“I don't believe it bothers deer, and can even arouse their curiosity,” said bowhunter and writer Jay Strangis. “Before I climb on stand, I think about whether I might have to urinate later in the sit. If I must urinate, I don't hesitate to do so anywhere near the bottom of my tree before I climb up.”
It's widely believed that our urine is loaded with human scent and that deer will head for the hills when they get a whiff of it. Home remedies for keeping deer out of gardens include urinating around the perimeter of it. Yet there is research that indicates some deer may not be bothered by it at all.
The exact mix of bacteria is unique from deer to deer, which may give each deer a unique scent that other deer can recognize. This scent is likely deposited in scrapes when a deer rub-urinates and urine flows over the tarsal gland onto the ground.
The behavior begins when the deer begins rubbing the hocks together while urinating over its back legs. The deer will then (usually) lick off the urine. It is very common for does to exhibit the same behavior. In fact, it is not uncommon to see mature does lick each other's hocks after rub-urination.
Deer are most active in the morning and evening, which is why many hunters consider these hours the best time to hunt deer. With some exceptions, deer mostly sleep during the day and move more at night.
Mostly, deer sleep during daylight hours while the sun is out, usually between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. They don't sleep for long, and they move their bedding ground a lot while napping. Deer rarely sleep at night because this is when their predators are most active.
Deer tend to sleep during the day, roughly between the hours of 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. A night scope for AR15 will definitely come in handy during these hours. Deer are highly active during the hours just before dark. When they wake up between 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, their first priority is food.
To use coyote urine to fool deer into thinking a predator is lurking, gardeners are supposed to hang a bottle with holes in it filled with urine-soaked cotton balls in trees or posts around the vulnerable plants. Alternatively, they can spray the urine directly on the plants.
Kind of like your mother wiping your face when you are 11 years old. In some instances, licking serves a physical purpose – removing fawn poop or ectoparasites. But mostly, licking is a form of communication – strengthening bonds and transmitting information.
Deer are drawn to crops that are high in protein, such as kale, turnips, soybeans, peas, and alfalfa. A mix of plants that include clover and grasses, like wheat, oats and rye, will attract deer.
DOGS AND CATS ARE TERRITORIAL ANIMALS. Marking territory is done when pets are wanting to“stake out a claim” to a particular object and to let others know about their claim. Some pets may go to the extreme of urinating to mark a particular area as their own.
Positioned between the hooves on each foot, interdigital glands can deposit a larger amount of scent when a whitetail is spooked and stomps its foot.
It's a musky smell, a doctored-up urine scent, if you will, thanks to the influences of a deer's tarsal gland, found on the animal's hind leg. The gland produces an oily substance that coats the hair and the bacteria living in the hair is where the musky magic happens.
There are some folks, however, who disagree with urine-as-attraction and believe that human urine deters nosey bears. But the majority of experts oppose this view. Two other no-no's that you should be aware of: You don't have to bury urine; and you shouldn't pee on vegetation.
The main downside is that human urine does not repel many animals. And it could even attract some. Not much point repelling a cat if you attract a deer! Also, it is not as simple as going out into your garden and having a pee, unfortunately.
What smells work best at deterring deer? Some smells that deer react negatively to include eggs, garlic, cloves, and mint. The scent of danger is also effective at driving deer off, so applying predator-related scents, such as wolf urine, may work.
ANSWER: Under normal conditions, a deer can smell a human that is not making any attempt to hide its odor at least 1/4 mile away. If the scenting conditions are perfect (humid with a light breeze), it can even be farther. So they are pretty impressive.
Deer often stomp a front hoof if they think they see or hear something that isn't right, but want to confirm it. Adams said the hoof stomp lets predators know the game is up. “I know you're there.” Hoof stomping can also make predators move again. Deer stomp their hooves to show they're alert and ready.
1. Hearing the signs. An angry squirrel barking or a blue jay sounding the alarm can often alert the hunter to an approaching deer. An experienced woodsman is always listening for changes in the sounds of the woods as other animals will often sound off when startled or angered by the presence of deer.
Research shows that predator urine, from bobcats and coyotes, are the most effective repellents in deterring white-tailed deer specifically. Odor-based repellents can be used to treat individual plants or for area treatments.
But mountain goats aren't alone in their quest for liquid gold. A surprising number of creatures—from reindeer to locusts—have a known affinity for human urine. And for some species, this craving for our minerals has dramatically shaped their behavior.
Human scent can last in the woods for a few hours to a few days, depending on the weather and how much the person has moved around. If it is hot and humid, the scent will not last as long. If the person has been sweating or moving around a lot, their scent will also not last as long.
Deer move most in low-light conditions, so be sure you're sitting at dawn and dusk to boost your chances. If you're not seeing deer, you might be reaching your treestand too late and leaving too early.
Deer are most active during the twilight hours of dusk and dawn. Most sleep during the day. They typically feed in the early morning hours before sleeping and then again in the evening and through the night. However, deer can also be active during the day and even midday, especially during rut and around the full moon.
During the fall breeding season, deer movement increases and this often brings them in contact with roadways that cross their natural habitats. Road shoulders generally provide beneficial food plants both during extremely dry times of the year and following a long, hard winter.