ID by color of the eyes?

denduke

New member
Tryin to settle an argument about eye colors in the lights. Aren't cat eyes yellow/green, yotes and foxes redish, and deer green? Thanks.
 
ALso that is only a general rule. Do not relie on color at all when hunting. Catarcts change the color as does the angle of reflection. Sorry but that rule is bogus when it comes to real life. I have seen deer eyes glow red, yellow and green.
 
The part of the eyes that you see when your shinning a light is a REFLECTOR. This is why they shin so well. Reflectors reflect color as well. In the sping over green grass they will often be green. It depends mostly however on the angle of the reflector what color they will be.

As Elks said. Don't rely on color. Positively identify your target before you shoot. Eye color won't do it.

Byron
 
denduke,

We never really even pay attention to the eye color for identification purposes. We have been fooled to many times to count, and in no way do I feel that eye color should be used in the identification process. Look for the body and identify it 100% before you even take your safety off. Your mind can play some mean tricks on you, dont let your excitment cloud your judgement. We all have seen paterns of eye color, but I dont think it should even be mentioned for fear of someone shooting a coyote eyed cow. It has been done more than we all know, I have lost some good hunting land because of trespassers shooting 'eyes' at night. Set this debate aside and go out and hunt safely and ethicaly.

Take care,

Todd
 
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Thank you Todd Woodall, I flinched at the title of this subject. If you hunt enough at night, you will realize you can be fooled by color. It is not reliable enough to pull the trigger on. No way!

I agree with elks and Byron 100%
 
Wasn't my purpose at all. Gal around here gave a panthem sighting at her home where she shined the light and the eyes were yellowish green. I was just tryin to see if anyone might shed some light on the subject! Lotta panthem sightings that seem to lack proof just determined "eyewitnesses". I kinda figured there was a problem but maybe process of elimination could rule somthing out. The cat snarled and paced around so maybe she can come up with a track or some hair. Can't seem to get any proof anywhere on cougars east of the M'sipi except those for sure in south Florida.

Thanks fellars...Enjoy your site here, but don't post much. Truthfully your joke section is great and lotta good fur handling stuff. Hope ya'll stay up, need to get some bobcat stikers for the truck and help out I s'pose...
http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3675
 
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i have seen just a few coyotes while spotlightning, and all of them had green eyes. i wouldnt take a decision on weather or not to shoot based on the eye color, but i can say that when i see green eyes, upon better inspection i have always identified it as a coyote. good luck!!
 
As the others have mentioned,you have to positively identify your target before pulling that trigger.Once that bullet leaves your barrel there is no turning it back.Hunt Smart and Safely! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I have seen coyotes that have orangish coloredd eyes and I have also seen cats eyes that have been a very bright white color, as well as coyotes that are white, so always know what it is before you pull the trigger and have fun!!!!
 
I get deer in my yard almost every night.(about the time I let the dog out for her last poo of the day, and I cant tell that they are there untill the dog is loose.) When I look out there and see my dog and the deer I cant really tell the difference in the eyes except for the fact the one set that is chasing the other is my dog. Good thing that I have an invisible fence, to stop her.
 
hate to make generalizations when spotlighting predators, but as was mentioned earlier, predator eyes and prey eyes are located in the skull for a reason. But that said, the height of the eyes above ground is also something to look for. A deers almost crystal white reflection 3-1/2 to 4 ft off the ground vs a yote 18-20" off the ground usually delineates species differences without color concerns. Deer will "blink" at you also whereas a yote often turns its head and one eye remains lit up. Nothing other than body ID should be the go-ahead for putting a shot downrange while hunting at night. SOMETIMES (?) coyote eyes will put off a slight green/emerald tint compared to an almost pure white crystal reflection from a deer,horse,cow. Other colors at night, mice/rats/bunnies = pink, 3 bright reflections in a triangle pattern = train. Good luck night hunting.
 
Never by eyes only.Friend of mine tried that and shot into a group of deer,fortunatly he missed,unfortunatly dnr officer was in the area because of shots reported neat the area for three nights in a row saw it on night vision still got a ticket for it.If you can't tell don't shoot it is so not worth it.Hunting is not a spectator sport and that is all you might be if you are wrong.Hunt safe.
 
I seen a deer laying down at night in a feild and i was sure it was a cote standing there.Within a minute it stood up and it was a deer.Be careful,identify the body,if you can't don't shoot.You can very easily shoot someones livestock,i'm sure it has happened,it's all about being responsible when hunting.A safe hunter is a good hunter.
 


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