Nothing gets a deer hunter’s attention like the snap of a twig in the still calm of a new day. The footsteps get closer. It’s too heavy for a squirrel, and the hunter’s heart beats faster. The approaching buck is right on the script. Suddenly, it stops, listening attentively, eyes wide open. It has noticed something unusual and is zeroed in on your position. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking white-tailed deer in the Midwest or mule deer out on the plains; we’ve all been there before. How did the deer sense the presence of the hunter? Exploring deer eyesight helps us understand this situation better.
Deer see the world differently than we do. In some ways, like with color vision, they don’t see as well as humans do, but they are especially well-suited for spotting movement and recognizing shapes in dim lighting. Their vision is finely tuned to blue and yellow colors, making them very sensitive to these hues. However, they struggle to differentiate between reds and greens. This becomes important for camouflage, as hunters often dress in these colors. Therefore, when a deer makes eye contact with a hunter, it may not perceive blaze orange hunting clothing such as a vest or cap like a human does. This unique point of view adds an interesting aspect to the intricate interaction between predator and prey in the wilderness.
Basics of Deer Vision
Rods vs. Cones
In deer eyes, like many mammals, two main photoreceptor cells exist: rods and cones. Rods excel in low-light conditions, thanks to their high sensitivity to light enabled by the pigment rhodopsin. They offer black and white vision, crucial for deer's nighttime activities. Rods are abundant in the peripheral retina, aiding in detecting movement and threats.
Cones, however, are less light-sensitive but essential for color vision and sharpness. Deer have fewer cones than rods, concentrated in the central retina. This arrangement allows for better color perception but limited compared to humans. Deer possess dichromatic vision.
While cones support color vision, deer heavily rely on rods during dawn and dusk for activities. In essence, rods enable low-light sensitivity, while cones enhance color vision, collectively aiding deer in their crepuscular endeavors.
Color Perception
Because of their dichromatic vision, deer excel at perceiving blue and yellow hues, thanks to their S-cones sensitive to shorter light wavelengths. This ability aids them in distinguishing green foliage against the blue sky for foraging and navigation. However, their sensitivity to longer wavelengths, such as reds and oranges, is reduced. This limited perception is due to a scarcity of cones responsive to longer wavelengths. This unique color perception adaptation is crucial for deer, aligning with their crepuscular nature and habitat. While they can see various colors, their enhanced sensitivity to blues and yellows supports their survival by aiding in environmental navigation and food source identification, particularly in dim light.
Implications for Hunters
Choosing Hunting Apparel
Understanding deer color vision should be a significant influence when choosing hunting apparel. Since deer have better sensitivity to blues and yellows as well as the potential to perceive UV-bright colors, hunters should consider this when selecting their hunting clothes.
Avoiding Blues and UV-Bright Colors
Wearing clothing with prominent blue or UV-bright colors can make hunters more visible to deer, especially in daylight or low-light conditions. Deer are more likely to detect these colors against the natural backdrop of green foliage and brown terrain.
UV-bright colors, which may not appear bright to human eyes but are visible to deer, can stand out prominently in a deer's visual field. These colors can signal danger or alert deer to the presence of a potential threat, leading them to become more cautious or flee the area.
Since deer are sensitive to blues and yellows, wearing bright blue or yellow clothing is not a good idea for deer hunters. According to Dr. Karl Miller, one of the world’s preeminent whitetail deer biologists who has partnered with SITKA and GORE to help develop OPTIFADE concealment patterns, deer have a different way of seeing the world compared to humans. Deer excel at perceiving things in the UV spectrum due to the absence of a UV filter in their eyes.
Adapting Gear to Deer’s Visual Perception
Deer’s wide-set eyes and oval pupil openings allow for excellent peripheral vision—300 degrees of it. Their m-cones are also distributed in such a way across their retina that they have an exceptional ability to detect movement. The cost of these benefits, though, is that they have a greatly reduced ability to identify stationary objects.
When hunting deer, opting for deer hunting gear that minimizes the reflectance of the primary wavelengths deer see is of utmost importance. This is what will keep you as a hunter unseen and give you the largest chance at filling your tag.
Enhancing Concealment with Camouflage
Camouflage designs disrupting the hunter’s outline is a much more important factor than camouflage designs being photo-real matches of the hunter’s background. By breaking up the silhouette of the hunter, these patterns make it more difficult for deer to spot their presence in the surroundings.
Reducing Visibility with Non-Reflective Finishes
Furthermore, opting for clothing with a matte or non-reflective surface can diminish the chances of sunlight reflecting off the fabric and catching the eye of deer, further aiding in keeping you concealed during close encounters.
The Science Behind Deer Vision
Recent Studies and Findings
Recent research conducted at the University of Georgia Deer Lab with Dr. Karl Miller has revealed fascinating discoveries about how whitetail deer process visual information and perceive their surroundings. The study indicates that whitetail deer have a remarkable ability to process visual stimuli at a significantly faster rate than humans, enhancing their sensitivity to motion. This heightened sensitivity allows deer to perceive movements in slow motion, enabling them to react swiftly to changes in their environment. Interestingly, this heightened visual processing is particularly pronounced during sunrise and sunset, times when deer are most active. During these periods, deer's visual processing speed is four times faster than that of humans, presenting a unique advantage for deer in their natural habitat and potentially posing challenges for hunters seeking to track them during morning and evening hunts.
Deer’s Field of View
Deer have evolved to have eyes positioned on the sides of their head, granting them an expansive field of view of nearly 300 degrees. This unique placement enables them to detect movement from various directions, enhancing their vigilance against potential threats or predators.
Peripheral Vision: Deer eyes on the sides offer wide peripheral vision, allowing them to spot movement from all sides without turning their heads.
Overlap for Depth Perception: The overlap between their eyes' fields of view aids in depth perception, helping deer judge distances accurately.
Vigilant Behavior: Their wide-set eyes combined with oval pupil openings allow for a massive field of vision, supporting their cautious and vigilant nature, enabling them to stay alert to dangers and react swiftly.
In essence, deer eyes' positioning affords them exceptional awareness, crucial for survival in the wild.
Practical Tips for Hunters
Effective Use of Camouflage
When choosing camouflage patterns, it's more than just picking the right colors. To blend effectively with your environment, consider these tips beyond color selection.
Science: Opt for patterns that have been designed by scientists to help disguise hunters from animal vision—rather than patterns designed to appeal to the eyes of the hunter on rack at the store.
Terrain: The best camo patterns are designed specifically for certain types of terrain and certain types of hunting. For instance, OPTIFADE COVER is designed for hunts in greener seasons under a full canopy from the ground or tree stand. OPTIFADE ELEVATED II is ideal when hunting under a sparse canopy with bare tree limbs and sky as your primary backdrop, like hunting from a treestand. OPTIFADE SUBALPINE, on the other hand, is perfect for stalking deer from the ground in vegetated terrain.
Depth and Realism: Choose patterns with layers and shadow-like depth for better blending.
Scale and Size: Use a pattern with varied sizes and shapes in the pattern to disrupt your outline effectively.
Lighting Conditions: Test the pattern in different lighting to ensure optimal blending.
Consider these factors to select camouflage patterns that enhance your concealment while hunting.
Strategic Movement
Steer clear of abrupt actions that might surprise deer and capture their focus. Instead, advance with care and intention, taking gentle, hushed steps to reduce sound and commotion.
Be patient and survey your environment attentively prior to any motion. Seek out gaps and unobstructed routes that enable you to travel without touching plants or causing avoidable noise.
SITKA Gear’s Advanced Solutions
SITKA’s advanced deer hunting gear is designed with the science of a deer’s eyes in mind. Instead of just trying to match the branches and leaves of the hunter’s background, GORE OPTIFADE advanced concealment systems utilize the science of animal vision to disrupt the outline of the hunter completely. Field tests in the development of OPTIFADE Cover, for instance, revolved around matching the hunter’s background as a deer will see it, focusing on the reflectance of blue and yellow light because those are the colors deer see best. GORE and SITKA collaborate with scientists and camouflage specialists to craft performance hunting gear enabling hunters to blend seamlessly into the landscapes where deer and other game species live. By integrating micro-patterns within the main design, these patterns help hunters stay hidden from their target species.
By choosing SITKA Gear for your hunting concealment system, you are siding with science. Use the System Builder to help find the perfect system for your next deer hunt. SITKA provides the concealment you need to get close with the comfort that will keep you hunting longer.
Sources
National Deer Association Staff. 2012. “The Hunter’s Guide to Deer Vision” National Deer Association |. March 15, 2012. https://deerassociation.com/hunters-guide-deer-vision/#:~:text=Because%20deer%20do%20not%20have.
National Deer Association Staff. 2022. “7 Facts About Deer Vision Hunters Should See” National Deer Association |. October 26, 2022. https://deerassociation.com/facts-about-deer-vision/#:~:text=300%C2%B0,deer%2C%20they%20can%20see%20you.