What type of weather conditions get deer moving the most/least?

[OOD Edit]

Hi, all.
We are working on a deer piece for the Fall issue and would love to hear your input.
In your experience when deer hunting, what type of weather conditions get deer moving the most/least?

Thanks!
OOD

[trimmer21]

From my experience,conditions that get them moving is frosty nights and mornings. What quickly shuts them down is high wind.

[Deer Hunter]

I think location plays a big role with Deer movement in different weather conditions. High winds in open areas usually keeps them away, but sit quietly in a tree stand deep in the bush and you will always see more activities in bad weather.

[Sam Menard]

Although the question was in regards to “deer”, I presume that we are talking about bucks. From my experience, there are no absolutes when it comes to deer hunting and deer movement. Once November comes, deer have their winter coats and warm weather might make deer feel uncomfortable especially if they undergo physical activity. By contrast, cooler weather offers less risk of heat stroke and deer can afford to be more active. Regardless of the temperature, bucks are driven to breed and will travel in order to find a receptive doe. It’s the doe that drives the rut and in warm weather, they tend to confine and minimize their movements to thick and shady cover so bucks will look there to find them.

Incidentally, one of the most successful hunts that our camp experienced was in mid-November 1999. The temperature was exceptionally warm that week however we managed to tag out with 6 bucks in 3 days. Despite the warm weather, bucks were moving!

High winds can make deer nervous as tree branches can create a lot of noise in a forest. I won’t say that deer won’t move when it’s windy, only that they don’t move as far or as quickly. One thing to note that the wind speed is considerably less in the bush than in the open.

Unless there is a storm, rain and snow doesn’t bother deer very much. In fact the high humidity associated with precipitation enables deer to smell better.

Stormy weather can put a halt on deer movement. Deer seem to know when a storm is brewing and they often feed heavily before the storm peaks and it’s not unusual to see them out in the open during daylight hours. When a storm comes and eventually goes, the barometric pressure changes. Deer move best when the barometric pressure changes i.e. rises and falls.

As I alluded to above, estrous does can negate weather conditions causing bucks to throw caution to wind in any weather condition.

[huntnmachine]

Deer movement to me, no matter doe or buck, is food source and the Rut. Does will be moving to spread there scent and bucks will follow. Rain and high wind will shut deer movement to a stand still, High wind, as Sam mentioned causes too much noise that they can't pin point making them very nervous. Rain maybe not so much but like us, walking through the bush with saturated branches and leaves makes them uncomfortable and again the noise puts them on alert so caution would be there first defense.

Great topic....I hope to learn from others that are more experienced.....

[sabmgb]

Wind over 20K and I stay home. I have shot deer in the rain and when it is snowing, having said that, heavy rain or snow isn't very good either. So I would say wind is the most troublesome. Best time would be before a front comes in that has the bad things

[gbk]

Wind and heat are the two major factors,as far i believe and have experienced.
Hovewer-first snow, especially if it is heavier-ish, will shut them down for a day .

Having said that- the high wind counts only where it is not obstructed .
In big woods,or depressions wind will be slowed down significantly. Making it no factor.Hard to tell,but i think even with up to 40 km/hr weatherman's wind prediction it is Ok to be inside big woods.

One should consider safety though, especially around dead trees.

I have made a mistake and climbed a 10 " ash,in a relatively open hardwoods,with 35 km wind(to heck with the wind,i drowe 60 km to be here,so i will hunt!)
When perched up 18 feet in that bare tree-i climbed down in a heartbeat, and drove home.

I did similar attempt deep in mature Pine plantation,and there was "maybe"half the wind speed felt.Quite OK.

Considering location of the spot, and lay of the land ,before comiting to hunt is a wise thing ,instead of just giving up.
Deer will be moving thru based on what they feel,not what the weatherman says.

[Species8472]

As many have stated wind is probably the biggest factor.

That being said there are always statistical outliers. I chased a monster buck i nicknamed Ghost for 7 years. I only ever saw him live once. That was at the peak of hurricane Sandy in late October 2012. Wind was screaming and horizontal torrential rain off and on. He strolled out into the food plot i was watching for 20 minutes but never gave me an ethical shot - actually with the conditions i don't think any shot would have been ethical. It's like he was king of his domain and feared nothing and must have figured no hunter would be out in that weather.

RIP peace Ghost sure he has long since passed of old age. Chasing him taught me much and literally occupied 100s of hours of my time with the bow, rifle and muzzle loader. In 40 years of chasing whitetail he was the number one candidate for my white whale award and his nickname for me was probably Ahab.

[gbk]

I had once a very "similar" experience as You Species had.
I hunted one Sunday early afternoon an open hardwood. New spot ,trying it out from the ground.Quite protected from the wind.For a while at least.
The wind was picking up, and some snow started drifting. For about an hour and a half in my hunt,i have decided,this was way to much.
When out from the woods,i realized,how much the wind is actually blowing.

There was still at least 1.5 hr leagl lighst left.
Halfway home, somewhere North of Fergus,west side of Hgwy #6 i have seen one of (if not)the biggest buck in my life.
He was walking out from cedars,maybe 200 yards away from the Hgwy, and was already at least 100 yard away from the bush-out in an open fielf,and walking casually towards an empty field.
It was blowing hard,and the snow was drifting.

Every time i drove by that farm,i look towards the direction-hoping to see something.
Alas they planted 2 rows of trees about 15 years ago in the adjacent fence row-and the visibility is much obscured.