deer movement after dark?

MadScientist · December 10, 2001, 04:05 PM

At least four deer visit my front yard every night around 9pm. Are the regularness and hour of their visits any indication that they're bedding nearby? or do deer move a fair distance that late at night?

ATTICUS · December 10, 2001, 06:52 PM

They are probably bedding down close by, in the thickest cover available.

Will Beararms · December 10, 2001, 08:10 PM

Deer are nocturnal by nature. By this time of the year save the rut when Bucks go crazy, the majority of their movement---------feeding, scraping, voiding and breeding occurs at night or right before dawn.

This is a trend I have noticed for the last 5 to 7 years and it is occuring due to the intense pressure deer face with more types of hunting seasons and longer seasons. They are startled by the start of the bow hunt in October, followed by the Muzzle-loader season. By the time the gun hunt starts at the end of October or Early November, they are as nervous as a cat on the proverbial roof.

By this time, they have patterned the humans around them and start moving at night and before dawn. Occassionally, you will see movement at Noon if they have patterned the hunters in their living area.

Navy joe · December 11, 2001, 10:16 PM

They sure do stop that movement when you turn on the spotlight

And yes, hunting pressure is probably putting them in your yard every night.

Navy joe · December 11, 2001, 10:17 PM

They sure do stop that movement when you turn on the spotlight

And yes, hunting pressure is probably putting them in your yard every night. Expect them to move to and from their bed areas at dawn and dusk and lay low all day once gun season is going good.

December 10, 2001, 04:05 PM	#1
MadScientist Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2001 Posts: 319	deer movement after dark? At least four deer visit my front yard every night around 9pm. Are the regularness and hour of their visits any indication that they're bedding nearby? or do deer move a fair distance that late at night?

December 10, 2001, 06:52 PM	#2
ATTICUS Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 1999 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,100	They are probably bedding down close by, in the thickest cover available. __________________ Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Mark Twain

December 10, 2001, 08:10 PM	#3
Will Beararms Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,834	Deer are nocturnal by nature. By this time of the year save the rut when Bucks go crazy, the majority of their movement---------feeding, scraping, voiding and breeding occurs at night or right before dawn. This is a trend I have noticed for the last 5 to 7 years and it is occuring due to the intense pressure deer face with more types of hunting seasons and longer seasons. They are startled by the start of the bow hunt in October, followed by the Muzzle-loader season. By the time the gun hunt starts at the end of October or Early November, they are as nervous as a cat on the proverbial roof. By this time, they have patterned the humans around them and start moving at night and before dawn. Occassionally, you will see movement at Noon if they have patterned the hunters in their living area. __________________ "Without a rifle you are nothing, worthless, you are waiting for death, any minute, any second." -- Aron Bielski

December 11, 2001, 10:16 PM	#4
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,804	They sure do stop that movement when you turn on the spotlight And yes, hunting pressure is probably putting them in your yard every night. __________________ FY47012

December 11, 2001, 10:17 PM	#5
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,804	They sure do stop that movement when you turn on the spotlight And yes, hunting pressure is probably putting them in your yard every night. Expect them to move to and from their bed areas at dawn and dusk and lay low all day once gun season is going good. __________________ FY47012