Deer Hunting: Where and When

Deer are commonly thought of as being crepuscular animals. This means that they frequently become active during dawn and dusk and more often than not tend to sleep during the middle of the day and late at night. This is possibly a defense mechanism to enable digestion and rest during the day when predators are not as active.

However, some deer do decide to feed during the middle of the day; this is a quirk in that deer’s schedule for that particular day and more than likely not a repeated event.

Figure out what food source that the deer will be eating during hunting season and locate it. Know your terrain, food sources, bedding areas and funnels.

Scouting before hunting is a must to locate a big buck’s territory. I prefer to do my pre-season scouting immediately after the deer have “rubbed” the velvet from their antlers. Remember that while rubbing the velvet from their antlers, a buck will not attack the larger trees and bushes that he will immediately prior and during the rut; however, he will leave evidence on smaller bushes. This activity will tell you where the deer are and may help you pattern a particular animal.

Determine which oak trees have the most acorns for the upcoming fall by scanning the upper limbs of the trees with binoculars. Set stands near trees with large number of acorns before they ripen and the deer start feeding in the area.

Start early, at the latest, mid summer. Scout like you’re hunting. Be careful. Don’t make much noise and try and leave little scent in the area. Hang your stands early and then leave the area alone until you plan on hunting.

Also note that over scouting an area can have a negative effect on the wildlife and you may end up pushing the deer out of the area, not be seen or heard from during hunting hours.

Try to find any area where clover or rye or any greens cover the ground. Look in the surrounding areas to establish trail routes and scrapes; and look for deer tracks to reinforce movement and frequency.

A deer loves to sleep where the brush is very thick and very dense. Most areas of this nature accompany small pines and swampy areas where movement by a predator would not go without detection. Hunting in these conditions is very hard because of limited vision and the noise that would accompany a hunter stirring around the brush. Hunting in these areas is not suggested because of these handicaps; it would be best to wait on the outskirts of a well used trail and await the exit or entrance of the deer from or to his feeding spot.

An important cycle of a deer’s life is its powerful will to mate and it is during this time (also known as the rut) in which the deer’s senses are dulled and the hunting hopeful now has a slight edge. During this time of the year the deer will be active a significantly larger amount of the time. This means that you will have a greater chance of seeing an elusive buck and a much better chance of bagging one.

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