Tale of a white tail. What are your experiences with the deer's white flag?

[John Y Cannuck]

a lot of guys never give it much thought. But here's a few things I've noticed.
That white flag is used a lot by deer, mostly when they are about to run, but at other times as well.
When they are nervous about anything, it will be flipping around.
typically, if they are stamping their feet trying to get you to move, that tail will be flipping about, anything from down completely, to full up and flared ready to run.
If they are about to run, or running, usually it's ramrod straight up. Regardless if they are panicked, or just running for some other reason. They often do a loping run tail down,but almost never when full out running.
This year I watched eight deer in the distance. Only one was a buck, and he was checking each doe for heat. This is generally referred to as 'running the does' He approaches and sniffs the butt of each one, usually grunting softly, trying to mount her if she stands. Otherwise giving her a short chase. He'd only run a few steps, tail down, she'd run maybe 20 yards, tail up, before returning to the group.

If they are mortally wounded, they will likely run tail down. I say likely, because I've seen a few examples that show otherwise. Like a few years back, a new man to our group, hunting with a Ruger in 7.62X39. He let go a burst of fire, that to anyone of experience hearing it, would just say 'miss'. He emptied his rifle in a couple of seconds. When one of our older guys came to him about 20 minutes later, he was told that the deer ran off tail up. So he didn't bother to look.
To the credit of the older guy, he did look. He found a tiny speck of blood on the inch or so of snow we had that year, and followed the track, across the road, and down a steep bank, about 300 yards to a dead deer.
The hit had just creased the hide across the front left shoulder, catching an artery. The blood must have been spraying, as they found only an occasional drop. Lesson to the youngster, ALWAYS follow up a shot, and check thoroughly.

So, how are your experiences with 'tail'

 

[thepolinator]

Well my whitetail this year was shot through the heart and as he ran his 5 steps had his tail straight up.

 

[Highwind]

I've seen bucks run away slinging themselves low to the ground and tucking their tails in to remain less obvious.

 

[Magellann]

I have found that when they start flipping their tails and especially when they stomp their feet you only have a couple seconds to take a shot before they bolt.

 

[catnip]

I agree with Highwind about bucks. Out here , if you see a deer sneaking along, or running, with it's tail clamped down tight, you can bet the farm that it's a buck. Does on the other hand seem to use their tails for communication and even distraction at times.

 

[colonel3006]

I've had a few run after being hit with their tails up, but the majority I've hit anyway always had tails down. I was told years ago when I first starting hunting a couple of the old boys say "if the tails are down u hit them" but found out on my own that's not always the case.
Talking about a buck sneaking with tail tucked in I actually seen a buck one time when I was out fishing, sneaking through a hay field almost right on his belly, crawling. It was late in the summer and his tines were above the grass and I could see them. When he got to the other side of field, he stood up and looked back at us, before he hopped into the swamp.

 

[blyth12]

Never put much thought into it other than around here when you spook a deer and all you see is them running away tail up it is called the F U Flag.

 

[savagelh]

I agree with Highwind about bucks. Out here , if you see a deer sneaking along, or running, with it's tail clamped down tight, you can bet the farm that it's a buck. Does on the other hand seem to use their tails for communication and even distraction at times.

That's my experience too. Shot 2 mature bucks that were trying to sneak away head down tail down. I'm sure if they could belly crawl they would. The younger bucks and does always flee with their tails flagging.

 

[d4dave1]

A tip that I learned many years ago from someone that I have since forgotten.....

When WT deer have their heads down feeding they will flip their tail side to side a couple of seconds before raising their head up to look around. This is if they are undisturbed and not on alert for any reason.

I would think that any loud noise or suspicious scent would become an exception to that rule. But I have found this trick useful when stalking deer.

 

[billdick]

If a deer is running away with his tail up he is a young fellow and if he runs with his tail down that's the big one you want.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Until this thread, I didn't think the crawling behavior was very common. My first shotgun buck was trying to get past me in thick cover, and he was so low to the ground his haunches were above his back. He was about 140lbs, a six point. We used hounds back then. The dogs did not have his scent, but were close behind him.
Another time I observed tail down behavior was on the same spot. I could see out over a thick wet area, and I could hear dogs from another gang coming. I could see this buck, just glimpses now and then, as he made circle after circle in a loping run, in the wet tag alders. The dogs were lost on those circles when they got there. I didn't shoot, I never had a clear shot. Closest he was to me would have been maybe 120 yards, when he came out of the alders tail up and going like a rocket. He was a really nice buck. Vanished in about two bounds of course.

 

[GAIRLOCHIAN]

#1 Rule on whitetail"s Never say Never.

 

[FishHog]

#1 Rule on whitetail"s Never say Never.

I was going to say "there are no rules", but you pretty much nailed it. These old wives tales are nothing but that. There are as many exceptions to the "rules" as not.