Facial Recognition

[William Warren]

#2456

I read an article the other day about a study of crows and whether or not they recognize our faces if seen regularly or even if they only have seen it once. The study seemed to prove that crows remember if a face is associated with positive or negative feedback so I got to thinking, since I buy into this theory, if a crow can remember my face why not deer and other animals? Anyone out there have any experiences with this? In a hunting scenario my goal is not to be seen, my face or otherwise but in my neighborhood deer roam through and have become used to us. I beleive they associate me or more specifically my face with the bird food, corn and other foods I put out for the critters. Not enough to cause a disease problem though. Just occasional apple peels, pumpkin seeds etc and the bird food that gets scattered by birds and squirrels. Generations of these deer have come to my yard and I recognize them by their facial similarities as family groups with cetain ones in particular that tolerate my presence more than others, hence the beleif that they do recognize me and do not associate me with any threats. I’m thinking about going out with a mask on to see if I get a reaction from the ones I know normally recognize me. I’ll keep you posted on my little experiment.

[garydavis]

#10350

It’s true that corvids are amazing. An off islander had dropped a tree that had a nest of crowlets in it and he took them to a friends place and one actually survived and lived with them for over two years. One day the same logger came by to check on the young survivor and it attacked him furiously and it had never shown any sign of aggression towards a human previously.

I had a dog that always barked at deer that came into our clearing until he saw my wife watering a patch of grass for them and never he never barked at another one.

The mask test might be a good one,but then, the deer that know you might just think you had a hard night out on the town

the night before(grin).

[Ralph]

#10602

At my mom and dad’s place they had in Co., they always had something for the deer in the evenings, apple or something. I don’t know if the deer knew the difference by sight, which I suspect, or smell or both, but they knew I wasn’t the right one to be toting out the apples. If I was there a week or two they would come to me when I brought an apple but I had to chunk it out to to them. They ate out of mom and dad’s hands. They’d quit when the bucks got feisty though.

Some of us might look better with a sack over our head too you reckon? :lol::lol:

[William Warren]

#10716

Well I had an opportunity to test it this afternoon, so I put on a cap and bandana and went out to the usual observation spot and asumed an agressive stance. ALL heads snapped up and zeroed in on me whereas usually I only get a few casual glances from the look outs as the others continue eating. But my dog slipped out behind me and as soon as he realized they were there it was over. I’ll have to try it again without the dog next time.

[Etter1]

#11253

I would bet that deer would recognize scent much more than they would any visual recognition.

Ravens are the smartest birds in the world, and I can attest to that. If you’ve ever hunted bear baits in Canada, you probably know what I’m talking about.

[Stephen Graf]

#12400

I am not sure about faces. But I can vouch that they recognize hats.

I, as many of my farmer neighbors do, wear a straw hat in the summer. If I walk out to the garden in my straw hat, and there happens to be a deer there, it will give me that dull 1000 yard minimum wage stare and keep eating. Even if I yell and wave at it.

But one day I happened to have on my felt hat that I wear when hunting. There was a deer in the garden and she took one look at me and was out of there.

So for the garden, I immediately put an old felt hat on the scare-a-crow. And for next year, I will wear my straw hat when out with the bow 😀

[Mark Turton]

#40963

Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds by Bernard Heinrich.

Richard Nelson, http://encountersnorth.org/index.htm

Has a podcast about ravens that is good listening.

Not exactly crows but good listening and they share some attributes.

Mark.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#41048

For those that are interested, this is a pretty cool book about corvid intelligence:

[William Warren]

#41739

Well sounds like Steve has proven the theory. Steve looks different depending on what hat he wears and the deer recognize the difference between hunter Steve and farmer Steve. Hunter Steve is harmful, dangerous and they keep a close eye on him, while farmer Steve is very helpful and the deer thank him for all the vegetables. 😀

I’m going to check out the pod casts and the book too. Thanks guys!

[David Petersen]

#43768

I’ve had some remarkable experiences with ravens over the years, with them both warning me when game is approaching, and also where elk were bedded. And the first thing I recall after regaining consciousness after falling from a tree in AZ last year, was two ravens circling low overhead calling excitedly. I don’t think they were offering wishes for a speedy recovery. 😛 Had I never awakened, I likely would have wound up like the elk remains in the pic below.

[paleoman]

#43880

Dave – have you shared your fall story or would you be willing? I’ve been lucky to never have fallen but have been very lucky after boot slips on a branch halfway up. More and more I’m disinclined to trees because gravity always works…

[David Petersen]

#43938

Paleo — TBM has had that story for some time and it should show up in a future issue. Falling was just the beginning of the stupid things I did that day, and somehow survived. 🙄

[Robin Conrads]

#45125

Hi Guys. I looked, and that story was posted in the Oct/Nov 12 issue. It was called The Darwin Hunt.

[David Petersen]

#45129

Well shucks, I never claimed to have a memory …:oops: 😕

[strait-aero]

#46069

Yes…a very interesting account of your experience with Coues deer hunting,Dave. We’re all glad you came out the other end of this hunt with your buck,and pretty much intact when all was said and done. 😕

[David Petersen]

#46120

Strait-Arrow said, with my comments in CAPS: “Yes…a very interesting account of your experience with Coues deer hunting,Dave. We’re all (I SERIOUSLY DOUBT “ALL” :P) glad you came out the other end of this hunt with your buck,and pretty much intact (WELL, EXCEPT MAYBE THE MEMORY PROBLEM; MAYBE ONE OF THE PLUGS IN MY HEAD GOT JARRED LOOSE :shock:) when all was said and done.” THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS.

[Stumpkiller]

#47563

I would say less facial recognition but more body english and posture. When you crouch and stalk with a bow it is much different than when you walk and work with a hoe.

I have had deer approach me when I was plowing on a tractor or mowing along a fenceline. The motor and activity didn’t scare them off. Many times when I have been out grouse hunting (aka: taking my shotgun for a walk) I have had deer stand and watch me or just hop a few yards and turn.

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