I have been developing this hypothesis for a while, and I am unsure of several areas. I was wondering if all of you could help me fine-tune my idea, and if you think this is feasible. It would be a lot of work to gather data for this, and I am not sure of how useful the info would be, so please give me some input.

My basic premise began when I was thinking about how at many state parks that receive high recreation activities; most of the wildlife becomes tame to a certain respect. Many of these parks also allow hunting during the open season. In less recreated areas, I have noticed that the deer tend to be skittish and afraid of man to varying degrees. Some places the deer will stare at me, and slowly walk away, while others will bolt at first site of me. These are were my assumptions are. Deer are a prey animal of BF. Deer may associate man and BF as the same or similar creatures with the same intent. Could there be a relationship between the level of animal's (mainly deer) fear of man, and BF density. Do high levels of fear mean a higher density of BF. If there is a relationship, that would partially explain why deer are fearful of man, even in non-hunting season. And why deer can become tamer in areas with a high human recreational activity, because BF would probably not be as numerous in these areas.

I can think of a couple of ways to test this hypothesis, but they would be extremely time intensive. I could come up with a scale to quantitatively rate deer's level of fear to man. Then I would be able to go county-by-county and determine average fear levels for each area. For estimating BF densities, the only thing I can think of is to relate reported BF sighting in each county to get a quantitative result. Best-case scenario, if the data showed there was a relationship, and if it was a strong correspondence, it may be useful for rating areas for BF activity. It would probably take me years to collect data, so please tell me if you think my hypothesis may be correct, and if you think this would be useful information.

I'm trying to be helpful,I hope I am.I grew up in a place where there were a lot of whitetails.They would yard in the winter behind my house so they were a common sight in those months.I've also hunted them and have noticed some things about their behaviors.Their shyness can have to do with time of year,weather,amount of gunshots heard nearby,looking for a lost mate.walking down a trail I separated a buck and a doe.The bucks are much smarter about being seen.He took off not to be seen again but the doe crossed the path again very near me to get back to him.Going further with the buck,doe relationship.When entering an open area,the buck will let the doe go first and only when she is thought to be safe,he will emerge.If you are waiting in a blind or tree stand and see a doe coming toward the stand,look behind her if you want the buck.The deer in my back yard were always very wary and seemingly afraid of humans unless they were really hungry.They would come right to your door if you put food out for them.They were commonly seen running through town in the winter.Try to find one in the fall.Lots of sign,no animal.This was not near a park however.I don't believe there were any sasquatches around that area,Although one was reported recently within 30 miles.That was the first time I had ever heard of one there.Deer in that area are susceptible to lyme disease and you really have to look at the liver when deciding whether to eat it or not.I dont know if this type of thing is a factor when a sq moves into an area.He might just pass it by.This kind of thing could be what brings one down and there would finally be a body. A good place to start when trying to figure out deer behavior is to look in hunting magazines.That's their job to study and make conclusions about these things.Then you can minimize the variables in your search.Find all the possible explanations for what you are seeing.I hope you can make some sense of it.good luck in the search

Oh sure, throw us females out in the line of fire first....just like a guy to do that. :rolleyes:

j/k

Seems like it would depend on the circumstances. Like some animals will stare at something they have never seen before while trying to figure out if it poses a danger before fleeing. Others will flee immediately over something strange that they have never seen before. I think it just depends.

It would be hard to base a theory on it because of the many varying factors. Around here, there are varying degrees of skiddishness amongst the deer population. Sometimes they see or hear me and all I get a glimpse of is that white flag of a tail as they are leaping away quickly. Other times I have walked within 20 feet of them while they are staring me down. I think sometimes it just depends on the mentality of the individual deer involved.

I know that doesn't help any.

I have already thought about all the varying factors that would come into play, situational, and individual and it definently would make this harder. But all that means is that I would need to get a larger sample size to get a representational look at the deer population. If the sample size is large enough, all of those factors like group size, weather, individual personalities, etc. should average out between the different areas.

And cryptic1, I will have to remember to send the female in first in some circumstances. "Ummm honey, can you go into that dark alley and withdraw some money from that ATM." I'm sure its going to go over well for me.

Well I do wish you lots of luck with working on this RapidMonkey and I know you're going to share whatever you discover...hint hint...

Oops, sorry, that's RabidMonkey not RapidMonkey.

Something along these lines that I have been thinking about is the discovery of CWD (chronic wasting disease) in deer herds in the west, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, etc. This disease has caused the death of many deer, but has also been the reason behind the massive kill of deer (by hunters) in Wisconsin. There is no proof that I know of that this disease can be transmitted to humans, but caution must be taken when cleaning all deer. I wonder if the death by CWD or the death of deer by killing in large numbers would affect the BF population in a certain area. I guess it would have to since BF seems to use deer as a major food source. It would be (will be) very interesting to know if this disease can be passed on to BF. Any body have any thoughts on this?

@ the thought of a BF with CWD !!!!!!!

Good luck with your study dude !! With all the variables, its gonna be tough to develop a solid hypothesis ....

One thing to think about is the migration patterns of the deer.Its probable the same animal could end up in 2 or 3 different counties over the course of a research project.My opinion is that the sasquatch has a huge range.Constantly on the move.There is probably a circuit of known food supplies for every time of the year.So it is also possible to find one in the same area next year.Same time,same station.My encounter involved a rotten old log being torn apart for the insects and or grubs.One animal may have a vast territory,only preying on deer when they're easy to catch or the opporrtunity presents itself.To follow the herd means to keep it scared and hard to approach.

Sorry if the comment on letting the female go first is not politically correct.It was what I was told to watch for and I was'nt disappointed.

Good luck with your study RabidMonkey. I also like the avatar you have chosen.

HI RABID MONKEY,
YOUR RESEARCH INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIGFOOT AND DEER SHOULD BE VERY INTERESTING. I'VE NOTICED A FEW THINGS ABOUT DEER BEHAVIOR THAT HAS MADE ME WONDER ABOUT THIS QUESTION.

I LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND WE HAVE LOTS OF AREAS WHERE THERE ARE DEER AND SQUATCH REPORTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALWAYS PUZZLES ME IS WHY WHEN IM DRIVING IN AN AREA THAT HAS HAD LOTS OF REPORTS IN THE PAST AS TO BIGFOOT SIGHTINGS AT NIGHT I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THESE ROADS AND THEY WILL BE LINED WITH DEER. NOW WHY WOULD THE DEER RISK EATING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INSTEAD OF UP IN THE MOUNTAINS OR WHEREEVER IT IS THAT THE FOOD WOULD BE PLENTIFUL FOR THEM. THE ANSWER THAT SEEMS THE MOST LOGICAL TO ME IS THAT THEY ARE HANGING BY THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT SQUATCHES ARE TERRIFIED OF THE CARS. COULD IT BE THEY FEEL SAFE FOR THE MOST PART BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD?

SOMEONE ALSO WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MAD COW DISEASE AND SQUATCHES. I RECENTLY READ THAT SCIENTISTS HAVE LOCATED A GENE THAT INDICATES THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE IMMUNE TO DISEASES LIKE MAD COW DISEASE WHICH IS A PRION DISEASE. I WOULD BE INCLINED TO THINK THAT SQUATCHES PROBABLY HAVE THIS IMMUNITY. BUT A CHECK ON THE SIGHTINGS OF SQUATCH IN RELATION TO THE TIME PERIOD OF MAD COW DISEASE IN THOSE STATES AFFECTED MIGHT REVEAL SOME INTERESTING DATA.

CRYPTIC SUGGESTED THAT LOOKING AT THE LIVER CAN DETERMINE IF A DEER HAS LYME DISEASE - CAN YOU GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FACT? THANKS COULD THIS BE PART OF THE REASON DEER SEEM TO LIKE THE LIVER? COULD THEY REMOVE THE LIVER TO SEE IF THE DEER HAD LYME DISEASE? PERHAPS THIS DETERMINES IF THEY TAKE THE WHOLE DEER/ THIS IS KIND OF FAR FETCHED BUT MANKIND HAS BEEN FASCINATED WITH THE LIVER SINCE WAY BACK WHEN.

GOOD LUCK WITH THIS RESEARCH AND KEEP US POSTED.

GOLDIE

What ?? you never heard "women and children first". ?

Good one Jim.

Wait a minute...what am I laughing at?

Not from experience, but picked from a talk Orey Iness gave at an IBS meeting a couple of months back.

He said that he likes to frequent campgrounds for two reasons... one is that he can talk to other campers to see if they have had any "experiences" and the other being that, in his experience, Bigfoot is very curious. Noise will attract them, kids playing, music, etc.

The information I had on Lyme disease came from a hunting partner.It may not be totally accurate.I just spoke with him on the phone to try to remember what he'd told me years ago.He says now that the wildlife ministry had given a warning to hunters not to eat any organs and to check the heart and liver for grey or white spots.It was assumed that these spots could be related to Lyme disease from ticks.

But when you ASSUME something you make an ASS of U and ME.

To a predator who wants to stay hidden,any baggage is a liability.Take what you can run with and let other predators clean up the mess.

He also told me that in recent hunts,the livers have been found with imperfections that would lead you to believe the animal had problems.I dont know if these imperfections would make the liver poison to eat.It is however the final filter in the system.

We'll need to ask Mrs. Monkey if Rabid is really Rapid or not ...

Rapid is not always best.

Ah yes Goddess ...

"Slow and steady wins the race"

Does anybody know what in the Hell we are talking about here ??? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Well SR, would that be in reference to what we are actually talking about or what we are "supposed" to be talking about?

I think so,but I'm not sure I want to...