Familiarization With Deer Behavioral Patterns Can Be Advantageous For Hunters

For long many years, deer hunting has been one of the most popular sports mainly due to its wide-ranging appeal to people of all ages. In addition, the availability of whitetail deer has increased significantly over the last twenty years which also makes it an attractive gaming animal. Come November, the air turns crisp, and guns boom all across the United States as hunters welcome the hunting season that they would like to celebrate in style.

The advent of guided hunting like OGO deer hunting has attracted more people because it does not need to be a trained hunter to enjoy the sport. The experienced guides would help you to hone your hunting skills so that you become a trained hunter some day. Guided hunting increases shot opportunities and tasting success becomes easy as you do not have to face the challenges and frustrations of unsupervised hunting. Even professional hunters benefit from guided hunting because it takes them to less crowded hunting spots.

Tracking deer movement

Deer hunting success depends a lot on your knowledge about when to hunt because information about the legal shooting hours and whether the deer will show up at that time is extremely important. You must have good knowledge about deer movement so that you know when and where you could find the deer. Studies have revealed that deer movement is maximum during daytime and much less at night. However, the pattern changes as summer moves towards fall.

As the rut progresses, vegetation begins to die off resulting in depletion of food sources in wooded areas, and the trees start shedding leaves. This is the time when the deer move into open areas in search of food but feeling insecure in such places they prefer to move around at night. During fall, deer movement is at its peak between 4 am to 8 am and 4 pm to 10 pm. The very little movement takes place between 8 am, and 10 am. Studies carried out to assist hunters in gauging deer movement have revealed the data. The deer travel the farthest distance during the morning hours perhaps because it has an urge to return to safe shelter before darkness sets in.

Deer activity during daytime

Deer watchers have come out with some interesting facts about deer activity during the daytime. Forbes, twigs, and grass are a favorite food for deer, and they wander around while eating for about 30 minutes after which they lay down before taking up the fresh feed. The side of a hill is the most preferred place for making deer beds perhaps because the wind is less. Fallen logs or the base of a large tree is an ideal location as the deer can conveniently hide away from all round viewing by others because at this position, you cannot see it from more than one direction. It is an excellent safety measure, and they face downhill when lying in bed so that they can have a wide view of the frontal side to see any approaching danger from the front and smell and hear any danger coming from behind.

Sleeping pattern and response to dangers

The deer have intermittent sleeping pattern, awakening and sleeping at intervals with their heads up while eyes remain closed. Although they might open their eyes to hearing or scenting danger, they would remain in place and not get up until the danger is very near. Very often they appear to sleep by putting their heads down on the ground. However, they react to the faintest sounds, raise their head, and try to understand the cause of the sound. Interestingly, they do not indulge in any hasty movement unless sure of the need for moving out. During the day, the deer remains in bed for 3 to 4 hours after which they get out and have a stroll and then again come back to bed.

Deer movement at night

Dusk and dawn are the most attractive times to spot deer especially during fall and for the most time of the day they stay within wooded areas. After sunset, they move out from their resting place and venture into the fields and woods. When the weather is good, the night is the best time for feeding and resting in the fields only to be back home when the sun rises when they go to bed. While you could find the deer in the bed between 10 am to 12 pm, the other time they would be in bed is between the wee hours of 2 am to 4 am.

Feeding pattern

Feeding is the main activity at night, and besides feeding on grass, fruits, Forbes, and twigs, they are likely to stock other food like soybean, corn, and alfalfa. The dear is a ruminating animal and does not digest when eating. They store the food only to relish it in a relaxed way later. While 4 to 6 hours is the average feeding time, the next couple of hours are for chewing and then again, the deer goes for another round of eating.

It is important for hunters to know about deer movement and understand its implications if they want to be successful on any day. Unless hunters have proper knowledge about the times when the deer would be easily visible, they would be heading towards a frustrating experience for which they have only themselves to blame. This problem could reduce greatly if you prefer guided hunting where the guides would do everything needed to please you and present hunting opportunities that should make you happy.

The better you know about the deer habitat, the travel routes, crossings and feeding areas, the easier it would become to spot deer. Most importantly, you have to keep in mind when you approach a stand in the morning you should never cross an open field. Remember that the deer is averse to human odor and the trail you leave behind could drive the deer far away from you. A trained hunter only knows how important it is to take advantage of territorial instincts of bucks.


Charlie Brown is a trainer and an experienced hunting guide working for an agency. Along with this, he writes blogs that informs and encourages people about safe shooting and hunting.

3 Comments

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