Have you observed deer scared of Jeep but not tractor?

Here I live in what I would consider cattle country, deer pay almost no mind to tractors. Farmers feeding hay during hunting season, and the deer couldn't care less. But as has been mentioned on here previously wbpdeer, if a farmer regularly checks his cows in the same pickup or 4x4 or even walks to do it, does and even mature bucks will pay them little mind. I have always thought and continue to think that with vehicles it is all about the sound. They quickly learn the sound of a vehicle that doesn't pose a threat to them. But when a different vehicle shows up they head for the hills.
 
tlh2865 said:
Here I live in what I would consider cattle country, deer pay almost no mind to tractors. Farmers feeding hay during hunting season, and the deer couldn't care less. But as has been mentioned on here previously wbpdeer, if a farmer regularly checks his cows in the same pickup or 4x4 or even walks to do it, does and even mature bucks will pay them little mind. I have always thought and continue to think that with vehicles it is all about the sound. They quickly learn the sound of a vehicle that doesn't pose a threat to them. But when a different vehicle shows up they head for the hills.
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It seems to make sense, and that's what I always believed. But my experience has been way different. I don't use my tractor much, but they don't mind it. I drive the jeep to do chores all the time, but it makes them run.
P.S. I don't shoot at deer from the jeep, deer rarely get shot at on our property, when they do they're usually alone and dead.
 
Way back when, my Dad, my Brother and I owned a Timber and Sawmill Company. While we were out cutting Timber it was very eye-opening as to what deer will get used to. If feed was low that year it was not uncommon for deer to be standing-waiting for Dad to finish cutting down a tree so they could feed on the top--- while hes was trimming off the limbs and cutting it for length.
I drove the Skidder and although it had what was called a muffler, it didn't do much. I could drive right past deer bedded or up and feeding and they would just look at me.

Deer are smarter than some folk give them credit for. They learn quickly what is Danger and what is Not.

On ATV's, it depends on if you use them regular or not. If you only use them during Hunting Season they will associate them with Danger. If you use them on the Property all year long they don't care. One year while hunting with my Brother in his enclosed box stand, I went out to take a whiz and have a smoke. A young Doe came walking down the trail we drove in on on his small SXS. That doe walked right past it and laid down not 20 yards from it.
 
When I was a teenager my brother-in-law got permission to hunt some Ag land in Kingstree SC. The farmer didn't like to hunt but knew the importance of controlling the herd to limit his crop damage. I remember sitting in a stand and having 3 does walk a hedge row towards my stand. The farmer came down the road on his tractor about the same time and the deer just sat down at the edge of the road and watched him drive by. Talked to him after and he said they always do that and he figured it was because he drove the tractor all the time on the property and didn't shoot at them. I've still not seen deer sit like that. It's like they were dogs.

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Charleston Treeman said:
When I was a teenager my brother-in-law got permission to hunt some Ag land in Kingstree SC. The farmer didn't like to hunt but knew the importance of controlling the herd to limit his crop damage. I remember sitting in a stand and having 3 does walk a hedge row towards my stand. The farmer came down the road on his tractor about the same time and the deer just sat down at the edge of the road and watched him drive by. Talked to him after and he said they always do that and he figured it was because he drove the tractor all the time on the property and didn't shoot at them. I've still not seen deer sit like that. It's like they were dogs.

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Reinforces the idea that deer like tractors. But the deer sat down? Do you happen to have a picture of the deer sitting down like dogs because I've never heard of this before?
 
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Mennoniteman said:
View attachment 14743
Reinforces the idea that deer like tractors. But the deer sat down? Do you happen to have a picture of the deer sitting down like dogs because I've never heard of this before?
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This was early 90s before smart phones. They were sitting like this. Only time I've ever seen it.
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Deadeye said:
Way back when, my Dad, my Brother and I owned a Timber and Sawmill Company. While we were out cutting Timber it was very eye-opening as to what deer will get used to. If feed was low that year it was not uncommon for deer to be standing-waiting for Dad to finish cutting down a tree so they could feed on the top--- while hes was trimming off the limbs and cutting it for length.
I drove the Skidder and although it had what was called a muffler, it didn't do much. I could drive right past deer bedded or up and feeding and they would just look at me.

Deer are smarter than some folk give them credit for. They learn quickly what is Danger and what is Not.

On ATV's, it depends on if you use them regular or not. If you only use them during Hunting Season they will associate them with Danger. If you use them on the Property all year long they don't care. One year while hunting with my Brother in his enclosed box stand, I went out to take a whiz and have a smoke. A young Doe came walking down the trail we drove in on on his small SXS. That doe walked right past it and laid down not 20 yards from it.
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I was thinking of this thread last weekend. I cut some maple trees for firewood. I would drag a log out, by the time I got back 3 deer were feeding on the tops. They would stay until I got off the tractor to get the next log, run 20 yards off and watch as I hooked up. They wouldn't even look at me as we passed each other. Me to the log pile, them back to the tops.
 
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