Deer compass

[mac]

for the early season October do deer tend to move in any particular direction in the am vs. pm, meaning do they often move east to west in the am and then move opposite in the pm? Given the land is somewhat flat, food sources are scattered, and tree cover is consistent all over. Didnt know if there are any generalizations that could be made. thanks

[WNYBuckHunter]

At one of my stands I know that generally, the deer move from North to South (from feeding to bedding) and in the evening they go from South to North (bedding to feeding). You still get them moving in almost any direction through the day as well. That spot is an incredibly consitant funnel though.

Other places I hunt are completely different though, so I would not even begin to try and generalize deer movement in anything except an extremely specific area.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Usually I see them moving from where they are to where they want to be...lol I don't think thee is any tie to compass diretion. In my mind at this time of year it is about current PREFERED food source and bedding location. Identify what they are hitting or better yet will be hitting for food and get between their pillow and their kitchen.

Rut---all bets off..lol

[nyslowhand]

.......................get between their pillow and their kitchen.

Rut---all bets off..lol

Pretty much sums it up!!!!!!!!

[Geno C]

better yet will be hitting for food and get between their pillow and their kitchen.

Rut---all bets off..lol

sounds about right lol

[Doc]

Actually, I haven't found any organized daily movement from feed to any specific "bedding area". Yes they may move from open feeding/bedding to more secluded feeding/bedding areas. Bedding is actually part of their digestive process, and so they will bed in many different places. Note how many beds you will find right in the middle of a haylot (obviously made under cover of darkness). I have also found deer bedded in open woodlots where they had just finished foraging for acorns. On the same day you might find them bedded in the thickets. I really don't think there is this constant pattern of deer making the daily trek from their "bedding area" to their favorite ag field at night and then back again when daybreak begins. I think their movements are a whole lot more random than that.

So back to the original question: I don't believe that there is a preferred compass direction in their movements, and I really believe that there is a complete randomness as to where they start out and where they end up.