Nocturnal

[Doc]

Well today was the first card-pull with a three-day spread of only nocturnal deer. That's bucks and does. I thought that was interesting. I've been noticing a slow shift ever since the leaves came off. Before trail cams, I never realized that there was a slow shift toward nocturnal movement and eventually now total nocturnal activity, even prior to gun season. I know rut has an effect, but I always thought that the additional activity brought on more daytime sightings. That doesn't seem to be the case with my trail-cam results.  Anybody getting any daytime pictures of deer or is this anomaly just a local trend?

 

 

[Steve7]

Well today was the first card-pull with a three-day spread of only nocturnal deer. That's bucks and does. I thought that was interesting. I've been noticing a slow shift ever since the leaves came off. Before trail cams, I never realized that there was a slow shift toward nocturnal movement and eventually now total nocturnal activity, even prior to gun season. I know rut has an effect, but I always thought that the additional activity brought on more daytime sightings. That doesn't seem to be the case with my trail-cam results.  Anybody getting any daytime pictures of deer or is this anomaly just a local trend?

 

Hey Doc.  I had an 8 poniter on my lawn this morining at 8:15 scraping on the edge of the woodline and was with some does.  I am getting some during the day but most are an night. I'm not too concerned once the shots start though.  best of luck.

[thphm]

Doc. the does and a spike that would come and feed around early morning and evening are not comming around at that time either.I still have some apples falling and when I get up in the morming they are gone.

[Doc]

Yeah, that's what I am hoping. If the guys make a lot of noise coming into the woods and stink the area up real good, the nocturnal patterns won't matter. But I thought it was kind of interesting that I had all kinds of daylight activity all summer long until the leaves dropped.

[newbreed]

same thing in my hunting area, within the past 2 weeks i started getting nothing but night pics, and the number of deer i was seeing while hunting was way down compared to earlier this season and in my past seasons.

[WNYBuckHunter]

It could be that your camera just isnt in the right area for daytime activity. I have tons of pics from the last two weeks of daytime activity, including mature bucks. Their patterns shift throughout the year.

[bkln]

I see the same things Doc is seeing, only nocturnal movements, you can find them crossing the main street at night like its cool. I hope for colder weather and rut activity, then all bets are off...

[Hunter1]

Agree Doc  All Big bucks are night pics on my trail cams none at all are daytime except does

[growalot]

Well do to early and late movement...I just moved a stand closer to their bedding area...Now seeing they were getting to me too late before...I can see them at least a few minutes before the alarm buzzes....right between food and beds with a great wind as long as it's not E...or ENE

 

(sp)

Edited November 19, 2013 by growalot

[beachpeaz]

very young deer out during the day.  I have 15 different bucks of 8 point or better on my cameras from the last 2 months.  During this season I have seen 13 bucks and NOT ONE of the ones on my cameras (tons of 4's, 6's and young 8's).  They are all moving at night.  The warm tempartures and full moon certainly don't help the cause either.

[WNYBuckHunter]

So if they are only moving at night, how do you guys explain all of the deer that are getting shot the last couple of weeks?

[landtracdeerhunter]

Just got in from a 10 - 2 sit. Had a nice doe and 2 fawns move right through into the uncut corn. Nothing nocturnal about that, but one does have to be there to see it.

[beachpeaz]

So if they are only moving at night, how do you guys explain all of the deer that are getting shot the last couple of weeks?

 

They get pushed!  simple answer.  a vast majority of deer hunters are "opening weekend' folk.  They don't put time and effort into scouting, stand placement, scent control, etc.  They show up Saturday morning with their buddies and rely on the bizzilion hunters in the woods to move the deer around.

 

Where I sit, even on opening day with all the gun shots, the deer are pretty well calm.  The big deer were not moviing due to it being warm, windy and bright full moon.

[beachpeaz]

Just got in from a 10 - 2 sit. Had a nice doe and 2 fawns move right through into the uncut corn. Nothing nocturnal about that, but one does have to be there to see it.

 

Doe and a fawn don't have racks the last time I checked, therefore are not what was being discussed.  Because you saw that, it means that the 5.5 year old 10 point is going to be out in the middle of the day?  lol

[BizCT]

FACT = You have 0% chance of seeing a mature buck at 12 noon from your couch and watching TV. 

 

FACT = You have greater than 0% chance of seeing a mature buck at 12 noon from the woods.

 

My Dad and I saw 6 does on Sunday (60+ degrees) walking around between 11am - 2pm. All it would have taken is for 1 buck to be chasing and we could have had a nice buck in the middle of the day while the weak were at McDonald's eating lunch.

[beachpeaz]

FACT = You have 0% chance of seeing a mature buck at 12 noon from your couch and watching TV. 

 

FACT = You have greater than 0% chance of seeing a mature buck at 12 noon from the woods.

 

My Dad and I saw 6 does on Sunday (60+ degrees) walking around between 11am - 2pm. All it would have taken is for 1 buck to be chasing and we could have had a nice buck in the middle of the day while the weak were at McDonald's eating lunch.

 

Was that directed at me?  I never said anything about not being in the woods!  I agree 100% that ANYTHING COULD happen.  Deer get pushed, take a stroll, just generally mess up once and a while.

 

HOWEVER, IN GENERAL, the warm tempartures, wind and full moon has decreased daytime deer activity.  I love when people take a statment and make it all or nothing.  As if anyone said that ALL deer are nocturnal and everyone should go to McDonalds because there is a 0% chance of seeing anything.   lol.  geez.

[erussell]

Checked my cam Friday and had 3 bucks on it a 20 in 8 point with long tines a buck I call blade because he has a heavy est. 20 in spike on the right side with a brow tine and 5 on a heavy pallmated rack on the left ( wierdest rack ive ever seen ) and # 1 on the hit list. and a basic run of the mill 7 point with a 16 inch spread all chasing a doe around in front of it. All pics were taken just before light.  I still do not have a pic of the big 8 in day light which I think is probably why he is still alive. Blade comes to the cam all times of the day I have him there at 2am in the morn. and 12 noon on some days. He has driven me to maddness all bow season. Ive even gotten pics of him standing in front of the cam 20 min after ive left the woods. He knows the cam is there as I have just as many pics of his nose as I have of him standing just in front of it. He will mess up some day hope its the week of muzzleloader because I killed the 7 point with the 16 in spread 1st day after 20 min of sitting so Im after doe till then.

[NFA-ADK]

Warm weather does not help and not all area's have enough hunters to "push" deer.  With a warm winter coat on I would not move in this heat.  Add a full moon and high winds during the day and I can see why they would move more at night during this time period.  Stay the course,  they will move more as it gets colder.  Keep in mind they could be with a doe that is not moving that much.  Rut is on!!!

[TeeBugg]

FACT = You have 0% chance of seeing a mature buck at 12 noon from your couch and watching TV.

FACT = You have greater than 0% chance of seeing a mature buck at 12 noon from the woods.

My Dad and I saw 6 does on Sunday (60+ degrees) walking around between 11am - 2pm. All it would have taken is for 1 buck to be chasing and we could have had a nice buck in the middle of the day while the weak were at McDonald's eating lunch.

Agree 100%. This whole warm weather idea to me is bogus. But to each his own. Ive seen more deer while it was warm than i have on the few cold days ive been out.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Doe and a fawn don't have racks the last time I checked, therefore are not what was being discussed.  Because you saw that, it means that the 5.5 year old 10 point is going to be out in the middle of the day?  lol

 

My point, pure and simple. If you have doe and fawn movement during the day, the bucks, yes mature also, are going to be on there feet, especially if any are close to cycle. Your not talking to some will be deer hunter here. I've lived and breathed deer for a long time. I seen s... that most hunters will never see in a lifetime. I like to educate people, if their willing to learn!

[landtracdeerhunter]

Agree 100%. This whole warm weather idea to me is bogus. But to each his own. Ive seen more deer while it was warm than i have on the few cold days ive been out.

 

Yes to add to this, I scoped a 150"+ , Saturday at 4:50pm., 62 degrees.  The winds shifted from the sw to the ne for a short time. He came right in from the north  behind  me. Heard a stick crack, viewed rack coming through the brush as I cycled my gun around. Lined up in the scope,  dead on, breast shot only.  for 45 seconds, viewing this statue in the woods.  He lived for another day. Second guessing myself, hell no.

 

Edited November 20, 2013 by landtracdeerhunter

[beachpeaz]

And again, everyone is generalizing that this is all or nothing.  For anyone who thinks that daytime deer activity is EXACTLY the same regardless of the weather, wind, rut, etc, you are #$#% crazy!  Nobody said that you won't see deer.  Nobody said that it is impossible for a giant to walk by in the middle of the day.

 

If you "live and breath deer" then you should be the first to understand this.

 

I sit all day.  warm or cold, rut or not.  you never know what will come by.  You can't see them if you are not in the woods.  For someone who sees more deer than the average schmoe, I will guarantee you that the wind, temperature, moon phase and rut all play HUGE factors in when and if you will see deer.

 

Go ahead and keep arguing against that!!

 

 

[landtracdeerhunter]

I do fully agree with most of your above post, and one thing in life that I'll never ever stop doing, is keep an open mind.  To argue is worthless in life. To work together to gain knowledge- priceless. Good luck on the rest of your season!

[pistolp71]

I do fully agree with most of your above post, and one thing in life that I'll never ever stop doing, is keep an open mind.  To argue is worthless in life. To work together to gain knowledge- priceless. Good luck on the rest of your season!

 

Wise man.

[WNYBuckHunter]

They get pushed!  simple answer.  a vast majority of deer hunters are "opening weekend' folk.  They don't put time and effort into scouting, stand placement, scent control, etc.  They show up Saturday morning with their buddies and rely on the bizzilion hunters in the woods to move the deer around.

 

Where I sit, even on opening day with all the gun shots, the deer are pretty well calm.  The big deer were not moviing due to it being warm, windy and bright full moon.

 

You cant be serious. You actually believe that the only deer that have been getting shot have been pushed? Big deer were moving and were taken. I can PM you a couple of pics to prove it, and none of them were being pushed. Im not posting them in the public forum.

 

As far as the moon theories go, science has already put the facts out there, and they dont line up with the hocus pocus moon theories. Just read up on the past and currently ongoing GPS tracking studies.

 

Warm weather will get them to lay up more because of their winter coats, but they do have to move through the day. They have to eat, drink, etc no matter how warm it is. Get in close to the bedding and youll still see them. Spend a warm or windy day on the edge of an open field, and you probably wont see much. My hunting partner and I killed this buck Monday, in the wind and semi warm temps.

 

 

How? Still hunting. Shot him right in his bed, he never had a chance to get up. You just have to adjust to the conditions. This deer had been seen on his feet, during daylight hours, without being pushed, every single day last week. I passed probably 15 or more deer over the weekend, all on their feet during legal hours, only 2 being pushed.