The relationships between deer movement and weather changes are well documented. A cold snap in October and November after a stretch of warm weather can be one of the best times to hunt deer. Hunting cold fronts start with being able to recognize them and exploiting the changes in deer movement to your advantage.
How cold is too cold for deer?
For one, their bodies store extra fat to provide insulation and help them through the cold months ahead. In addition, they grow an extremely dense undercoat with hollow “guard hairs” that provide exceptional insultation. Thanks to these adaptions, deer can survive in temperatures up to 30 degrees below zero.
What temperature do deer stop moving?
I can detect no preference for any particular part of the temperature range between 20 and about 60 degrees (if all else-moon, wind, rut, pressure-is equal), but temperatures above 60 degrees, which are common during winter in these latitudes, clearly suppress deer movement.
Is cold weather better for deer hunting?
If you can brave winter’s worst, deer hunting in cold weather can yield impressive results. Many hunters call it quits after the rut starts to wind down. While deer hunting in cold weather can be tough, there’s still a good opportunity to make a harvest. … Harsh weather impacts when deer will move and where they’ll go.
Does cold weather make deer move more?
“The most important factor that increases the likelihood of a deer moving in daylight hours is temperature. Basically, the colder the weather is, the better your odds will be for seeing deer. “The amount of cloud cover or the lack of cloud cover is the second most important factor impacting deer movement.
Why do deer not freeze to death?
Insulation against cold: A deer’s “winter coat” is made of hollow hairs that trap air. This provides an insulated outer layer that can keep them warm even when it gets to -30 degrees (F). … When groups of deer congregate they also provide protection for each other.
Where do deer go when it gets cold?
Deer also typically seek areas that are more sheltered in which to rest and eat, such as stands of coniferous trees that maintain their needles during the winter and allow snow to build up, both of which help provide some wind resistance and possibly cover.
What time of day do deer move most?
These traits are found in all age classes and are maintained by the individual buck throughout his life. Deer move most at dawn and dusk. End of story. Like taxes and death, you can count on two things when talking about mature bucks: they move most at dawn and dusk, and during the rut.
Where do deer go when it rains at night?
Hidden meadows, field edges or power line right-of-ways are three examples. Simply put, go to where deer can see, and you’ll see deer. Rain can also affect where deer bed both for the night and in the short-term. Typically, light rains will see little or no change in bedding location.
What time of day do deer bed down?
Once the rut is over and winter arrives, a whitetail’s bedding behavior moves into high gear. From mid-December through March in the North, most whitetails bed over 85% of the time, with the majority of daylight activity occurring just before sunset.
Why are deer more active in cold weather?
Think of deer movement and temperature as inversely related. For example, mature bucks especially will increase their daytime activity as temperatures fall with a passing cold front. The reason deer movement increases during and after a cold front and thus why you should be hunting cold fronts is two-fold.
What is the best weather for deer hunting?
Temperatures in the 40s and highs in the 60s might make for comfortable tree-stand vigils, such temperatures literally shutdown daytime deer activity. In fact, the weather’s influence on deer activity has been scientifically documented as a major suppressor/stimulator of daytime deer activity.
Is it better to hunt before or after rain?
As soon as the rain stops the first thing bucks will do is freshen up their scrapes. If you get there before them it is a good option. Before the rain starts deer will try to fill their bellies as much as they can, so any oak stands or fields would be a good bet.
Do deer move in freezing rain?
Extreme Rain
While hunting in the rain can be a wet and miserable endeavor, it can also result in some of the best hunting all year. Extreme rain conditions may temper deer movement in the short term, but as soon as it lightens up or ends, deer will likely be on the move.
Are deer active in the rain?
Deer will be active all day during a steady rain, especially if the wet weather lasts for several days. Don’t let these conditions discourage you! The deer are out there and they must eat and socialize (especially during the rut).
Do deer move when its windy?
The interesting aspect of whitetails and wind is that just about any scientific study shows that wind has very little to do with how much deer move during windy conditions. … It seems that for both males and females, deer move MORE during a windy day, but theyll move LESS during a windy night!”