I was watching the Roger Raglin show the other day. And a viewer sent in a question to him and it was do deer fear black bears? The person that sent in the question was from South Carolina. He said that deer fear all meat eating animals and he believes they can smell it on them. That's right! They can smell meat eaters. He also said that if a bear, coyote, hog or a bobcat comes into a food plot where deer are feeding they will leave and you might as well too because your hunt is over. I will give him credit because he did say he doesn't believe any bobcat can take down a deer but deer do fear them.

I don't know about this especially the part they can smell meat eaters. I know deer do fear common predators and at times will bolt when one comes into a food plot. I always thought it was based on past encounters with that animal out of fear but I didn't know they could tell what that predators diet may be by scent alone.

What do y'all think about that statement on smelling meat eaters?

I have watched a small 6 pt and bobcat tolerate each other over a food plot.

I have seen bobcats and coyotes be tolerated by a field full of deer. Seen them walk them off fields too then resume feeding once they are gone.

They seem to be more aware of the smell of predators and their feces than herbivores. I've seen deer and bobcats/coyotes in the same field far more than I've seen them spook at them. Deer get used to the other animals in their environment.

I saw 4 mature bucks, run out of a food plot all because of one mangy coyote. I couldn't believe my eyes. They turned to look at him and if they had walked 10 more steps one of them would have been shot. They bolted into the woods no different than they would have if I had walked into the plot. They didn't trot. The yote was by himself too. The wind was in my face so I know they didn't smell me.

Not necessarily.

I've seen deer in a field with hogs, and also with a bobcat. They don't like the bobcat but they didn't leave. Have seen coyotes cross fields or walk the edges and then deer walk through the same areas without more than what appeared to be "Hmmm, something was here" before continuing.

I believe Hogwild posted some photos in another thread of hogs and deer at the same feeder or in close proximity to each other.

I watched a doe walk up to a bobcat and stomp at it until it left the area. It was really neat to watch.

I have seen then react all different ways to them.
I think they know the difference between a predator that is just traveling through, and one that is hunting. Also, I think he is wrong about bobcats being able to take down adult deer. They may not do it with regularity. But, I think that they are certainly capable and WILL if need be or the easy opportunity arises.

Hogs.....well, the areas I hunt have always had hogs. I have seen deer be alarmed and move away from them before. But, never afraid and leave a field once they are in it and feeding. I watched a large boar feed with 6 does and a spike just this past Saturday for a long time. Often, they were virtually side by side.

There are NO 'givens' with deer. They are very complex animals.

Look at a deers eyes they are on the sides a predators eyes face forward like a humans

Well a few years back, I leased some land near the lay lake area.when I first leased it the owner told me it was full of deer turkey and hogs.I dint believe him about hogs ,because I never new there to be wild hogs in chilton county.well I leased the land and sure enough it was loaded with all 3.well getting to the point we planted 6 greenfeilds,on 162 acres of land.this is when I used to shoot alot of deer.we killed 23 deer 6 turkey,s and 4 hogs,3 of the hogs were over 500 pounds.but anyway there was 1 greenfeild at the far back we called it the hog hole.you would never see a deer at that greenfeild just wild hogs.

I do not know about the smell aspect but I can assure that if a bear comes in a food plot each every deer in that plot are high tailing it somewhere else........

We have all three, bears, coyotes and deer in our woods. I've hunted the Apalachicola Natl Forest and Tates Hell which are both in densely populated with bears. In fact, there are more bears than deer in these areas. Bears and deer don't mix, AT ALL! I've never seen bears and coyotes together while hunting, but I'd imagine they won't tolerate each other either.