Try to keep noise under wraps when tracking deer

By Jim Casada - Special to The Herald

In the previous column, we looked at a variety of matters associated with the whitetail's first line of defense, a keen sense of smell. Deer have first-rate hearing and, though most non-hunters are unaware of the fact, they communicate by sound. These sounds range from rutting grunts by bucks and estrus bleats by does to the snorting or blowing whitetails use as a warning of danger. What this means is that the astute hunter needs to give careful thought to various aspects of sound when he takes to the field.

Minimizing noise

As their large ears would suggest, deer constantly are alert for any unusual sound which could signal danger. They will ignore the racket of scurrying squirrels or the thrashing sounds of turkeys as they fly up to roost at twilight, but let a squirrel begin to bark or a turkey give an alarm �putt,� and every whitetail within hearing instantly becomes alert.

This translates to the fact that hunters need to take every possible step to avoid alerting deer and other wildlife to their presence. There are a number of considerations to keep in mind.

When it comes to clothing, soft fabrics are best. They do not rustle with the inevitable movements which occur when one is in a stand, and they produce little swishing as the hunter brushes against limbs and bushes while moving through fields or woods. Similarly, rubber-soled footwear which not only gives off no odor but allows for stealth is advisable. It is best to ease along, even if you are only en route to a stand. Haste will almost certainly make waste in the form of unwanted noise.

Make sure the swivels holding your gun sling are well lubricated. An untimely squeak could cost you a fine deer. Padding on the arms of both climbing and ladder stands is recommended. It means you are much less likely to produce a telltale racket while easing your gun into place for a shot.

Most hunters are aware of these steps, but the really careful deer hunter takes matters further. For example, if you park your vehicle at a spot where whitetails are accustomed to hearing such sounds, fine. On the other hand, driving into the woods, slamming a door, and then thinking you can saunter along 300 yards and never be noticed is dreaming.

Another often overlooked area is all-terrain four-wheelers so popular with hunters. They are great for getting deer out of the woods or putting up stands in the preseason, but using them to drive within a 100 or 200 yards of a stand is foolish. In general, the hunter wants to be as unobtrusive as possible, and the more steps he can take to reduce the likelihood of alerting deer, the better.

Talking with deer

While alien sounds are to be avoided at all costs, modern hunters have found that �communicating� with their quarry can pay real benefits. Various types of sounds, from the �where's Mama� bleat of a fawn through the throaty grunt of a rutting buck, can be made with any number of calls on the market.

The art of calling deer is complex, but many find it the ultimate challenge in deer hunting. Certainly, it is a major step toward interactive hunting, a distinct departure from the standard �sit, wait, and hope� approach. Deer calls can stop a moving deer, provide a certain sense of comfort when they are nervous or, especially in the case of bucks during the rut, draw them to the hunter.

However, it is my belief that neither calls nor rattling are as effective in this area as in some parts of the whitetail world. That is for the simple reason that in almost all places in South Carolina, except those scattered locations with sound quality deer management practices in effect, the buck-to-doe ratio is badly out of balance.

One thing is certain though, any serious deer hunter needs to give considerable thought to the whole matter of sound as a part of his hunting strategy.

Outdoor calendar

Oct. 1-March 1 � Squirrel hunting season. Limit 10.

Oct. 11-Jan. 1 � Modern gun hunting for deer. Limit two daily and 10 total.

Either sex deer days � Oct. 17, 24, 31; Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28; Dec. 19, 26; Jan. 1 (you can also purchase antlerless deer tags).

Oct. 15-March 1 � Raccoon and possum season. Limit 3 daily per party.

Nov. 1-March 1 � Crow hunting season.

Nov. 23-March 1 � Quail season. Limit 12 daily.

Nov. 26-March 1 � Rabbit season. Limit 5 daily.

Nov. 26-March 1 � Fox hunting. No limit.

Jan. 2 � Statewide youth deer day.