| While I have been hunting whitetails for over | | | | will continue when the front passes and the |
| three decades, the debates and theories on why | | | | barometric pressure starts to rise. |
| the deer are not moving continue to mount. We | | | | From my observations, temperature sometimes |
| as deer hunters are always curious about deer | | | | will curtail deer movement. Temperatures 15-20 |
| activity and movements. | | | | degrees above or below normal seem to inhibit |
| I would like to share some of my own theories | | | | deer movement. |
| on why deer don't move. | | | | 3. Age- Movements of whitetail doe are fairly |
| 1. Hunting pressure.- Research has shown that the | | | | normal and predictable throughout the year. |
| the more human activity and interaction, the | | | | Bigger, older bucks are a different story. |
| bigger the decrease in deer movement. | | | | The older a buck becomes the less he moves. |
| I have noticed that during opening morning of gun | | | | During the first 3 years of a buck's life, you will |
| season, deer activity is normal for that time of | | | | usually see normal activity and buck movement |
| the season. | | | | unless highly pressured. |
| However, every hour after that will see a | | | | Once a buck becomes 4 years and older, |
| decrease in deer movement unless you are the | | | | movement is minimal. Look for bedding areas that |
| only hunter within 3 miles. I will still see deer, but | | | | contain a lot of cover with water and food |
| most are usually on the run or they are in the | | | | sources in close proximity. |
| back of a Ford or Chevy pickup. | | | | Remember that not all deer are the same. The |
| Remember, this is just the area I tend to hunt | | | | theories I have presented you today apply to the |
| and it may be different in your hunting zones. | | | | general deer population in my area. |
| 2. Weather- Deer activity will be normal to above | | | | One thing is for certain. Deer have to move at |
| normal preceding a strong storm front. The | | | | some point to feed and drink. Some deer just |
| corresponding drop in barometric pressure will | | | | don't have to move far. |
| trigger whitetails to feed. | | | | Thanks for taking the time to learn more about |
| When the storm arrives, deer like to bed in | | | | deer and deer behavior. |
| heavier cover and just wait it out. Normal feeding | | | | |