In a prior blog post at
www.marty-prokop.com, one of our Free-Deer-Hunting-Tips.com
community members, Marcel, asked a great question regarding
chattering red squirrels and squawking jays warning deer
hunters of approaching deer.
This particular question has been a topic of
deer hunting debate for years.
It is always a great idea to keep your eyes
and ears searching for any sign of deer activity when you
are sitting in your deer hunting treestand, deer blind or
out deer hunting.
Red squirrels are notorious for chattering
when something new is in their territories. I can not recall
one instance when I did not have a red squirrel chattering
at me while I was sitting on my deer hunting tree stand. It
is just the squirrel’s way of letting you know it sees you.
I have had squirrels alert me to approaching
deer on more than one occasion. In these cases, the
squirrels were 50 to 100 yards distance from me when they
started to chatter.
At times, when I turned toward the squirrels’
callings, deer were coming from their directions. Did this
happen every time? No. Many times the squirrels were simply
chattering to let me know they saw me.
I have heard squirrels chatter at other
animals like fishers, mink and coyotes too. Nonetheless, I
believe squirrels could alert you to something approaching
your location.
Jays, on the other hand, are opportunists.
They will fly in and around your deer hunting area looking
for food. When food becomes a bit more difficult to find,
jays can be territorial, squawking to chase off other birds
or squirrels.
I have listened to and followed the calls of
jays and crows to help me find downed deer.
A few years back I had taken a nice buck
toward the end of the deer hunting day. I knew I had a good
hit but could not find any sign. I tracked the deer for an
hour. Finding no sign, I opted to let the deer go over
night. It was the only deer I have ever let go over night.
Talk about a sleepless evening.
The next morning, I went back to where I saw
the deer go into the woods. I stood on the edge of the tree
line looking in. I noticed about 60 yard in the woods, two
bald eagles were perched high in one tree, and crows and
jays filled the next tree over.
The eagles were quiet. The crows and jays
were squawking. I walked towards the tree the crows and jays
were calling from.
Twenty yards into the woods, I picked up a
good blood trail. Forty yards further into the woods, right
below the jays and crows, was a nice 10-point buck.
Always pay close attention to the sights and
sounds when you are out deer hunting. Although squawking
jays and chattering squirrels don’t always alert you of
approaching deer, there are times they will.
The next time a squirrel chatters in the
distance, he could be telling you a big buck is heading your
way.
