How good is it?

We walked out of the cabin this morning and startled a group standing next to my truck. lol Having the Cabin windows open and the tv on I wasn’t expecting them to be that close.

Whitetails? They are generally pretty alert whereas a mulie will just stand and look at you.

I think they hear very well, but in your case they didn't feel threatened so weren't bothered by the noise. Snap a twig in their bedding area, however, and they will pay attention.

don't worry they will sharpen up very quick when the time comes

Research by the Deer Lab in Athens Georgia has found deer hearing is about as sensitive as humans.

The ones here eat all around the houses, vehicles, people walking, driving, biking on the road, dogs barking, people talking....you get the idea, nothing bothers them. I have 2 young bucks right now coming from who knows where when I open the garbage can lid I keep the corn in... They certainly can hear that....lol

Just like with my kids, hearing and listening are two different things. They hear a lot of things that don’t spook them because they’re used to the sounds.

On my farm, I can get close to deer while talking or even mowing, but they will run off if I try to get close, while being quiet. When I go to hunt, I'll call my dogs names loudly and walk normally, so the deer can hear me coming. The deer have become habituated and don't flee from sounds and activities they consider normal. They associate quiet, stealthy behavior with being hunted.

Keith

Walked up on more deer when turkey hunting and sounding like a turkey to cover any noise i make.