White Trucks?

[tim81212]

Mike Eastman wrote in his book that he had a white truck that spooked more antelope than a non white truck. Anyone else notice this?

 

[ssliger]

I think a lot depends on the area. I know of a ranch that has a hunter management area on it and the ranch trucks are white and the Antelope are less spooky when you drive a white truck.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Sounds like it would be more of the area and what the animals are used to seeing.

 

[Againstthewind]

http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/the-safest-car-colors/

Apparently white cars and trucks are considered the most visible on the road except for in snowy conditions. That might be part of it since antelope are very visual when it comes to predator identification. I do agree that the animals will get used to seeing the same vehicles in their territory.

 

[Retterath]

I have a white truck and it seems like the deer love the front end of my white truck.

 

[Don K]

Hmmm,, Dear I need to buy a new truck... "Why she asks?" Well the darn Antelope see me coming.. I guess they cant see a nice new blue one that is 3/4 ton, and of course a diesel

 

[woodtick]

Hmmm,, Dear I need to buy a new truck... "Why she asks?" Well the darn Antelope see me coming.. I guess they cant see a nice new blue one that is 3/4 ton, and of course a diesel

HAHAHA thats a good one Don!!!

 

[ivorytip]

let us know how that works for ya

 

[Sfjeeper]

If the animals are on or near a working ranch they do become desensitized to the work vehicles. I was on an antelope hunt a few years ago and asked for permission to hunt an alfalfa farmer's land. He took one look at my white truck and told me to open the gate and drive right in. He said he went in the field with his white truck daily, and got within a hundred yards of the herdwithout spooking them. They just stood and watched him. Well needless to say I did the same. Made for an easy shot.

I believe animals on public land are more sensitive to white vehicles. In most animals white is a sign of danger, and it most definatlety attracts attention.

I think I'm going to need the 3/4 ton blue diesel as well.

 

[tjscout]

yep the cowboys where we hunt all drive white trucks , they drive wide open with all kinds of crap bouncing around in the back the antelope don't pay them no mind some will come toward the truck looking for range cubes

 

[Musket Man]

I have only hunted antelope with my white truck so I dont know how they react to any other color. In my experience they usually wont spook unless you stop. I think it does depend on the area. Some places they are alot more spooky then others.

 

[xtreme]

Same thing with a brown jeep Grand Cherokee

 

[jjenness]

Interesting topic. I would say it depends on the area, but I really have no idea.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I think the antelope are most spooky of any color or type of vehicle I happen to be riding in that day. That's why I find a little knob a mile or two away, glass from there, then never let them see me stalking them (or is that "stocking" them, as in women's hosiery)

 

[libidilatimmy]

This is a pretty good topic. I know that if the animals are desensitized to any sort of vehicle (tractor, motorcycle, ATV, truck) they'll let you get closer than something their not used to. Several years ago when I was just a pup, I went antelope hunting with a friends dad out in the prairie where he ranged cattle on the blm ground and was out there checking on wells and stock a couple times a week. We started to notice that the goats would let you drive within 150 yds or so and stop and glass, but if they saw a door open they'd bolt. Same thing if you turned the engine off.

Since then, I've been experimenting with some different tactics to not spook the animals as in to just continue to drive by them while they can see you and going over a ridge before stopping to get out for example. I think that the thing with a white pickup is a matter of the truck probably stuck out like a sore thumb on the prairie.

For the guys that are going to convince the wife on the logic of getting a new truck because antelope are too spooky around the current vehicle, I'd definitely go with a forest green color instead of blue as it's much easier to convert to some sort of camouflage.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I don't think it really matters what the color is. It's whether you slow down and stop or not.

 

[WapitiBob]

Working up a cpl antelope I had shot I looked back to my rig and saw a whole herd milling around my white truck which also had a white camper on it.

 

[Don K]

I don't think it really matters what the color is. It's whether you slow down and stop or not.

Shhh!!! Easy there your not helping my case on getting a new truck!!

 

[packmule]

We drive white trucks and never noticed much as far as speed goats flaring from them, but we're just not around them a lot. Around here, the animals just watch you drive by bc you blend in with all the oilfield traffic. In fact I managed to catch this the other evening watching our hay field for hogs.

 

[tim81212]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess it just depends on the area.