Soon after gaining a safe distance following a harrowing encounter with a hunter or large predator, a bounding whitetail will generally pull up to settle its nerves, assess its back trail to determine whether or not it is being pursued or stalked and lick its tarsal tufts to halt further emissions of the ammonia-like odor released into the air while it was greatly alarmed, thus making it more difficult for a rapidly trailing predator to keep to its trail via scent alone.