thanks for all the replies.  I haven't lived this long, btw, by wandering
through a redneck filled wood during hunting season w/o precautions -
actually they have a poaching season also.  Now that I think of it they also
use the roadways...

A reasonable set of suggestions:  use a blind for birds and probably for
wildlife also and camo helps.  most of the creatures around here could be
hunted with a baseball bat, but the bucks are more cautious and for good
reason.

cheers,

rma

I am both a deer hunter and a nature photographer. Let's not get into a
discussion of whether you approve of hunting or not.  This gives me about 33
years of experience in gettting very close to deer. It is not an easy task
at any time unless the deer have been habituated in some preserve or park.

Your  comment  is correct about UV.  From my deer hunting experience, it is
a factor when you are within 30 meters (bow range).  The UV free product is
primarily used around here by bowhunters who typically get within 20 meters
for a shot. It works. On the other hand, I have shot a lot of deer with a
shotgun at 35 to 90 meters and don't see any indication that UV is a factor.
I haven't used it since I retired from bowhunting. There are other bigger
issues for approaching deer.

Deer have an inner threat zone around 30 meters within which they can even
hear you breathing.  It  appears to me that beyond the inner zone, it
follows that noise, movement and scent are the biggest concern.  Deer can
locate every spot that you set your boots unless they were freshly scrubbed
rubber.

For most cameras, the shutter sound will be enough to send them off in a
wild dash.  Canons are the quietest in that regard.

Regarding scent, deer will certainly detect any fragrances used in laundry
products, shaving lotions, deodorants or such.  Scent is also a  concern
outside the inner threat zone.  They may be uncertain about whether a motion
is a threat but will NEVER question the slightest whiff of unnatural or
human scent.  Cover scents just do not consistently work. Unlike humans,
deer can differentiate may odors simultaneously.  (Sort of like a teenager
listening to music while studying.) I have used skunk scent and even that is
often useless in that it draws attention.  The best scent is no scent.  This
includes any scent carried on your shoes.  I never fuel my car with the
shoes that I will wear in the deer woods.

If this sounds like a bit of fanaticism, then that is what is required to
get very close.  It is also why so many inexperienced people spent many days
in the woods and never see a single deer.  Deer are not a poor, ignorant
animal wandering around in the woods, that is more applicable to humans.

PSsquare

RE: Hunter orange and hunting season.

I suggest that photographers stay out of the woods in gun hunting season.
The deer are going to be pretty spooked and unusually difficult to
photograph.  During bow season the deer will be much less disturbed.

Deer are a very nervous, high strung animal.  They are not  going to be
acting naturally when actively shot at.

On public lands during gun season there can be a lot of activity and some
real idiots.  This is especially true on public lands near large urban
areas.  Safety orange is wise, but you will likely be wasting your time
anyhow with so much activity.  Even the deer that take refuge on small
preserves during gun season are spooky. On private land you should be able
to know how many people and where they are.  Somewhat better, especially in
bow season.  Personally, I only hunt on private land and know exactly who is
where.  I would NEVER go on public hunting lands during big game season.  I
would quit  hunting first.

While deer do not see color, the blaze orange is seen as a bright area.  So
many of the blaze garments have huge areas of solid orange and you might as
well be wearing a white coat.  That is how the deer see it, especially if
you move.  There are a few blaze orange camo garments, and they are much
better.

But to me it is not so much a safety issue, but rather a poor time to expect
to get close to a deer. The ideal place to me would be a large state or
federal park/preserve that allowed only bow hunting.  I  would especially
try to use my car as a blind.  Some of the waterfowl refuges come to mind.

Hope this helps.

PSsquare

I stay out of the woods during hunting season. I no longer hunt and I
don't need to be shot at. I have a medium sized dog. Several years ago i
rented a cabin on a private lake during deer season. Hunting is not
allowed on the property, but I wore blaze the entire time I was out. The
owner of the property wouldn't let me put my dog out without a blaze
vest as well! I thought he was joking, but sure enough the local sports
shop had them in small, medium and large. I will never do it again. In
the
same county, a man was found dead, shot presumably by a stray
bullet...or not. It isn't uncommon to hear the story of the accidental
death during deer season. Plus as PSquare pointed out , a deer with a
terrified expression isn't reallt photogenic.
Stan
Visual Arts Photography