The flick of a tail is another sure sign of an animal lurking nearby. For many animals, the ears take over when the sun goes down. You can improve your nature hearing by concentrating on the sounds around you. On your next daylight hike, pause, close your eyes, and try to separate each sound. Imagine its source.
Rice advises taking a hint from mule deer.
Cup your hands behind your ears with your thumbs pointing up and elbows out to mimic the shape of deer ears. This technique is said to improve hearing as much as 10-fold. It comes in handy when trying to identify the plaintive wail of a screech owl or the spooky, wheezing hiss of a badger. Unlikely as it may seem, there are a few ways to sharpen your sense of smell. The simplest is to wet the underside of your nose.