Thinking he may bolt and be gone.

 

[trailcamguy]

 

[Blacktail]

Im very camo conscious. Earlier on this hunt I had a Doe see me as I arrived and was settling in my spot. She wasn't sure what I was and came in for a closer look. After a few minutes of staring and uneasyness she wandered off. About an hour and half later she snuck in undetected and caught me moving my head. She did the whole stomp stare thing trying to get me to move again at 20 yards. She finally relaxed and meandered off again. This was my first hunt of the season. For some reason my little turkey seat seamed to be sitting higher than normal. Exposing my shoulders and head more than normal maybe 2 inches. Made me feel like I was sticking out like a sore thumb! I tried to dig out underneath the legs with my fingers and a stick but the ground was just too hard so I had to go with it. The buck wasn't alarmed like she was and I hadn't moved at all. I just thought it possibly may have been the scope. Then again like you and others have said. I was something new to his world.

Here's my camo setup.
View attachment 351092

About all they can see of me is the top of my head behind the limbs and scope. And maybe my beady little eyes

Geez I dang spit my coffee out when I looked at a pic here of some hunter dude looking at me while I am on my laptop. Well I can tell you if'en a deer saw this pic it would pick you out quick fast n in a hurry. Those green leaves don't go well with the rest of the dull dead appearing foliage.

 

[Blacktail]

Congrats on a mighty fine Tick Toter.

 

[trailcamguy]

A lit reticle alone, probably not. Move that scope and you’ll scare that buck out of the area for who knows how long.
With a friend and in a totally unlit area, position the lit reticle scope in a rest, while you walk square to it at 25ft or so, won’t matter, red or green.
Now repeat the process, but have your partner slightly move the crossbow in any manner he wishes.
Watch in horror as the entire interior of the scope lights up.
Any combination of the two, his curiosity of the crosshair if noticed, or movement of the crossbow enough to Iiluminate that tube and you can kiss that bucks ass goodbye.

 

[Yelpy]

If I can see it so can they. I believe they do see it.

Turn your illumination on in the dark and look at the scope from the deers point of view. Bow uncocked and unloaded of coarse. You will see exactly what the deer sees.

 

[Iron Duke]

Can they? Maybe. Will it spook them? Maybe but I doubt it. I live well out in the country, 5 miles from a town of <400, 15 miles to the next town of 1200 and there are still lights visible everywhere. If every light spooked deer they would die of fright at sunset. I also can't believe they are intelligent enough to know where every single permanent light is located and recognize a new one. Or perhaps, thankfully, I am surrounded by deer as dumb as me.

Spot on! ... Could have been scent left from when the wind had swirled shortly before he showed up, could have been anything for him to lock up. If you've ever blown leaves in the yard there's one thing you quickly realize is the wind rarely if ever is steady in one direction. There are always swirls and reverses. They maybe short, but they do happen. I've seen deer take 30 minutes to move 30 yards. Standing, staring, whiffing the air.

 

[primeduck]

My take on lighted recticles is if they are close enough to see the backside of a lighted sight, they should have been dead yards back.

 

[USAF Ret in Wis]

My take on lighted recticles is if they are close enough to see the backside of a lighted sight, they should have been dead yards back.

That's what I'm thinking also.

I probably moved and they saw that vs seeing my lighted reticle

 

[NDPronghorn]

Congrats on a mighty fine WT Buck!!

 

[Blacktail]

Yes they can, I turned my scope on & looked at it from the deer's vision side. Was no doubt i could see every red & green circle lit up !