Here's a thought from this week.
Animals evolve. Deer included. Deer can pass on learned behaviors and traits that make them harder to kill. Science has proven harvesting animals prone to one behavior, will leave more that are prone to the opposite behavior.
IMO, I believe there could be some correlation between the lack of daytime rut movement many hunters are experiencing and the rise in archery hunters. More bow hunters hunting the rut means more deer being killed prone to ignore normal protocol. Deer that remain nocturnal, pass that on. Deer that learn chasing tail after dark is safer, do that year after year. In turn, they could be passing on that learned behavior or trait.
I'm not saying it's the case all across the board, but I do believe some deer are learning this and passing it on.
Your thoughts?
Animals evolve. Deer included. Deer can pass on learned behaviors and traits that make them harder to kill. Science has proven harvesting animals prone to one behavior, will leave more that are prone to the opposite behavior.
IMO, I believe there could be some correlation between the lack of daytime rut movement many hunters are experiencing and the rise in archery hunters. More bow hunters hunting the rut means more deer being killed prone to ignore normal protocol. Deer that remain nocturnal, pass that on. Deer that learn chasing tail after dark is safer, do that year after year. In turn, they could be passing on that learned behavior or trait.
I'm not saying it's the case all across the board, but I do believe some deer are learning this and passing it on.
Your thoughts?