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Post by beermaker on Aug 1, 2015 11:26:04 GMT -5
After the last two ridiculous winters I decided to retire from snow shoveling and I have purchased an ATV. I have a large concrete slab, 110 foot downhill driveway, and the county does not clean our neighborhood worth a crap. When they do, our driveways are always plowed shut!
I have also decided that my deer dragging days are over. While I have always been somewhat against ATV use where I hunt, my hunting party is not getting any younger and the drags seem to be getting longer. For a few years we could bribe the college age kids with beer to do the dragging, but they have all moved on. I can't imagine dragging another deer while my ATV sits in the garage.
So, does anyone have any credible information about using an ATV to remove harvested deer? Specifically if the presence of an ATV will adversely affect deer movement later in the same day or even the next day. I plan to use it ONLY for removing deer, NOT to travel back and forth from the stand.
Thanks ahead for any good information. I am not asking for a lecture on where it is legal to use an ATV.
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Post by throbak on Aug 1, 2015 11:54:30 GMT -5
I thought the same in 2006 when I got mine And hated them but I can assure the way you ate going to use it will have absolutely no effect on the deer
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Post by swilk on Aug 1, 2015 12:33:07 GMT -5
It all depends....all deer are not created equal. If I were after a particular mature buck and knew his general bedding area there is no way I would risk riding an ATV close to that area.
For the most part I'd say they don't make a difference....
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Aug 1, 2015 12:39:04 GMT -5
I did see a hunting video that wasn't advertising any ATV recommend ridding to the stand instead of walking. I will be, but will try to hide it.
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Post by jimstc on Aug 1, 2015 13:20:44 GMT -5
Deer adapt to the pressures they experience. On my place we are using an ATV, UTV, a tractor, a sprayer etc. The ones that live or pass through here regularly pay little attention to the machinery or noise because they have never been hurt by it and they sense it as normal. I can be working in one field and see deer in an adjoining field. They keep an eye on me but don't run away unless I infringe on their space. So, I suggest, if possible go to your hunting area and expose the deer population to your ATV well in advance of hunting season. It may not make a difference, but that is what I would do. Create a sense of normalcy.
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Post by ms660 on Aug 1, 2015 14:15:10 GMT -5
Some of the largest bucks I have ever seen up close was in the seat of a John Deere 9600 shelling corn, but then again I have had does stomp and blow and flee from my parked three wheeler 200 yards away while in my stand.
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Post by windingwinds on Aug 1, 2015 15:03:41 GMT -5
We have had Wiley does sneak behind a fourwheeler just a hundred yards. They tend to watch and move after atvs leave here at our current home. But plenty of cover here, the back is not mown except for a few paths. Not sure about the bucks though I do know they still visit the rubs and scrapes. I would avoid bedding areas if possible, but a atv is a asset to quickly processing a deer.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Aug 1, 2015 15:09:04 GMT -5
No it will not. They watch you drive right by.
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Post by firstwd on Aug 1, 2015 15:33:15 GMT -5
I have found that an atv will have an effect on deer, or at least it will have an effect on their movements. Deer take the path of least resistance and an atv trail provides very little resistance.
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Post by esshup on Aug 1, 2015 19:11:39 GMT -5
I believe that the minimal intrusion that you will be doing when using the ATV won't matter at all. I've used one the exact same way and can't say that I have or have not impacted the next hunting day.
BUT, I used to hunt behind the house on this 10 ac parcel. Back 7 acres are woods, that connect to a larger woods. Neighbors moved in and used the ATV's and dirt bikes in the woods a lot, even driving up to an hour after sunset. I haven't shot a deer behind the house 3-4 years, and only now, a year+ after they have toned down their driving have I seen deer tracks. Now they only drive there to drag out firewood.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 23:08:43 GMT -5
On my property, my hunting areas are at or near the top of the ridge. The walk up from my cabin is quite steep for the first 2/3 of the way. In less than a half mile of trail it gains 300 feet in elevation before it levels off to rolling ridges and hollows where my stands are up top. It is almost impossible to walk up there without getting sweaty. So I ride my 4-wheeler up past the steepest grade and park it, then walk up the rest of the way. That's worked great for me. Beats the heck out of getting sweaty!
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ajp12
Junior Member
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Post by ajp12 on Aug 2, 2015 12:22:24 GMT -5
I don't think it will. Last weekend I was out clearing out some trees with a chainsaw and had to stop because a nice buck and 4 does walked out into the bean field less than 100 yards away. I watched them for a while before I went back to chainsawing. They did however take off back into the woods when the tree I was cutting finally fell down.
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Post by jimstc on Aug 2, 2015 14:14:12 GMT -5
Some real time data. Bush hogged my back field today. MF 4608 and a 6' bush hog. Real loud stuff. Didn't see any deer.
Two hours later I went back to do some finish work around trees etc, on my MF ZT33 (33 hp diesel mower). Loud stuff again.
Saw four deer. Two mothers and two fawns. The mothers were very relaxed and stared at me before they trotted off. The fawns were a bit more skittish but not much. This was newer to them than their mothers. It is normal to them and it has not ever hurt them. Just noise...... All of them were inside 50 yards. They crossed the field twice, first west to the woods then east to the creek. A Sunday stroll.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Aug 2, 2015 16:44:52 GMT -5
Last year, I drove my truck to the top of the ravine, and walked down the bottom to my stand (100yds). This year and two years ago, I rode the ATV into the bottom and park it on the other side of the trees.
Like Swilk said though, some big mature bucks are extremely cautious, and anything out of what they think is normal will keep them away. However, the biggest buck that I ever did see was standing in the middle of a major intersection during pre-rut. I think if the time is right they'd walk over top of your ATV to get that doe.
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Post by cindy on Aug 2, 2015 19:38:51 GMT -5
This is Cindys boyfriend Rob posting on her account . I ride a 4wheeler nearly everyday around the farm, deer get accustomed to it. As long as I don't make direct eye contact they let me get very close.
I don't use mine for hunting but that's simple a personal choice. Though I have walked out when back to house got 4wheeler and retrieved deer. Even that doesn't bother them much.
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Post by woodmaster on Aug 2, 2015 19:39:40 GMT -5
Deer adapt to the pressures they experience. On my place we are using an ATV, UTV, a tractor, a sprayer etc. The ones that live or pass through here regularly pay little attention to the machinery or noise because they have never been hurt by it and they sense it as normal. I can be working in one field and see deer in an adjoining field. They keep an eye on me but don't run away unless I infringe on their space. So, I suggest, if possible go to your hunting area and expose the deer population to your ATV well in advance of hunting season. It may not make a difference, but that is what I would do. Create a sense of normalcy. That sounds exactly what a hunter said to me after I confronted him. He had just ran some deer off of me while he was driving his 4 wheeler down an old logging road. One of his comments that will be itched in my mind forever is "that surprises me, I never see deer spook from my 4 wheeler. Usually they just stand and stare at me". There are a lot of deer that get spooked that you never see. |
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Post by steiny on Aug 3, 2015 8:54:31 GMT -5
ATV's are great to retrieve downed deer. I wouldn't hesitate to use one for that chore.
I do not think an ATV should be used to access your hunting area, they will definitely spook deer. Not too many places in IN that we have to walk more than about a 1/2 mile to a stand anyway, and most of us could use the exercise.
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Post by dbd870 on Aug 3, 2015 9:42:15 GMT -5
ATV's are great to retrieve downed deer. I wouldn't hesitate to use one for that chore. I do not think an ATV should be used to access your hunting area, they will definitely spook deer. Not too many places in IN that we have to walk more than about a 1/2 mile to a stand anyway, and most of us could use the exercise. My thinking as well. |
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Post by boonechaser on Aug 3, 2015 10:24:48 GMT -5
I see a big difference in behavior between my tractor's and ATV's. I can drive right up to 15 -20 yds to deer on a tractor but not on ATV's. Deer in general may tolerate ATV's on property but I believe your mature deer will not tolerate to much disturbance's before they seek cover elsewhere. I do very little joy riding on my hunting properties. ATV use is limited to work or retrieving animal's.
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Post by jimstc on Aug 3, 2015 11:39:37 GMT -5
Deer adapt to the pressures they experience. On my place we are using an ATV, UTV, a tractor, a sprayer etc. The ones that live or pass through here regularly pay little attention to the machinery or noise because they have never been hurt by it and they sense it as normal. I can be working in one field and see deer in an adjoining field. They keep an eye on me but don't run away unless I infringe on their space. So, I suggest, if possible go to your hunting area and expose the deer population to your ATV well in advance of hunting season. It may not make a difference, but that is what I would do. Create a sense of normalcy. That sounds exactly what a hunter said to me after I confronted him. He had just ran some deer off of me while he was driving his 4 wheeler down an old logging road. One of his comments that will be itched in my mind forever is "that surprises me, I never see deer spook from my 4 wheeler. Usually they just stand and stare at me". There are a lot of deer that get spooked that you never see. Yep exactly the same thing.  ? So you figure? Don't think so. Not even close. Your fact situation is a random ATV rider on land with deer who have never been exposed to any or much machinery noise. My fact situation is my farm on which I have observed the behavior of deer for over 18 years and their reaction to tractors, ATV, UTV and other machinery. Over the years my residents and frequent visitors have become desensitized to machinery noise. That was my point: deer adapt. Nowhere did I say or infer the deer don't get spooked until they get used to machinery. Of course they do. Duh. Take a look at my post in this thread posted yesterday. It may help you understand what I said...........If not, can't help you. |
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