I can't even sneak up on my horses, how am I

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:21 am

going to sneek up on the deer? Here at home , I have more deer than anywhere. I set up a stand on the roof of my shed. It's about a 100 yards to some apple trees. My horses are close and I've tried to get into the stand without them noticing. It's impossible. I sware I don't make a sound. I thought I might be able to walk out and get into shooting position while there were deer there. No chance of that. The horse will tip them off.

Owen

Post by **Old Savage** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:05 am

Just keep doing it and they will begin to ignore it. Maybe

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:13 am

Get them used to it and they should ignore you.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:14 am

I had the same problems with my dogs.
I have to walk past the dog pen to get to my woods. They would get all excited. After a few days, once they realized I was headed to the woods and not to let them out of the pen, the would sit there quietly and watch.

After that I could sit in a tree stand or ground blind, and if I dozed off, the dogs would bark when a deer came up and wake me up

The dog barking didn't bother the deer once they figured out the dogs were penned and not loose. Didn't take dogs or deer long to adapt to changes.

So, I'd watch the deer come eat my corn, maybe take a picture or two, then let them wander off into the darkness before I made my way back to the house. Any excuse to be in the woods and not in front of the TV or puter is a good excuse.

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:26 am

I like that. Go and watch the deer for a month before shooting at them.

Owen

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:30 am

I am amazed at how alert horses are. Mine spot deer and show me them long before I notice. Same with fox or ground hogs too. During the hunting season, they follow me along the fence line to the far corner as I head off to go hunting. I use the horses for scouting sessions too as deer can't count legs and i'm able to get a real good look at the deer and watch their patterns while walking the horses out of the pastures. I think the others have it right, once the horses are used to being in your stand, they will go about their business and leave you to yours.

piller · Post by **piller** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:42 am

I have been told that riding a horse to scout is a better way as deer tend to be less suspicious of hoofbeats than the sound of human feet. I do not own a horse, so I cannot verify this from any personal experience. I do know for certain that most wild animals quickly become accustomed to your routine and they learn when you are not a threat. If possible, before the season, get out in the woods often enough to make them used to your presence and they will lose some of their caution.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:28 pm

Owen,

Animals seem to have the ability to sense when we humans are trying to be sneaky. I think they can read minds. That's why deer disappear during hunting season and then 30 seconds after the season ends you're tripping all over them.

Maybe if you walked out and gave the horses a bunch of apples to munch on then just boldly walked to the blind it might work.

Joe

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:42 pm

Good points. As I watch deer at the feeder. They perk up at some noise, or smell. They freeze and stare. Once they identfy the intrusion as harmless, they seem to ignore it from then on. If they can't it's foot punching the ground and a big wheeze and then flags in the air.

Owen

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:23 am

Here's a novel idea. Try climbing into the stand an hour before daylight and just wait for the sun to come up.

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:24 pm

"That hoss, he was usin' his eyes and his ears,
I figured right then there was somebody near.
He seemed to be watchin' a bunch of pinyone;
I shore took a hint from that little blue roan.."

Horses been acting as "scouts" for us hoomins just about forever, long as we're paying attention. They may be more aware of everything then the deer.
Deer has his head down grazing you can get away with some movement without him seeing you. Won't work on the horse.

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:56 pm

Bribe the horses to keep their mouths shut. Jolly Ranchers keep them occupied for a long time.

I wouldn't have a horse around, that I could sneak up on.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 7:55 pm

Horses have amazing eyesight. There's been very few times I've been able to sneak very close to my two. And, it doesn't matter what direction I'm walking up on them either.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:33 pm

Owen, wait until you have favorable winds to carry the smoke coming from the west, should cover your sent well and obscure their vision...

MrJudgeOC · Post by **MrJudgeOC** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:34 am

Shoot the horse.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:37 pm

marlinman93 wrote:Here's a novel idea. Try climbing into the stand an hour before daylight and just wait for the sun to come up.

That'd be my take on the whole situation !

rossim92 · Post by **rossim92** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:37 pm

makes you wonder sometimes. Why you can't sneak up on a deer in the woods, but when they stand in the middle of the road, you can yell, or blow the horn till you blue in the face, and they still won't move.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 5:44 pm

rossim92 wrote:makes you wonder sometimes. Why you can't sneak up on a deer in the woods, but when they stand in the middle of the road, you can yell, or blow the horn till you blue in the face, and they still won't move.

Cars seldom shoot at them!

J Miller wrote:Owen,
Maybe if you walked out and gave the horses a bunch of apples to munch on then just boldly walked to the blind it might work.
Joe

That'd fall under the heading of "Training The Horse to Acknowledge YOUR Presence!"

Horses are a herd animal... YOU should be the ALPHA animal in their herd. Survival demands they pay attention when the Alpha is around.

marlinman93 wrote:Here's a novel idea. Try climbing into the stand an hour before daylight and just wait for the sun to come up.

Badda-Bing! Es correcto contestación femenino!

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:14 am

marlinman93 wrote:Here's a novel idea. Try climbing into the stand an hour before daylight and just wait for the sun to come up.

From the horses I've known, going past them in the dark would make no positive difference. They still have to get used to someone going past them once or twice a day and realize "it's not all about them" so they will let him walk by without reacting.

The deer get used to the noise quickly anyway. They may run off, but will usually circle after the commotion settles down and they haven't seen or heard anything else.

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:42 am

It's a month and a half before season. It's tough to go out and sit an hour before daylight now, without a gun. I'd like to get those horses to back off now , so I knew I will have a chance later.

Owen

gimdandy · Post by **gimdandy** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:21 am

if you don't want them there throw a flake at the opposite end of pasture and they will be waiting there after 2 sessions feeding and totally ignore you after they are chewing

I can't even sneak up on my horses, how am I

I can't even sneak up on my horses, how am I

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