Are They Really Outsmarting Us? | Bowhunting Whitetails w/ Bill Winke

It sure seems that some bucks knew how to stay one step ahead of me. Are they really smart enough to do that? The answer to that question may change the way you hunt them.

[@arthurdirindinjr1792]

One thing I owe you Mr. Winke is you were the first one who made me aware of how important getting in and out of a hunting area undetected is but it being absolutely vital to get into a area undetected is most important of all and convinced me to do so I truly believe the number one most common mistake otherwise knowledgeable hunters make with big mature bucks is they do like I use to Spend huge amounts of time and effort pre and post season scouting Establishing where the biggest bucks you can find are bedding and what time of the year they bed there and the reason or reasons why they bed there only to ruin your chances ever getting a shot because you alert that buck to your presence by allowing him to see smell or hear your approach to or when leaving your stand sight You also taught me it does not matter how great of a stand sight it is if you can not get into or out of a stand sight without getting busted you have to accept you can not hunt that stand sight and a good hunting spot with great stand access is 10× better than the bestvstand sight you've ever seen but with a terrible stand access Great to see you hunting with your kids those are the moments and memories as a dad you live for

[@bill-winke]

Those are all good words and the lesson that we all need to hear just about every year. It is so tempting to push things and hope to get away with it, but you rarely do and in the process you ruin a great spot and maybe make the buck unkillable in that area. Thanks for the comment and the valuable reminder. Have a great day.

[@jarrodlambert3914]

I agree love all these little clips

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Jarrod. We appreciate the support.

[@RamBo-uu9so]

1978 a dozen of us did a deer drive way up in the UP of MI. My grandpa grew up around the big swamps. Sure enough a Hugh buck was up and running. Ran by me and 3 other standers. Biggest buck any of us ever saw. My grandpa got on his track, barking and tracking. While all of us tried to spot the buck. We never saw the buck before or after that day. A truly wild buck.

[@bill-winke]

They sure are good and getting away from hunters on deer drives. I remember one drive back when I was a boy. The drivers and standers met on opposite sides of a 20 yard wide ditch. We talked for 10 minutes before a buck jumped out of the ditch right between us and ran off. How many did we walk past that never got up?

[@chadsherer9084]

I truly believe ground scent is what keeps them away and makes them nocturnal. Human ground scent can stick around for weeks and they pick it up at night when you aren’t there and won’t show up in that area during daylight. This is why hunting mobile and first spot sits are so productive.

[@bill-winke]

Agreed. I am not sure they can pick it up that long though, at least not in my experience. I think hours is more like it. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how long they can actually smell human scent (or at least how long they will react to it if they do smell it in small doses) and it is not days. But your point is still valid, they learn we have been there long after we leave and that is a bad thing. Your entry and exit routes are super critical to keep this from happening if you are hunting one buck or have to hunt a small area without the luxury of being able to burn spots out. Good luck.

[@lonniechartrand]

This is a tough one for me to believe. I think the location determines how the deer react. I see deer literally living in the middle of populated areas with “human ground scent” ALL OVER THE PLACE! I can see this being the case where deer have little human contact, such as in a wilderness setting. As in your other video I think we give deer too much credit. When I was a kid, sixty years ago, I was told that wild turkeys were the SMARTEST creatures on earth! Then I had an older hunter tell me “Turkeys ain’t smart! They have a brain the size of a pea. They are just so scared and nervous of EVERYTHING that they flee out of fear!!!” Most eye opening advice I ever received!

[@perryrusso3764]

I believe bucks learn “Avoidance” from sighting man, smelling you while hunting, and residual scent you leave they smell at night. It could be the sign we might see and hunt over becomes an abandoned area that buck use to spend a lot of time…my experience while hunting a bruiser Iowa buck this past season moved a mile half to the other side of the lease property - killed him @ 12:30 mid day so I believe they move in places where pressure doesn’t exist…good thoughts Bill as usual…your daughter give her credit where credit is due…balance is key

[@bill-winke]

Agree. They are really good at figuring out when they are being hunted and then avoiding those areas in daylight. Have a great day Perry.

[@Cooper0307]

So much knowledge! Love it

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the kind words and the support Adam. Have a great day.

[@TylerSparks-sj7ws]

Very realistic topic. you folks are putting out top notch, relatable content. Thanks!

[@bill-winke]

We appreciate the support and the comment Tyler. I hope you have a great day.

[@JayMathis-l9e]

Great video!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Jay. Much appreciated.

[@rorynelson7548]

Damn man your daughters out doing this stuff with you instead of off partying somewhere in this crazy world. You must be a great father. Hope my boy is the same

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Rory. I appreciate it. I hope your son sticks by your side. Have a great day.

[@paradisevalleyoutdoors7328]

Bill, In your opinion....How many acres does it take to be able to control the pressure enough to dictate so called "hunting pressure"??

[@bill-winke]

To dictate "hunting pressure" I would guess at least 160 acres. In other words, if you have 160 acres to yourself, you can make the deer feel pretty comfortable there even if there is pressure on the borders. I think to really "manage" your herd for old age bucks without the need for cooperating neighbors it takes thousands - maybe 4 or 5 thousand! So, as we always say, the neighborhood where you hunt is the most important thing.

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

Good stuff B & J! Thanks.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment and the support. We really appreciate it and hope you have a great day.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Great conversations

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. Have a great day.

[@nkillen]

Good stuff! I agree with you Bill 100% and been saying the exact same thing for years! Good stuff! 👍

[@bill-winke]

Thanks. I appreciate the comment and the support. Have a great day.

[@mi_bowhunter80]

Absolutely! Here in Michigan, we don't see "good" bucks past 3 very rarely. We pass "good" 2 year olds, but the neighbors don't. It's super frustrating!!

[@bill-winke]

Agreed. Cooperatives are about the only hope in areas with heavy hunting pressure for long-term improvement. I have heard of a few in Michigan that are doing well producing older age bucks. It sure takes patience to set those up as many old school hunters want nothing to do with passing bucks. It is well worth the effort, however. Good luck.

[@marklohman965]

Habitat loss, over use of herbicides, pesticides, and general farming practices removing fence rows and shelter belts.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the support and comment Mark. Have a great day.

[@kanegillette9891]

Really enjoyed the candid Q&A format between Jordan and you. Jordan's ability to ask a great raw question and get a thorough response from you is huge for the viewership. I have often thought that like humans, deer don't get enough credit for being unique individuals with unique personalities. Deer may seem to be like minded in most situations but each deer is truly different. The collective group may think/live the same way but each individual offers a unique perspective to its life's own encounters. Some of us may be more passive while others are more assertive in similar situations. I think deer can be looked at the same way and it can be another explanation of why they move or when they move. With that said, sometimes it might just be that simple in the fact that one buck moves more freely in daylight due to his assertive nature verse a more passive buck that prefers the less confrontational approach to being nocturnal. And as we age as people I think we get more or less comfortable in certain situations which I think directly applies to deer as well. Thanks for the content Bill!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Kane. I appreciate the comment. I do think the episodes are better when Jordan is on them interacting with the topic. I get kind of tunnel vision on some topics and she keeps my honest. I totally agree that past roughly three years old, it becomes harder and harder to generalize about deer behavior. You are right that each buck is different that difference really starts to show up past that age. If you are hunting a specific buck, the first thing you do is try to learn as much as you can about his personality through encounters and trail cam photos. That makes it easier to figure out the best approach for hunting him. Good stuff. Have a great day.

[@tjsfarmandfamily]

She was keeping you on your toes with those questions, especially the last one!

[@bill-winke]

Yes, pretty soon I will have to hand the hosting duties over to Jordan! She is quick to understand this stuff and draw her own conclusions.

[@aw4088]

Thank you Bill for talking about the ruffed grouse their not getting enough attention. It's been 14 years since I saw a grouse here in my neighborhood in Ohio, I'm afraid it's too late here if we don't do something immediately.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks AW. I loved grouse hunting as a boy. It ranked right up with duck hunting and pheasant hunting. We didn't have many deer back then in NE Iowa so deer hunting was a low priority compared to birds. I would love to see them make a come back on my farm. I am going to do all I can to make that happen. The biologists that stop by my place from time to time tell me that the biggest issue is habitat - too much mature forest. Back when I was boy, I guess roughly 1/3 of our timber was in early succession. Now it is less than 5%. Almost all timber is mature and really needs to be thinned to create new growth. Have a great day.

[@aw4088]

@@bill-winke that is what I'm seeing here in Ohio too much mature timber, but almost nobody is talking about the decline in the grouse population. It's all about deer all the time, don't get me wrong I love deer hunting too, but we need to do habitat improvement for as many species as possible, not just for deer.

[@bill-winke]

@@aw4088 Agree 100%. Most of the habitat work that benefits deer benefits grouse too.

[@dand.5498]

Nothing beats a spring turkey season nap

[@bill-winke]

Amen, brother. I used to curl up on the bluffs with my old gun dog when grouse hunting those hills back in the day too. We both snoozed! Those were high quality naps too!

[@JayN4GO]

Funny you say that. The biggest buck Ive ever shot became daylight active when he was 6 year old. I’m hoping this 10 I’ve been hunting for 4 years now , shrinks his core and becomes daylight but I’m not holding my breath. Hope to see Jordan tag a big Tom.

[@bill-winke]

That has been my overwhelming experience too, Jay. Rarely does a buck reach six years old in the places I have hunted without becoming a lot easier to kill - and that really only translates to one thing - he is moving more in daylight.

[@alexpinnow6509]

Such a great episode, you have to be living it up sharing this information with Jordan and her keeping you sharp in the "more experienced" years! Great format Bill and Jordan

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Alex. I am impressed by how much Jordan absorbs from our discussions and how much she questions my thoughts and approach. She understands deer behavior a lot better than some hunters with a lot more experience.

[@mitchellgenz1373]

Solid advice Bill and Jordan, great video as always.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Mitchell. I appreciate it. Have a great day.

[@karlinwingard1309]

It's good to see Jordan becoming more knowledgeable about hunting and more comfortable in front of the camera!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Karlin. She is doing a great job. I appreciate the comment and the support.

[@artbrennhofer8283]

Hi Bill and Jordan, I agree with your 3 green lights to hunting nocturnal bucks. Do you think that when they get to the 4 & 5 years old range they are now big enough body wise to not get pushed around like younger bucks do thus they can stay in their home range during the day? I am not sure why they would start moving during daylight more when the get older then 6 or 7 years unless they get like us and want to eat more often when so they hit the buffet a little earlier. Thanks for the video.

[@bill-winke]

Art, I am not sure on those questions, but I am not the only one who has noticed that they get easier to kill (more daylight active) when they get old. I think it has something to do with just being so comfortable or maybe their actual physiology changes (how they function). I don't know exactly why, but I do know it occurs. Have a great day.

[@donaldbowling8620]

Bill your spot on. Definitely has everything thing to do with the area. Pressure is the mother of all suppressants. Here in S/W Michigan, it’s rare to even see a 4.5 let alone kill one. They just don’t exist in any real numbers. Most bucks never make it past 2.5.

[@bill-winke]

I have hunted there. I used to hunt the Coldwater area for a couple of years and did hunt up in the UP and some of upper lower Michigan. I loved the tradition there. Really cool to be part of that, but it was really tough hunting. I wasn't good enough at that time to figure out how to adapt to the pressure. Maybe now, I would have more success, but still very tough hunting for anything past 2 1/2 years old. Good luck.

[@donaldbowling8620]

@@bill-winke and the Coldwater area is some of the best area in the state. Lol. Have a great day.

[@bill-winke]

@@donaldbowling8620 Yes, and the farm I had permission on was big. I saw some 2 1/2 and a couple 3 1/2 year old bucks, but I wasn't savvy enough to know how to hunt them.

[@butleroutdoors2188]

Great information and insight! I think entirely too many people mistake bucks for being 100% nocturnal simply because they only get pictures of them at night. Oftentimes it’s because they are hunting too far from where that buck beds. In those cases, if you don’t have permission to hunt the property that is closer to where that buck is bedding, it can be very difficult to kill those bucks.

[@bill-winke]

Good point. I still say (and will die saying it) that some bucks just don't move much in daylight. Maybe they are on their feet in daylight, but rarely leave the immediate vicinity of their beds until dark. I will have to get a few experts on the show and quiz them about this. It may very well just come down to "semantics" (how we define nocturnal). I define it as "not moving far enough from their beds to be vulnerable" where a biologist may define it (and probably does) as just being on their feet. Have a great day.

[@matthewskinner8434]

That video with the clouds / fog and fall ridges was unreal.

[@bill-winke]

That was a really pretty morning. We got lucky on that one. Have a great day Matt.

[@ericbowhunter]

Great information guys. Deer do go through movement phases for sure.

[@bill-winke]

I appreciate the support and the comment Eric. Hope you are well.

[@AlyssaZ251]

I absolutely love all these videos you both are doing! Keep it up guys!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Alyssa. We really appreciate your support. Have a great day.

[@paulbernitt4280]

Agreed. Entry, exit, wind, thermals, low pressure, sign, and act on risk-reward aggressive bedding. Let day lighters go so they can grow. Keep up the great content.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Paul. I do think the fundamentals apply everywhere though and is the need to always manage the risk vs reward tradeoff - chance of killing them versus the risk of educating them. It is interesting how much this tradeoff is effected by where people hunt. How you play it in one area won't work somewhere else because of hunting pressure (mostly). I love hunting undisturbed deer because it is so much fun, but that is not most people's reality so that tradeoff skews more toward the aggressive approach to get the deer before someone else bumps them. It is always interesting stuff.

[@TheLaughingMan_]

Where is this?

[@bill-winke]

We live in Iowa. This is the ME part of the state in the area where I grew up.

[@JackFrostTheDeerHunter]

Number 4 - 1st snowfall really moves the deer around, and even the big bucks....October or November. Good video.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Jack. Much appreciated and good input. I hope you have a great day.

[@shaneallison3370]

As for the top naps 😂 I can say one of my top five have been at the base of a tree with the sun on my face 👍

[@bill-winke]

Just the thought of that makes me want to curl up on the floor in my office!

[@thomaschambers5711]

Sounds like he started bedding closer to food

[@bill-winke]

I think he was always there. I had photos of him in that area all along. I think he just started getting on his feet sooner in the day.

[@gregbunn4642]

Very informative episode. Keep up the good work.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Greg. I appreciate the support. I hope you have a great day.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Those boys are going to town on those bones! Lol

[@bill-winke]

That is their favorite thing to do when we get there every time - find their bones and start gnawing.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Instinct, but they can’t reason. They experience things and know if a bad situation or no situation at all.

[@bill-winke]

Yes, they can remember for a few weeks, in my experience. I honestly think the does have longer memories than the bucks. Have a great day.

[@stevenschmidt5712]

Your 3 green lights are dead on. Public perception if I may. Identify A LOT of bedding on multiple tracts and hunt early and often as close to bedding as you dare. You have to be aggressive (as I learned last season). Bucks do roam around in a very tight area around bedding and on the right day (cold front) will venture slowly from their bedding, usually chomping on acorns or sniffing for does prior to close of business. Unfortunately, not all spots lend themselves to great exits so you may only get one shot at the spot in a two or 3 week period so make it a good one. And mobile hunting works best. Easy peasy, right! .....Of course if you are hunting private managed ground disregard most of what I wrote, see “3 green lights” 😅

[@bill-winke]

Steven, it is great advice and it will work on private land too, but it is a bit too aggressive in most cases because as you state, you may only get one shot before you mess things up. If you are hunting a big area, that is fine, you have lots of other options. But if you are hunting a small farm or a specific buck on a larger farm, you have to be super careful not to put all your eggs in one basket by pressuring him near where he beds. Keep them moving naturally for as long as possible. That has been my recipe for success when hunting specific bucks over the years. In other words, they can't know you are hunting them. People think it is easier to KILL a specific buck on a big property. That isn't true. It is only easier to HAVE a specific buck to hunt on a big farm. In the end, when you are hunting a specific buck you are, in effect, just hunting a small "farm" - the size of the buck's core area. Good stuff. Have a great day.

[@grizzledmillennial4765]

None of the radio collar deer studies support the nocturnal buck theory though.

[@bill-winke]

I have talked with the biologists touting this telemetry data a number of times. I have heard them say there is no such thing as a nocturnal buck. But I have also run trail cameras for a long time in a lot of areas and know that the behavior changes markedly for a three week period in early October. Maybe a better use of words would be to say the bucks aren't vulnerable rather than to say they are nocturnal. It amounts to the same thing for me - they are super hard to kill when they don't move far from their bedding areas during daylight. If they did, I would be getting them on my cameras in places where are killable. Even if they are technically on their feet, traveling less makes them very hard to kill. Stands near bedding areas could work, but there is also a high risk of educating them when you hunt those spots - plus bucks have more than one bed - when trying to sneak near one of them, you can easily bump the bump the buck from a different one. They need to be leaving those areas in daylight in order for us to hunt them effectively with a bow. You can use a hit and run approach if you have enough ground to hunt, but if you are after one buck, you have to hunt them very carefully.

[@grizzledmillennial4765]

@Bill Winke Hey! Thanks for responding. According to deer studies there are a lot of things happening in early October. Food options are changing and testosterone in bucks is ramping up. Buck groups break up and they also shift into their fall /winter ranges which can vary hugelyfrom buck to buck. The October lull has been disproven as well as moon theories. I don't come from a hunting family and have learned everything through trail and error as well as internet data. I have less of a behavioral bias than many hunters that come from a traditional hunting family of community. I also cut my teeth on hunting mountains and suburban environments. Two very very different environments. I love cameras but they never give a full picture. For example if you put a camera on the front and back door of my house you would catch me on the front door cam during the school year but never the back until winter, also you would miss all the times I come in through the garage door.

[@brandonpeyer1265]

Bill, is there a chance that 4-5 year old bucks may be more nocturnal on properties you have hunted (and the drury’s) because the most dominant bucks have asserted dominance over the areas we hunt and they don’t want to be in conflict with those dominant deer?

[@bill-winke]

It is possible. I can't rule that out, but there are many years when I don't have those six year old and older bucks around to keep them in check. I have killed a number of 4 and 5 year old bucks in recent years, so it is possible, but they just tend to be much harder to see than bucks either younger (or when they exist) older.

[@brandonpeyer1265]

@@bill-winke interesting. So many things about deer we will likely never know, only speculate on. It is part of their allure, for sure!

[@user-hn1qn7hd6l]

Just curious, what ever happened with the Loan Oak buck, thought maybe you would mention that one in this episode

[@bill-winke]

We never saw him again that day after we spooked him. No sightings and no trail camera photos. My guess is that he left the farm that winter because we had very little food (drought year) and took up residence somewhere else. He was not big enough that I would have heard about it someone else had shot him, so that is possible too.

[@allieandbo]

It always amazes me how you guys can identify a buck the following year because after it sheds the rack doesn't necessarily grow back EXACTLY like it was the year before does it? What am I missing?

[@bill-winke]

They are generally very similar in form and character from year to year, but generally just bigger (hopefully) each year. That and the fact that they are in the same general area each year is enough to make the positive ID. It is not as hard as you may think. It can be tough to try to track them from 2 to 3 years old, but from 3 on it is not too hard. Good luck.

[@johnlindsay8630]

How about decoying?

[@bill-winke]

John, I know very little about decoying. I know guys that love using them and have shot some good bucks that way. I think it makes sense in open areas where you need something to get a buck that is across the field to come your way. During the few times I tried decoying, I spooked way more does than the number of bucks I attracted. So, I am unlikely to use a decoy unless a specific situation (or last resort) calls for it. Have a great day.

[@scottglew9641]

Hardest thing about hunting these days is lack of access and overcrowding but no one wants to address those issues

[@bill-winke]

It is a hard issue to address because there is no simple answer anyone wants to hear. I wrote an article for the Iowa Game & Fish magazine about 20 years ago called "The Future of Deer Hunting in Iowa". I laid it all out based on what I had seen in other states and just common sense looking at land use trends (development, etc.) and population dynamics. Some people appreciated it because it was a wake up call, but some people got really mad. It was more about "if you don't like the message, shoot the messenger." I think that is why it gets talked about so little. No one wants to be shot for delivering an unpopular message. In the end, if you can't beat them, join them. Work harder to find and keep hunting areas - travel farther - pay money. Like Gene Wensel once said, "I would rather be pissed (about having to travel more, lease or buy hunting land) than pissed on (not having a place to hunt)". I hear what you are saying. Maybe I can figure out a solution.

[@scottglew9641]

@@bill-winke it is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding. It -Upton Sinclair this where our hunting industry is

[@bill-winke]

@@scottglew9641 I think as the industry goes, there is a lot of talk about this because as access declines, so does hunter numbers and that means less bows sold, less camo, etc. It is just a very hard problem to solve. The only solution is money to open up access or to buy more public land. Where does that money come from? That is the hard part.

[@timbow50]

I like your analogy on that buck. Age and reducing his travels too? We’ve had similar experiences with some bucks over the years thinking a neighbor took them. But they showed up later. I’m sure deer will learn fast , from our human clumsiness sneaking?, when there’s something different that day. Repetition too much in a short time into their area is probably one thing they pick up on fast. But, during the rut they can make big mistakes.

[@bill-winke]

I agree with all those comments. I still think the number one rule of hunting whitetails in most areas is that they can't know you are hunting them. Once they figure that it out, the game gets way harder. Good input. Have a great day.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

I’ve not hunted an area that holds 4.5 plus year old deer. As a hunter not many opportunities to know or learn about hunting those older bucks.

[@bill-winke]

I have been blessed in that way. For sure. I wish everyone could see what I have seen.

[@keithkempenich6401]

I don't like the "nocturnal" concept. Big bucks still exist somewhere in the day time and they still get up and move around some place and calling them "nocturnal" is a misleading shorthand. All deer are inherently crepuscular with varying levels of movement during the day and night. You're right, finding their bedroom is key to catching them moving during legal shooting light. Most of the time,they just aren't bedding near where you're hunting or running cameras and that narrow snapshot of information creates the illusion of strict nocturnal behavior.

[@bill-winke]

Keith, I think the real key is that they aren't moving far enough at those times to be vulnerable. If they were, we would be seeing them, photographing them and shooting them in spots that set up well for hunting. They are staying very close to their beds (maybe eating acorns/browse) and that makes them hard to kill because the risk of bumping them when coming and going is much higher. I suppose a better term would be "not vulnerable" rather than strictly "nocturnal". However, I have hunted bucks in Michigan that were strictly nocturnal. They lived in little pockets of brush and literally didn't get out of their beds until almost dark - I watched them do it.

[@chitwoodtaxidermy]

Man time flies by. That hunt seems like just happened !

[@bill-winke]

Yes, it seems like that to me too. That buck taught me (and a lot of people) so many lessons. He was one in a million.

[@shaneallison3370]

You guys may not realize but these simple episodes are absolutely fun to listen to and full of simple information. Love the conversational type episodes between you and Jordan. Can’t forget the dogs 🦴😆 Thanks Bill and Jordan

[@bill-winke]

Shane, we really appreciate the nice comment and the support. Thanks for both. Have a great day.

[@LifeintheWildernessAK]

great stuff.... I think for the most part deer are reactive, not proactive... they don't plan... especially on public lands... It is too hard to predict hunter or other pressures. I would also be interested in understanding the definition of Nocturnal, I think deer need to move but they just don't move where we expect them to. So we say they are nocturnal... they just are moving IN FRONT of us during daylight... ????

[@bill-winke]

That topic relative to what "nocturnal" means has been a common one in the comments. For me, nocturnal means they aren't moving enough in daylight to be vulnerable. If they are on their feet but not really traveling, they aren't very vulnerable for a bowhunter and may just as well be still laying in their beds for all it benefits me. I need to delve deeper into this subject in a future episode as the term "nocturnal" seems to have touched a nerve with many viewers of this series. Thanks for the support and the comment.

[@LifeintheWildernessAK]

@@bill-winke as always thank you for replying...

[@lisaannaallen6283]

deer don't think ,i believe they react to stimuli

[@bill-winke]

Agreed. I know they remember for weeks, but they can't figure out what we are going to do next. As you say, they can only react to what we have done in the past.

[@nybbhUSA]

I find it odd that people say animals and fish are smart per se. imo They learn from experience’s negative and positive and adjust their actions per those experience’s. Do animals learn, i’d say so but i don’t believe they reason in their thought process.

[@bill-winke]

You are right. It just easy to use a term that humans can understand and the word "smart" is something identifiable. Otherwise, it is hard to try to explain how they operate. Instinct, experiences and in the case of deer, learned responses from the mother doe all contribute to how they react to things. Thanks for the comment. Have a great day.

[@jordanhudson5075]

I’m glad your not, we’re running out of deer bones lmao 😂😂😂😂

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the support and the comment Jordan. I hope you have a great day.

[@kurtpearson2793]

This is rare, but I disagree! I feel that bucks don’t get nocturnal, they just awake where you’re not lookin’!!!

[@bill-winke]

For all intents and purposes, if they never leave their bedding area in daylight it adds up to the same thing regardless of when they stand up. It is a good question for debate however. Something I need to come back to. I have had this conversation with biologists a few times. They say bucks are still on their feet in daylight during the "October Lull" for example but they just aren't moving far. To me, that's the same thing as being nocturnal. Again, we need to come back to this at some point.

[@kurtpearson2793]

@@bill-winke thanks! I think we agree, just differ in little bit on personal definitions 👍 easily understood! Thanks again for great videos-!

[@Beasel]

The answer to this question is NO.... they are not that smart.

[@bill-winke]

Agreed. They are survivors but can't figure stuff out that is not already part of experience base. Have a great day.

[@kurtpearson2793]

First

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the support Kurt.

[@kurtpearson2793]

@@bill-winke I’m grateful to learn something every video, you are amazing and are doing a service 👍