Cause & Effect

This is about a topic first learned in school. It may not have been devised with whitetail deer in mind, but it certainly does apply.

It states that for every action, there is an opposite or opposing reaction. We've all heard this before, and it applies in many and varied ways to deer hunting.

Take an ill-advised shot at a buck or doe and miss, and the action of shooting causes an opposing reaction. The deer runs off, alarmed but unharmed. It also snorts and alerts other deer in the area to hunter presence.

There’s no mistaking a bad reaction to an unwise human decision.

This action-reaction plays out on a daily basis in the deer woods. Set up in the wrong place, place yourself upwind of deer, and once they catch your scent, off they go without a bow-shot being taken.

The same action-reaction could be called cause-and-effect. Your ill-advised hunting actions cause you to take a shot and miss, and the deer runs off, allowing for its escape.

Many bow hunters fail to heed the good advice of credible hunters. They seem to think they are invisible because they are dressed in camo. Well-worn camo can be ruined by wearing clothing washed in detergent with whitening agents. The deer spook from whitened clothing that just doesn't look natural.

Thousands of hunters believe they are quiet and motionless. They should have a buddy sit 50 yards away with a video camera to tape all the movements that are made.

We've all seen television hunting shows where the cameraman tapes the host pointing and loudly whispering "it’s a buck" four or five times in a row. These are called "cutaways," and are usually taken long after or before the buck has walked into range and caught an arrow through the heart and lungs.

Be cautious about what you think is learned from a TV hunting show.

Hunters who try such nonsense merely are seen, heard or both by the deer, and the animals run off snorting. Cause and effect or action and reaction.

Television hunting shows are expensive to produce, and the competition for advertising dollars is fierce as people compete for money to do next year’s shows. If they make noise at the wrong time, and the buck vamooses, the chance of getting future ad dollars from that company go down the tube. Again, a classic case of action and reaction.

Bow hunters are well advised to consider cause and effect, action and reaction, every time they go hunting. For every possible action, there is a possible reaction, and they may be damaging to your body or harmful to your hunting efforts.

Hang stands early. Insure that everything is safe. Wear a safety harness. Learn how to sit still and don't make noise. There are countless things to think about, but consider every action far in advance and think about any possible reactions.

Give live deer the credit they deserve.

Deer live in the fields, swamps and woods every day. We live there a few hours a day or a week. Give deer a great amount of credit for being instinctive, savvy and alert to changes within their home range.

One way to consider your actions while deer hunting is to consider your bed. If the head of your bed faces west, and you prepare to retire for the night and find the head of the bed facing east, you will quickly notice it. Deer always notice changes in their world.

Consider every change made while hunting, and give serious consideration to the reactions. This is such a basic concept that any bow hunter should learn it early in their hunting career. Alas, too many don’t learn it until it’s too late.

Just remember: for ever action, there is an opposite reaction. Anything you do can and will backfire if you don't think the problem through long before committing to it.

Conquer this basic thought, engage the brain before the body, think things through, and it's very possible that your hunting success ratio with climb.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors