| Whitetail deer have mastered the skills of survival. | | | | with each other are the only way to learn these |
| They have incredible senses and quickly learn how | | | | traits, and every buck is different. Whitetails |
| to avoid danger. There are many reasons deer | | | | habits and personalities also change as they get |
| stay in bed on any given day, learning more about | | | | older. Once a buck has gone through a few |
| why and when they may decide to stay put can | | | | autumns, he has most likely learned a little about |
| help you become a more successful hunter. | | | | hunters, the rut, and how to bed and feed during |
| Weather can have a strong influence on deer | | | | this time and he will change his habits accordingly. |
| movement. On days where the wind is blowing | | | | Hunting and Human pressure also has a huge |
| above 10mph deer movement seems to slow | | | | effect on whitetail movement. As hunters move |
| drastically. Of course if 15mph winds are normal | | | | into the woods in the fall, whitetails quickly learn |
| for your area, this will have little effect on deer | | | | that decreasing movement is a key to survival. |
| movement. Here in Maryland there are many | | | | The amount of pressure needed to effect deer |
| days with little to no wind. So when the wind | | | | movement can vary greatly, I believe. If your |
| does kick up, I believe the noise and movements | | | | property is a farm where humans are in the fields |
| all around keep deer in their beds longer. | | | | and woods on a regular basis, then deer will be a |
| Barometric pressure can also be a good predictor | | | | little more tolerant to humans (this is not to say |
| of deer movement. When the barometric | | | | that you shouldn't be taking every precaution |
| pressure rises or falls quickly, as it does before | | | | possible to minimize human scent when entering |
| and after a storm, this can trigger deer to move | | | | the deer woods). However if you hunt where |
| and feed. Some studies indicate that the greatest | | | | there is little to no human activity on a regular |
| level of deer activity occurs when the barometric | | | | basis, then whitetails will quickly take notice as |
| pressure is between 29.80 and 30.29. Being | | | | hunters enter the woods and curb their daylight |
| on-stand right before a storm can certainly prove | | | | movements in a hurry. Taking steps to minimize |
| to be a great time for whitetail sightings. | | | | the amount of human scent you take into the |
| Unseasonable temperatures can also have big | | | | woods, even on scouting trips, is a vital process |
| influences on whitetail movements. If the | | | | that will help you be successful in the fall. |
| temperatures exceed 12 to 15 degrees higher | | | | Where deer bed, feed and get water can also |
| then the normal highs in your area, this can grind | | | | have a big effect on the amount they must |
| deer movement to a halt, especially during the fall | | | | travel. Whitetails are slaves to their stomach, they |
| and winter. Whitetails will have their winter coats | | | | must eat on a regular basis and therefore they |
| by this time and high temperatures can make it | | | | must move to the food and water sources. If |
| uncomfortable to do much more then bed on a | | | | their bedding areas are a mile from the food and |
| shady hillside or thick cover. | | | | water sources, as is the case in a lot of places |
| Just like Humans, whitetails all have individual | | | | out west, then they tend to be traveling more |
| personalities and make decisions based on likes | | | | often. However on the east coast, where I do |
| and dislikes. Some whitetails are very sociable and | | | | most of my whitetail hunting, it's not uncommon |
| curious, while others like to keep their distance | | | | to have whitetails bedded right in the cornfield |
| and be left alone. You can imagine which whitetails | | | | they feed in every night. In this situation where |
| you tend to see from your treestand the most. | | | | deer merely have to stand up to feed, it can be |
| Personality can have a great effect on a specific | | | | very tough to see a lot of deer. |
| deer on your property. If the buck you've been | | | | Paying attention to some of the details that may |
| watching all summer is a loner (and a lot of big | | | | effect deer movement on any given day will help |
| bucks are) that is going to make him all the much | | | | you become a more successful hunter. Of course |
| harder to get close to. If the buck your chasing is | | | | there is no exact manual or science to this, as we |
| very aggressive and confrontational then he may | | | | said earlier, every whitetail as a personality and |
| be easier to dupe with calls or decoys. Observing | | | | habits of it's own and therefore will make |
| and watching how the deer move and interact | | | | decisions to move or not in different ways. |