Gaze: Don’t Stare at the Threat

Gabe Suarez released an excellent video on a topic infrequently discussed: he delves into some research from decades ago done by different SPEC OPS groups on this topic; I had never heard of those experiments before. 

Here is where I fall on this topic: it is, absolutely, a real thing.  I learned in my teen years that prey animals, especially white-tail deer, can certainly sense when they are being stared at.  I have found, after years of hunting and killing dozens of deer, that if you stare intently at them, they suddenly become alert to your presence.  If you watch them only from peripheral vision until the shot opportunity opens, then you are far more likely to actually get the shot when you look directly at them ONLY when it is time to shoot.  I found out along the way that many experienced hunters come to this conclusion.  It is real.  Humans have this sense too. 

Now, over the years this seemingly “6^th sense” has interested me and I have occasionally done research on it.  Many in the scientific community think that it is actually derived from the brain’s ability to recognize being stared at from ques it picks up in peripheral vision.  For example, a deer, with wide set eyes, likely catches the eyes of the predator at some point, even if not consciously realized.  Humans may do the same.  I, personally, believe it is more than that, as I have witnessed deer suddenly sense my presence when they are turned completely away from me.  could it be that they just, at that moment, smell me?  Sure.  But I found a far lesser chance of this sudden detection once I avoided staring at the animal until shooting. 

Anyway, bottom line, avoid staring directly at a threat until it is the exact moment to drop the hammer. 

Check out Gabe’s discussion on the research:

For further science, see this analysis.  This leans heavier on the peripheral sight ques theory:

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