| Much has been written about deer movement in | | | | masking and making noise. I would also think that |
| hunting magazines and I have been intrigued by | | | | their great sense of smell is also confused as well. |
| differences in deer activity over the years myself. | | | | I have spent many days out hunting on windy |
| We have all been in the woods or maybe just | | | | days where I couldn't hear anything or tell what |
| while driving to or from work and noticed large | | | | was or wasn't moving it's no wonder that the |
| differences in deer activity. You will have some | | | | deer lay low on these days. Deer don't seem to |
| days when you see many deer from your tree | | | | mind a mild rain, but when the rain is falling heavier |
| stand and other days when, from that same | | | | I've seldom seen a lot of activity. |
| stand at the same time of day, you won't see a | | | | Changes in the weather definitely cause the deer |
| single deer. It is also most obvious when you | | | | to move. Most likely it is the change in barometric |
| drive to and from work at similar times each day | | | | pressure that triggers deer before large storms |
| and see large swings in deer activity. After | | | | arrive. On several occasions I have noticed deer |
| thinking about these changes in deer activity, | | | | out feeding at odd times of the day in the hours |
| reading several articles and my hunting | | | | preceding a storm. |
| observations over the years I've found several | | | | The Moon |
| situations that effect deer movement. | | | | There have been articles written on the effects |
| The Rut | | | | of moon phases and moon position on deer |
| Some would say that the rut causes the demise | | | | activity. I haven't figured this one out yet but I |
| of more mature bucks than any other factor. | | | | think that there must be something to it. I have |
| There's no doubt that deer are very active during | | | | seen increased deer activity on days when I can't |
| the rut. It is an exciting time to be in the woods. | | | | use the rut or weather to explain it. Research has |
| The woods can explode around you at any time | | | | been conducted in an effort to determine the |
| during the rut and at about any time of the day. | | | | effects of the moon phases in relation to the |
| All deer hunters have stories of seeing bucks on | | | | start of the rut. What I have read of this |
| the prowl. One year a spike buck let me take | | | | information seems promising as far as predicting |
| three shots at him. The doe that this buck was | | | | the start of the rut and the intensity of the rut. A |
| following ran right by me. When the buck ran by I | | | | few years ago there was some research into the |
| got him stopped and he just stared at me. After | | | | effects of moon positioning, or in other words |
| my first shot missed he moved a few feet and | | | | when the moon was high in the sky, on deer |
| let me miss another shot. When the doe saw that | | | | activity. I haven't seen any further discussions on |
| I had missed, she ran him back by me again. I | | | | this theory in the past couple of years. I have to |
| think that she was trying to use me to get rid of | | | | believe that if the oceans tides can be predicted |
| him. Fortunately I've learned a thing or to about | | | | with the moon than we might also expect the |
| shooting a bow since this episode almost twenty | | | | animals to be effected as well. |
| years ago. | | | | Most of us only have a limited number of days |
| Weather | | | | that we can hunt each year and the best that we |
| I have noticed that weather conditions and | | | | can do is to take full advantage of this time. If |
| upcoming storms have an effect on deer activity. | | | | you can plan your hunting time in advance and |
| Warmer than average temperatures during | | | | you want high deer activity you should plan your |
| hunting season definitely minimize deer activity. I | | | | hunt during the rut or pre-rut when moon |
| also have found that wind makes deer very | | | | prediction gurus say activity will be at the |
| skittish. It seems that wind messes up all of their | | | | heaviest and pray for the right weather. In the |
| senses. The wind causes everything in the woods | | | | end, the best way to handle changes in deer |
| to move confusing their sight as well as both | | | | activity is to be in the woods as much as possible. |