Are you a passionate hunter? If yes, you must enjoy deer hunting. Nowadays, It has become an addictive sport. It is appealing to both men and women equally. It is deeply ingrained in American culture.
Do you know that Texas and Dallas are very famous for whitetail hunting because these areas are overpopulated with this species of deer? That’s why such areas are overcrowded with hunters.
Suppose you are on your way to hunt deer and you don’t know well about color vision in this amazing animal. We’re here to guide you! The aim of this article is to cover some of the basic facts about deer vision that every deer hunter should know before hunting.
Do you have any idea that the deer can see color? There are many misconceptions that deer are color blind. But it is not completely true. Yes, the deer can see colors. It can view yellow, blue, and gray colors better than other colors. Its optical system is not very sensitive to dark and blaze colors like orange, pink, red and black color. It will perceive these colors as yellow or gray.
For successful hunting, you must have some knowledge about the color vision of deer. People mostly go hunting without knowing important facts about hunting animals.So they have to face many difficulties.
Here we go!
Table of Contents
What Colors Do Deer See The Best
Do you have a yellow color pent as a hunting dress? If you have such pent you must think about changing it. Because deer can see yellow very clearly. In Fact shades of orange and red also appear to it like yellow. At night deer vision becomes much more powerful but it cannot see warm colors. So the yellow color is easily seen by it.
Do you want any proof about it? So, let’s prove it by research. Two apples placed under a tree. One is yellow and the other is red in color. It is noticed that the deer went straight to the yellow apple. But it can get find the red apple by sniffing it. So you must not wear yellow while hunting.
Here is the list of colors that deer would see well:
- Yellow
- Blue
- Gray
- White
- Green
Can Deer See Orange Color
Do you think that deer can see your orange color clothes?
No, deer cannot see orange color as humans can do. The orange color appears gray or brown to deer. Deer eyes work in a different manner than humans. Instead of orange, they can see brown or gray color. Deer can not see from long distances.As we see orange color from distance deer cannot. It appears to them as gray or yellow.
If you are a hunter and your bag has some shades of orange color, you need not worry. Deer would not see you from a distance.
You can take the advantage of this vision lapse. You can take orange color hunter gadget bags kits with you on this adventurous journey.
Can Deer See Fluorescent Color
Do you have fluorescent buttons on your shirt? Any idea……
If you have such buttons you may nor worry about seen by deer. It cannot see fluorescent color. Such colors are not visible to them. Such colors appear to it as brown. Deer can see blue color very clearly, but the red color is not clearly visible to it. It cannot differentiate between fluorescent colors. So you must not use a blue or brown color shirt or button during hunting.
Blaze colors may help you to hide from deer.
Deer have limited color vision. Which is limited to gray, brown, and blue color. So avoid using such colors if you want to enjoy your hunting adventure.
Can Deer See White Color
Do you have a white color hunting kit or bag?
If you have…..you must think about changing it because researchers prove that deer can see light colors easily so the white color is one which it can see easily. Have you any idea in which areas you can use white color? No…I will tell you…It is useful to wear white in the snowy forests because in snowy areas it may help you to merge in the background.
Deer can see clearly from a low distance. Do you know another interesting fact about deer vision?
Deer sight has a big advantage which we humans don’t have. It can open its pupil three times wider than us. It helps their eyes to get more light to see the danger.
So if you want to enjoy deer hunting you must keep in mind that white color is not suitable for it.
Can Deer See Black Color
Do you have black color hunting guns?
So don’t worry. You may easily go hunting deer.It cannot see black easily. It may help you in a dark background. Because in dark forests deer cannot see black color easily. From distance, it becomes more difficult to see black.
Deer pupils are in an oval shape. Its pupil reflects our clothes brightness and converts it into gray or yellow. So it is difficult for them to see black.
Do Deer See The world as Hunters Assume
Do hunters think that deer are color blind?
If they think so they are wrong….It is true that it can not see the word as we can. There are some differences between our vision. Deer can see colors in brown, gray shades well than other colors. and sometimes white color also.
The human pupil is round in shape and the deer pupil has an oval shape. We can see all colors found in this word but there are some colors that cannot be seen by deer.
Deer have short wavelengths for colors. They can only distinguish blue from red.
How Do Whitetails See Colors
Will you hunt whitetail this year? Beware, they can see colors from a distance!but what colors?
Like other deer species, whitetail also can’t see orange, red, and their different shades. Instead, they can see blue, brown, and gray shades pretty well.
The reason is that such colors have shorter wavelengths to make them visible easily. Researchers also prove that deer can see gray color better than red, orange, and brown shades.
Whitetail can see blue 20 times better than humans. So if you are thinking about hunting a whitetail, you may keep in mind the above theory of deer vision. If you have a hunting kit in orange and red color, you may not worry. You can take such a kit with you while hunting a whitetail.you can completely enjoy your adventure of hunting.
How Well Can Deer See
Can deer see from the back of a tree? How far can deer see easily? Let discuss it…
After a deep study of the physical characteristics of a deer, we get that deer to have 20/100 vision. It means that a whitetail can see in 20 feet whereas humans can view well within 100 feet.
Whitetail eyes are uniquely designed to help them detect and escape from hunters.
Start with how the eyes are positioned. A whitetail’s eyes are found on the sides of its head, enabling the deer to have a field of view of about 310 degrees. This means a deer’s blind spot is only about 50 degrees.
If you are a hunter then you can hide back of a tree. It can see you blinking but not in a tree.
Deer can see very well at night. They have pupils who help them to get more light at night to see better. They can also see you with the help of your washing detergent. You can hide from a deer by using a spray specially made for it.
What Color Can DEER Not See
Do you have a yellow color pent as a hunting dress? If you have such pent you must think about changing it. Because deer can see yellow very clearly. In Fact shades of orange and red also appear to it like yellow. At night deer vision becomes much more powerful but it cannot see warm colors. So the yellow color is easily seen by it.
Do you want any proof about it? So, let’s prove it by research. Two apples placed under a tree. One is yellow and the other is red in color. It is noticed that the deer went straight to the yellow apple. But it can get find the red apple by sniffing it. So you must not wear yellow while hunting.
Can Deer See Camouflage
Do you know deer can identify disguise? Any idea…..Here I am going to tell you an interesting fact about deer. It may help you while hunting a deer. Let’s know about deer identification of camouflage. Deer can see green, yellow, and ultraviolet light but it cannot make difference between shades of red and orange color as humans do.
If you are a hunter and you are wearing camouflage containing many shades of red and orange, you need not worry. Deer cannot see you clearly. You appear to it just like a bubble or spot. So if you are planning to hunt deer this year you can design your hunting dress with the shades of orange and red.
Do you think camouflage is always helpful for hunting? No…..It is not necessary for many hunting situations. It is helpful for certain types of animals as deer. It’s best to take this hunting kit with you that has camouflage qualities
Can deer see Pink
Are you a hunter? Have you hunted shoes in pink color? You need not change them. After testing a variety of colors, Dr. Sarmadi concluded that the deer cannot see blaze pink as compared to yellow. It is harder for deer to see pink clearly. The reason is that pink color also falls in the category of long wavelength.
Do you want to know another interesting fact about deer hunting? If no….lets ready to know it. Most women have a keen interest in hunting whitetail. You know pink is the favorite color of women.so they can wear pink while hunting.
So blaze pink color will be the new hot color seen in the woods. You can buy a pink hunting kit or shoes for your wife or daughter without any hesitation.
Can Deer See Red Flashlights
Have you any idea about the color vision of deer for flashlights? It is necessary to take flashlights with you while hunting at night. So you must have knowledge of it. Deer cannot see traffic lights, so it cannot see red color also. It can see yellow, blue, and green color lights easily. The reason behind it is that the deer can see only low wavelength lights such as blue and yellow.
If you are planning to hunt in the darkness you can take a flashlight in red color.
If you have light in another color you just go slow and avoid making noise. In this way, you can get your prey easily without any hindrance.
Related Article: What sound does a deer make?
The reason behind it is that the deer can see only low wavelength lights such as blue and yellow.
Conclusion
To conclude, I would say deer is not completely color blind. There are many theories about deer color vision. It is a common misconception that deer is color blind but after discussing different points about the color vision of deer, it is clear that deer is not completely color blind. It can see many colors as discussed above but there also many shades of orange, red, and pink which cannot be seen by deer.
Deer can use limited color vision to discriminate between objects, plants, and species. Some experts suggest that shifted color vision of blue and green may helpful in discrimination between objects, plants, and species.