Deer hunting is one of the most popular types of hunting sports, and it involves using a lot of gear for a successful hunt. An All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) is a critical part of a hunter's gear, and if you own one, you will appreciate the convenience that it brings with it. However, your ATV can also be counter-productive, and one of the biggest problems that can arise is that your ATV may spook deer. Here we discuss how to stop spooking deer with your ATV.
You have probably experienced this but were either unaware of it or unable to avoid it from occurring. The problem is very real, and the solution is quite simple, so I feel that it is important to know what to do to avoid spooking deer with your ATV. Here are a few simple steps that should put you in the right direction:
Let me start by first saying that if you use an ATV, spooking deer with it is not going to disappear entirely. What you need to know is to what extent you will or won’t spook them. So, here goes!
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Noise Factor
Not all ATVs are the same so that the noise level may vary from one vehicle to another. Even electric ATVs can be pretty noisy. Ensure that you use a silent electric ATV, if you use electric. However, through regular maintenance, you will be able to keep the noise from your ATV down to the minimum.
You will need to check your car auto parts list and ensure that the parts used will help to keep the noise level down. Use an effective silencer on your ATV, which will contribute to reducing the engine noise.
Pro Tips On Reducing Your ATV’s Noise
1. Tighten And Pack
Make sure that all metal and hard parts are firmly secured to each other, to eliminate rattling. You can use padding material like rubber, foam or paper to deaden any noise. Ensure that no loose nuts and bolts are knocking around the vehicle.
2. Check Your Exhaust Lines
Cracks or fissures in exhaust lines can result in increased noise levels and can even cause the engine to backfire. All flanged and bolted joints should be inspected to ensure that there are no leaks. Check the exhaust lines for holes and replace any damaged parts.
3. Wheel Bearing Noise
If water or mud enters the wheel bearings, it could result in increased vibration due to friction and cause screeching noises. Clean and grease wheel bearings on a regular basis and especially before storage.
4. An Extra Muffler
Consider installing a second muffler. You can easily procure one from the net like ‘Silent Rider.' This muffler will contribute to reducing the overall noise level of the vehicle.
5. Check Your Brakes
If the brake calipers get contaminated with moisture, mud or dust, it could result in screeching noises. Clean the brake assembly regularly and replace worn brake liners.
Fuel And Exhaust Smell
All wild animals have an extremely well-developed sense of smell and deer are no exception. If you are using petrol or diesel-powered ATV, the smell of the fuel can be overpowering to deer and can be sensed by them miles away from the vehicle.
Here are a few tips that should reduce the smell factor:
- Keep all fuel pipes, and fuel caps sealed tightly to eliminate fuel spills
- Avoid filling your tank in the field – ensure that you have a full tank when you set out
- Keep the engine well-tuned to reduce emission as far as possible
- Ensure that the fuel and air filters of your vehicle are not blocked
- As far as possible, do not carry loose fuel on a hunting trip, or at least keep it to a minimum.
Getting Them Used To It
Getting deer used to your continued presence is by far the most effective means of reducing chances of spooking a deer that I have seen. Just follow these steps, and you will meet with a better success rate at actually coming into close contact with deer and other game.
Move around Well in Advance: Take regular drives into the hunting location up to a month before the season starts. These drives will make the deer herds familiar with the appearance and smell of you and your vehicle.
It is particularly important if you use a gasoline powered ATV. Preferably, you should make 2 or 3 trips about once a week through the hunting location up to a month before the hunting season begins.
Non-Threatening Stance: The deer should not associate your ATV with any form danger to them. So, in these pre-hunt forays, make sure that you don’t engage in any hunting-related activity like setting up a stand or engaging in target practice.
Just drive up to a particular location, kill the engine and wait for a period, say 10 to 15 minutes without exiting the vehicle. Then, move to another location and do the same thing. You could carry a book or some magazines with you to keep yourself occupied in the waiting periods.
Never Park and Walk: Parking your ATV at a distant point from the hunt site and walking for a long distance is not advisable. You are not only making it difficult for yourself, but you are also creating a trail that could result in deer getting spooked.
A Better Hunting Experience With Your ATV
Once you have read and understood these simple steps, you are already well on the way to use your ATV in a more efficient way, to integrate it into the hunting process. Your ATV should serve as a convenience and not a nuisance while hunting for deer. There is no point of investing in expensive equipment and even more on an ATV if you are going to spook deer with your vehicle.
Once you start following the procedure outlined here, you will probably get some new ideas of your own as well. After all, hunting is all about understanding your prey, to be able to hunt it more efficiently.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this and found the tips useful in how to stop spooking deer with your ATV. Please don’t forget to leave your valuable feedback and comments and if you have any questions, we will be happy to get back to you.