Are deer spooked by parked vehicles?

rangerider7

rangerider7

New member
I have heard many answers to this question. I just wondered what the forum would say. Two long time deer hunters on my lease argue about this all the time. One walks to his blind the other parks his truck right next to his. They both give examples to support their theories. They both agree that color makes no difference since deer are colorblind but one says anything different to the environment makes them spook. The other says, if it does not move, they walk around his truck all the time without showing any alarm. What do you say? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Where I hunt in S. Tx brush we have a couple of stands where we have bulldosed small areas for a truck. The brush is so thick that I lose sight of the truck after a few yards. Our only shooting lanes are down the roads or sendero's. However I have set in the truck, just watching, on roads or on the edge of a field and the first thing that deer or coyotes notice is my truck. They may not see it as a truck but they definitly know that something is different. Coyotes usually take one look and are gone whereas the deer try to figure you out. Then again it depends on how spooky they seem to be. I've seen deer stand and watch a moving truck but, the instant it stops their gone. I havn't answered your question, just my observations.
 
I think it's based on Familiarity
If they reqularly see vehicles, it doesn't bother them as much. If there's not a lot a vehicle travel in the area they shy away.

My dad was a logger for years and carried a rifle on his skid tractor during hunting season because the deer would walk through the area oblivious to the noise of the logging that was going on around them on a daily basis.

On the other hand, I've had big mulie bucks double back on me and walk right next to parked trucks, and they probably didn't see a handfull of trucks a year.
 
Where we hunt on federal land in northern michigan we have to drive a 2 track quite a ways back in the sticks.
Many times when we come out there are fresh tracks near the vehicle. And many times when one person is sitting waiting for the others they will walk right on by. Yes the stare at the truck, yes they are a little suspicious, but they arent spooked. I wouldnt drive near my stand though.
We have a neighbor that drives an electric golf cart out to his stands and that spooks the hell out of them. not because of the noise because it is almost silent but i think more because they associate that with a hunter.
Same thing with parking vehicle real close to stand.
If the truck is there avoid it. If its not come on thru.
 
One of the largest bucks (easy B&C) I've ever seen walked within 15 feet of my truck while bowhunting in '01. It was parked a hundred yards from my stand in a cleared oak flat at a church camp. I expected to see deer come from the other side of the stand away from the truck. This area gets a fair amount of vehicle traffic but little hunting pressure. Shortly after sunset, I hear someone walking through the oak leaves toward my truck and I'm thinking "who's coming in here knowing I'm hunting and messing me up?" when I see a 250 lb. buck with a wall of tines walk right by the pickup and down toward a swamp. I grunted at him and then he turns and walks just inside the thick stuff and stands broadside at 25 yards. It was too thick and dark for a shot then he just walked off grunting. That deer kept me up nights for the rest of the season. So, the answer to your question is- it depends.
 
I own 982 acres in South Carolinas low country, and recently a logging comnpany has come in to cut down pines they planted 8 years ago. With all the logging trucks, noise, and people, the deer could care less if they hear a truck or see one. 2 older guys that hunt here with me sit in their trucks, and they always get 1 or 2 deer a year. We have been leaning up against the trucks after morning hunts planing were we are going to hunt at lunch and have had deer walk out 25 yards from the truck, but when you hit the door latch to get a gun they are gone. As stated above, its all about how familar they are with the object.
 
I have a dark green Suzuki Samauri and I have used it as a mobile deer blind for years with very good luck... but I normally park it in trees or brush. But my large Gray Nissan Titan is not at all suitable and always spooks deer.
 
Nope!!

My brother shot a buck this year standing 15 yards away from the truck. A member we use to have on our lease would (as some have already mentioned) hunt from his truck parked on top of a crest and would bring home deer every year. If they are use to them it will not bother them. If it is moving at the time, I would say yeah it will spook 'em.

Rus
 
Quote:
I have a dark green Suzuki Samauri and I have used it as a mobile deer blind for years with very good luck...

A couple of guys I hunt with use them. Great arent they. Dont have to worry about tearing them up, and never had a problem ethier.
 
rangerider7 said:
I have heard many answers to this question. I just wondered what the forum would say. Two long time deer hunters on my lease argue about this all the time. One walks to his blind the other parks his truck right next to his. They both give examples to support their theories. They both agree that color makes no difference since deer are colorblind but one says anything different to the environment makes them spook. The other says, if it does not move, they walk around his truck all the time without showing any alarm. What do you say? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Click to expand...
I parked in a hay field in a white F150 with my friend.
Four deer appeared in the dark. They all fed around my truck for 1/2 hour.
One actual came within 3 feet of my drivers door.
 
Welcome to PM, Harry. Old thread but still pertinent.
Depends on the deer, depends on the location (what are the deer accustomed to....little to lots of truck traffic), depends on the time of year, depends on what the truck is doing.
The big, old bucks usually stay out of sight of trucks, younger ones 50=50. One ranch I hunt there is lots of oil field traffic; moving trucks don't spook the deer, but let it stop and the deer spooks, especially around deer season. Depends on the hunting pressure on the property. All deer are jittery around deer season, old and young.
Drove within 20 yards of this buck off season
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This buck was less than 15 ft from the truck and let me stop and take his picture

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This young buck, on a lightly hunted property, during deer season stepped out of the brush to check out my truck
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Drove by this buck @ 15 yards off season and he watched me pass and resumed his browsing
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And this little guy said, "Truck, I don't see no stinkin' truck!" and thought I was going to have to honk the horn to get by.
1765579763979.jpeg

ETA: These were all taken on a cattle/oil lease and hunting ranch at various times of the year, and none are mature bucks.
 
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Around here the deer are used to seeing pickups, tractors, and farm equipment. It doesn't bother them a bit. I usually find a comfortable spot on the ground next to a tree. As long as they don't wind me they'll walk within a few feet of me.
 
Also depends on the time of year. I have property in Utah that is family land. Most of the year it is used for cattle and recreation. During those times, deer don't pay a lot of attention to vehicles as they are common and no danger presented.
Fast forward a week into rifle season and that changes dramatically.
 
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Just read most of the replies and have seen nearly every case. I have seen farmers and ranchers drive around all year and the deer pay little or no attention. Yes, even if they stop. But a new person drives around the deer disappear and especially if that same vehicle stops.
At a friend's property he has everyone park at the barn and walk to the area that each one will hunt. Seems to work. I have heard Axis go to barking when a truck is spotted but they stay calm when the local sheepherder drove his 4-wheeler close to them.
A Popping Johnny broke down for 2 weeks while waiting on a part. The deer left. (Whitetails). Within 3 days after it was up and running the deer began showing up again. I have heard, read, and witnessed how that changes make whitetail Skittish. So all I can do is take a precaution when I can, and deal with results. The discussion has mostly been about seeing a vehicle. If a person has a leaky vehicle or has odorous things inside there's another consideration.

Hahahaha one time one of the guys brought the bags of protein and corn. He was running late, so we had to wait till the next day. Deer liked that truck. Two bags of corn were ransacked and close to gone. Aoudad tracks too.
South Texas expect anything. Not sure if this answers any questions
 
Totally depends on the area and familiarity.
Would I park near my stand if I’m after a particular buck? No.
Can I shoot does from the truck or even park it within sight of my stand and shoot younger bucks and does if I wanted? Yes
Our deer are used to “traffic”
Heck, I’ve sat in my old white F150 on a full moon night waiting on hogs and lip squeaked a coyote to 50yds.
But, even having done all that, I still park the truck out of sight and quite a distance when hunting.
 
i always thought deer only get spooked by a vehicle is when its running them over.

i've seen them standing on the berm of the road waiting for cars to pass.
 
The North Dakota and Minnesota DNR agencies must start running short on funding in the fall. They stop giving the local deer their Zoloft and they all seem to become suicidal around here. A large doe committed suicide in front of my favorite work car 3 weeks ago.
 
I hunt deep woods, large blocks of public land timber, which is very remote once you get off the main gravel service roads. Here, deer back in the timber absolutely will spook when they encounter a vehicle. Even a parked vehicle. I have seen it. Bears, on the other hand, don't seem to pay much attention to a parked vehicle. Hogs spook at a moving vehicle but don't seem to pay attention to a parked vehicle.
 
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