Deer sight in the Dark

[PredatorTC]

How well do you think a deer can see in the dark. My buddy told me where I should set up the other day in a woods on a morning hunt. I told him that the deer are feeding in the field 300 yards away and will see me walking through the open woods. He laughed and told me that they cant see that far in the dark.

I would think they can see just fine.... Maybe im wrong?

[RaisedByWolves]

great question, always wondered this myself while I'm walking in on morning hunts

[BigHunt]

How well do you think a deer can see in the dark. My buddy told me where I should set up the other day in a woods on a morning hunt. I told him that the deer are feeding in the field 300 yards away and will see me walking through the open woods. He laughed and told me that they cant see that far in the dark.

I would think they can see just fine.... Maybe im wrong?

i think they see farly good . one mouring i did what you said and started walking across this 300 acre feild and they were on the other end and they blew at me and ran off

[JRM6868]

I actually think they see better in the dark than daytime. Don't know for a fact but they run through the woods at night and don't run into any trees.

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[Dewey]

I read an article awhile back that said deer can see as well at night as we can during the day. Something with rods and cones in their eyes are really different. Wish I could find that article.

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[Dewey]

Not the one I was talking about but this one might have the info you are looking for....... http://home.comcast.net/~gefferts/deervis.htm

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[bowhunter15]

Even if they can see better in the dark, it's almost as if they know that we can't see well in the dark. I've walked past deer very close by on the way in or out at dark, and they just watch me go past. As soon as I stop, they get nervous and run off. This could even be in an open field.

[NightwishMike]

Even if they can see better in the dark, it's almost as if they know that we can't see well in the dark. I've walked past deer very close by on the way in or out at dark, and they just watch me go past. As soon as I stop, they get nervous and run off. This could even be in an open field.

I've had that happen to me as well.

[Dewey]

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky_7I3iF ... ata_player

[bowhunter15]

I'd be interested to see how their rods and cones are positioned in their eyes.

In humans, the cones are centered on the fovea (the very back of your eyes) and the rods are positioned around the fovea. This explains why your eyes can see color images (cones) when you're directly focused on something, but have a hard time depicting exact images that are in your periphery. However, you can pick out movement in the periphery quite well because of the location of the rods.

Try this sometime. When it's low light, and you're trying really hard to focus on something, try flicking your focus a little off of the object. You can usually see it better when you do this, because its the rods that are picking up the light. Wonder if deer's receptors are similar.

[JV NC]

I actually think they see better in the dark than daytime.

I think they see better in the dark than we do (obviously).....and not as well in the daytime as many think. I think they see REALLY good in low-light conditions (dusk/dawn).

I'm way more worried about my scent going out in the PM's or to stand in the AM's than I am a deer seeing me. I don't think that's an issue. Even if they see "me"....they don't (IMO) have a clue what "me" is (in the darkness). Deer blow and run off for many reasons.

I try not to underestimate their senses. But, I don't give them the 'supreme being' visual powers I once did. Anything that can look up into a tree in broad daylight @ me (6'1" / 200#).....and 20sec's later swish it's tail and move on......can't be doing THAT great.

If you move.....they'll probably bust you. Conceded. But, their lack of depth perception gets a lot of them killed.

[Spysar]

I bet the moon phase plays into how far they see. To see, there has to be some light. The more the moon provides, the further they can see.

Just don't cross the woods upwind of them, I know they'll be gone if you do that.

[BigHunt]

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky_7I3iF ... ata_player

dude nice vid that was awsome i like wacthing deer and deerhunting tv

[KLEMZ]

Interesting video, thanks

I agree with JRM6868, deer can run full speed through a thick woods at night, I'm convinced they can see very well at night.

[Swampthing]

Cool video! Thanks

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