Deer Changing Patterns
Filed under: Ask Grant, Deer Biology, Hunting Tactics
I’ve noticed strange changes in deer movement during the last couple of years which has me concerned. I hunt a parcel of private land, 180 acres that runs along the Black River in central Wisconsin. I’ve hunted this property since 1995 when I met my wife. I have been very successful hunting the property and have had many mature buck sightings. But it seems that in the last couple of years the deer have removed themselves from our property and crossed the river to move north. This change is taking place about the same time every year, right around the last week in October and the first part of November. I’m not sure what the cause of this is. There is not a lot of hunting pressure on our property as I am the only one bowhunting the 180 acre parcel 99% of the time. We have agricultural land that is planted with corn, oats, and clover on a yearly basis. The woods are a mix of hardwoods and other timber with many white and red oaks throughout the property along with wild plum and apple trees. There is no food shortage on the property. Other than the rut, what may cause the deer to leave the property during daylight hours and come back through only after dark? I have not seen any sign or indication of bear or wolves on the property this year as I have in the past. Something has changed and I am looking for some suggestion on what direction I should take on hunting the property now. Thanks for your time. Great show, I love all the information you provide!! Tony
Tony,
Your hunting property sounds wonderful! Deer typically only change movement patterns due to a changed location of a food source or fear of predation. If the location of preferred food sources on your property and the neighbors’ hasn’t changed, then fear of predation is most likely causing the deer to change their travel pattern.
The source of fear could be from either two or four-legged predators. However, it sounds more like avoidance of two-legged predators. If you using the same techniques and spending the same amount of time hunting, I’d make sure trespassing is not an issue. It sounds as if someone else is most likely alerting the deer and causing them to avoid your property during daylight hours.
Growing Deer together,
Grant
