Deer learn tricks to thwart both rifle and bow stalkers

Deer have adapted so much to being stalked they alter their behaviour depending on whether a stalker is armed with a rifle or a bow and arrow, scientists have discovered.

University of Alberta researchers spent four years tracking 49 female elk across various terrains.

During bow season, they would stay in the open more and in the rifle season confine themselves to wooded areas.

This appears to show that they know bow-carriers need to get close for a kill, and remaining in rugged, open terrain makes it easier to spot stalkers from a distance.

However, against rifles with a range of more than 300 yards, it makes sense to stay in dense woodland, where there is less chance of a clear shot, said the research team.

In areas where there is no hunting, deer populations rarely change behaviour as they get older, which suggests the elk are learning as they age.