Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting deer hunting folklore

Hi,

Are there things about deer hunting that you do, or that are routinely done, that seem folklore-ish to you?

An example, most folks I've deer hunted with (admittedly not that many), feel obliged to slit the throat of the dead deer once they find it. Their rationale is that it "bleeds" it and makes the meat better. Reality is that not much blood comes out of a dead deer when you slit it's neck... it'd be different if it was alive! It seems more like a "that's what grandpa did" type of thing. The real "bleed out" comes from a bullet passing through some vitals while there's still blood pressure.

Another example is my uncle who says you can tell if a deer (whitetail) is hit by whether it's tail is up or down on the first hop after the shot.... if it's up, you probably missed, if down, you hit 'em.... this one may well be true, I'm not sure yet.

So, do you have others, whether they be bogus or not?

All my relations would cut the glands off the rear legs so that it doesn't ruin the meat. I never bothered and have never had a problem.

Brent
Speaking of slitting the throat on a deer, people here in Montana always remove the windpipe from deer, elk and antelope. Back in Vermont where I grew up, that was unheard of.
This isn't deer folk lore, but those old vermonters would tell you that a black bear will "hoot" like an owl. Never heard that claim here in Montana.
Another bit of deer folklore is that deer won't go into rut if the weather doesn't turn cold. Actually, according to biologists, its the amount of daylight that triggers the rut. I think in warm weather the deer do their rutting at night, because their heavy winter hair makes them lethargic during the day. They must rut sometimes, because even after warm falls, there are lots of fawns the next year.
Interesting and unique post.

Royce

The reason the glands are cut off the back legs is to prevent someone from being sloppy and touching or rubbing them and then the meat. Thats pee and rotten pee at that after all.

Cutting the throat. Yep a waste.

I've seen a number of dead deer run off with the tail up. Don't believe that one either.

Or that wounded ones head straight too water. Maybe if they live long enough to get a fever, but I've seen em head straight up a mountain away from any water source.

Lots of wives tales going on with deer hunting. Prime example is the rut. If its hot, they do it at nite as mentioned.

How about brush busting rounds??? That ones still alive and well. And the actual tests show a small fast bullet may be the best bet, rather than a large slow one. I suspect folks looked at a slug and said, no way that will ever veer off course.

Jeff

ROST
When you start talking about rifles for deer, you REALLY get into the folk lore- Example is the old 35 Remington- Whenever its mentioned, people roll their eyes in awe and state something to the effect that the 35 Remington is imbued with killing power of mythical proportions- When pressed, these people usually admit they have never owned a 35, never shot a deer with one, never saw a deer shot with one and have no idea what the ballistics of one is.
The 35 Whelen is another cartridge that evokes similar response, in part because it was named after the magnificent writer of the same name. If it had been named the 35 Mr. Rogers, it would probably be scorned throughout the land, in spite of being an excellent cartridge, albeit not a magical one.
Royce

Actually, Rost... I'm pretty sure they pee down their entire leg when running scrapes, the gland is just a bit nastier.

How 'bout a little folklore from in the camps? In our area, many camps have a deer cinch. What's a deer cinch? It's a steel rod with two barbs, on one end, and a large loop welded to the othe end. The story goes, that if you stick the point up the buck's rear end, and hook the hoop over a fence post, and then come back the next day when the season opens, it's a "cinch" to get a deer. I've seen seveal of these in hunting shacks in Pennsylvania. Or how about the losing of one's shirt tail for a missed shot? Jeez, I'd get awful cold if I had to give one up for the shots I've missed over the years! How about peeing in a buck's scrape. The old timer next door does it all the time-'says it "makes 'em mad!"

I've heard the slit the throat as well as cutting off the scent glands (if you don't want that to taint your meat, why do you cut them off with the same knife you're going to gut the deer with? ).
I've also heard the shirt-tail thing for a first deer, not for missed deer. Shoot, if they cut shirttails off for missed shots, I know a few guys that wouldn't have a shirt to wear!.
As for peeing in a buck's scrape, several years back, the Kerr Mgt Area in Texas did a study on scents for deer. The # 1 scent that attracted ALL of the deer in the test was human pee. I've pee'd in a few scrapes that were either inactive or only slightly used and have had them come back to life for a bit.
Dunno, but maybe the old timer next door is on to something?

Cut the glands, was told that but never did it myself.

Cut the throat, same thing. Couldn't see a dead deer "bleeding".

Shirt tail, yup...only lost one ( missed more than that but was just lucky).

Aim lower shooting downhill and higher shooting uphill BULLSCHMIDT. Did that on a downhill shot (first deer I ever shot at) and missed....twice. After that aimed dead on and started killing deer.

Ive heard of cutting off shirt tails for missed shots and have witnessed everybody in bowhunting camp getting to shoot your hat for a missed shot. Also rubbing blood from first deer on your face.

Calhoun is right on pee down the whole leg. Missed that. We usually have not done it anyway. If you skin carefully you are ok.

High Brass-- You do have to aim lower when shooting an angle either up or down. Simple to calculate. Whats not said is its not much until you are way out there and at a severe angle. But it is a fact.

i cut the deers throat and remove the windpipe. also cut the arsehole out.

what about eating a little bit of your first stag/buck's heart raw? or is that just a NZ thing lol

Rut gets going 9 days after the first full moon of fall. Above the 35 degree line. Oh wait! Maybe that isn't folklore.

cut the glands off after you have done everything else. or just leave them on. but don't use the knife until after it has been washed if you cut them off..

Cut the throat? Ya we use to do that years ago. Here's a picture of my first buck, a nice 8pt that was taken in 1951 (I was 15) As you can see I cut his throat just like my Dad and Grandad did in those days. I can't remember when I stopped doing that but it was a long time ago.

Cool picture RWL99!

How about a little rundown on the car, and that rifle?

Jeff

The car is my dad's 1948 Nash, the rifle is a mod 94 30-30. It was my first deer rifle and no I don't still have it....wish I did.

Your photo should be the cover of next falls magazines!!!leave em black and white too!!!

It took me several minutes to compose myself enough to type.I have images of shirtless hunters peeing in buck scrapes,toteing a knife they feel is forever tainted due to a field dress I can't adequately describe....oooh God,I have tears running......

I have peed in alot of scrapes it does work, something keeps peeing in them, if Calhon wants to pee down his leg thats his business.

I invite all who would like to see shirttails on display to go to the savage collectors forum and click on the link"camp 801"...it's fabulous!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />