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Post by majyang on Nov 18, 2014 17:21:39 GMT -5
While hunting during October all I continually hear is, "can't wait till the temps drop to get the deers moving". We'll now that the we're in the middle of this crazy artic vortex, my question is well where are the deers?? I've braved the cold monday and today and have seen a total of two deers. Both too far to shoot and one of them only after it stood to move over 50 yrds only to bed down again. So which is it? Cold temps or not? Is there actually any truth to the "cold temps get the deers moving"?
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Post by sakorifle on Nov 18, 2014 17:42:50 GMT -5
greetings
if whitetail are like roe then when snow comes, roe lay up to conserve there fat and energy, once they start to get hungry they will start to move.
for the first week and a half of snow i hardly bother over here, deer are in the warmer thickets.
regards
billy
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Post by oldhoyt on Nov 18, 2014 17:47:06 GMT -5
All other things being equal, yes, cold will get the deer moving. They want to feed if they have access to food. But when hunting (firearms) season rolls around the deer get spooked by all the hunters in the woods and then restrict their movement and/or move during the dark hours.
A good number of hunters will blame their lack of hunting in the cold to the "fact" that the cold weather has the deer lying low. But, mostly it's that these guys don't want to be out in weather much colder than 25-30 degrees.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Nov 18, 2014 17:54:53 GMT -5
While hunting during October all I continually hear is, "can't wait till the temps drop to get the deers moving". We'll now that the we're in the middle of this crazy artic vortex, my question is well where are the deers?? I've braved the cold monday and today and have seen a total of two deers. Both too far to shoot and one of them only after it stood to move over 50 yrds only to bed down again. So which is it? Cold temps or not? Is there actually any truth to the "cold temps get the deers moving"? Just stepped out back door to check the corn field. The whole herd is standing in front of my blind. Figures....Wife had a meeting tonight home with the kid. |
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Post by dbd870 on Nov 18, 2014 18:02:50 GMT -5
All other things being equal, yes, cold will get the deer moving. They want to feed if they have access to food. But when hunting (firearms) season rolls around the deer get spooked by all the hunters in the woods and then restrict their movement and/or move during the dark hours. A good number of hunters will blame their lack of hunting in the cold to the "fact" that the cold weather has the deer lying low. But, mostly it's that these guys don't want to be out in weather much colder than 25-30 degrees. I've been out in it good for the last 4 days and I can tell you I haven't seen squat and I was before then. |
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Post by M4Madness on Nov 18, 2014 18:33:28 GMT -5
I, myself, don't buy into the who premise of deer moving better when it is freezing cold out. I'd venture to guess that every big buck I've killed has been with daytime highs at least 50 degrees.
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Post by ridgerunner on Nov 18, 2014 20:03:09 GMT -5
Deer move in the cold until we get a drastic drop in a short time..I've found when it is extremely cold deer will NOT move until later in the day when temps warm a bit..I've hunted many extremely cold morning and movement is slow, but after a few hours, the sun comes up, warms a bit, movement picks up...One thing about hunting...Never say Never, and Never say Always....Hunting is Hunting and you can't kill a deer on the couch...sometimes they move, sometimes they don't, we will never figure out all the variables that determine deer movement and be able to predict when they will move for certain. I think when it's cold deer WILL HAVE to feed sooner than later...when it's warm they do not have to move...when it's Cold they do have to move to feed. So i'd choose cold, over warm, or moderate temps.
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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 18, 2014 20:09:22 GMT -5
While hunting during October all I continually hear is, "can't wait till the temps drop to get the deers moving". We'll now that the we're in the middle of this crazy artic vortex, my question is well where are the deers?? I've braved the cold monday and today and have seen a total of two deers. Both too far to shoot and one of them only after it stood to move over 50 yrds only to bed down again. So which is it? Cold temps or not? Is there actually any truth to the "cold temps get the deers moving"? Just stepped out back door to check the corn field. The whole herd is standing in front of my blind. Figures....Wife had a meeting tonight home with the kid. Same here. I always take the back roads home after work because I get to drive by where I hunt, right as the sun is setting. Tonight I drove by and sure enough, there were 6 deer in the field. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2014 20:23:32 GMT -5
There is a point of diminishing returns. I think anything between 30 and 50 is the ideal temperature zone for deer activity (all things being equal with regard to wind and precip). Start dropping too far below 30 and deer will look for warmer spots to bed up.
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Post by GS1 on Nov 18, 2014 20:48:07 GMT -5
I finally saw 3 does going through my yard around 9 this morning and then saw 2 bucks and a doe later this evening. Before that there were zero tracks in the snow that has been there since late Sunday night.
The first day or 2 of an extreme cold snap (by S. Indiana standards) seems to slow things down. After that, everything starts to pick up.
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Post by boonechaser on Nov 18, 2014 21:07:41 GMT -5
Record low's will have deer conserving energy and seeking high carb's to burn. In my area there was considerably more hunting going on during archery than there has been since opening day of firearm's. (To cold/to windy). I have been out twice since Sat. myself. Hunting is a enjoyable past time for me, but sub 25 temp's and it's not so enjoyable to me anymore.LOL Temp's will warm up and I will once again get back out.
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Post by ms660 on Nov 18, 2014 23:51:38 GMT -5
Even when the deer aren't moving they are still out there, you just have to hunt for them. Sitting in a tree stand usually will not get the job done.It seems to me still hunting and a good pair of binoculars will produce much better results at time like these.
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Post by parrothead on Nov 19, 2014 6:20:58 GMT -5
I have hunted everyday this year. Have seen them when its hot and when its cold. There are there just don't move all the time.
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Post by jrw on Nov 19, 2014 6:25:52 GMT -5
I've been out on a few really cold days, highs less than 20. Never seen anything on these sits. I prefer going when temps are 25-45. Always good movement and the body can tolerate it.
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Post by hoosierquest on Nov 19, 2014 18:40:14 GMT -5
I had success Tuesday morning in the cold. Anything can happen at anytime.
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Post by majyang on Nov 19, 2014 19:41:37 GMT -5
Thanks all for the insight and advice. While I didn't see tons of deer during October and early November sits I did see a lot more than I have so far since firearms opened. Guess it's more about time and place then anything else. My uncle scored a doe this morning at about 7:50. But no one else in our group of 5 saw anything. Heck even the tree rats seemed smarter than us today, they stayed in their beds, which wished I would have too. BUT I can't help it, I'm addicted. And with two doe tags left, I just can't stay away from the woods.
Good luck to all still looking to fill their tags. Stay warm and stay safe out there.
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Post by trapperdave on Nov 19, 2014 19:43:42 GMT -5
they're locked down and breeding.
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Post by bartiks on Nov 21, 2014 0:32:42 GMT -5
Great thread, after reading it seems that the deer aren't moving as much when it gets cold for a couple of days. Prolonged cold will "encourage" them to start moving more IMO. I was wondering for the longest time why I or any of my friends haven't seen the deer moving like they have in the past couple of hunts. Thanks
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