Deer activity when it’s Super cold

[Northcountryman]

Guys;

inbagged hunting yesterday am cuz of the temps planning on going today w a friend. Right now it’s -1 out and the Doe we always see at my girlfriends house is still bedded down. It’s 7:08 right now when is usually magic time  on a normal day. Noticed the same behavior yesterday when it was equally cold. Then they started coming out well after 8 when the sun was out and was starting to warm up. Peak activity seemed to be around 1:30. I thought common wisdom is they have to move more when it’s cold to stay warm yet that is opposite of what I’m saying here . What do you think? 

[turkeyfeathers]

Food is energy, energy is warmth , deer have to move to get that food. 

[Northcountryman]

I agree but I think they delay breakfast when it’s real cold out, at least that’s what I’m seeing right now 

[Team Hoyt]

I've never got or seen a deer in these cold temps. You'd think they would have to move. But my observations disagree 

[landtracdeerhunter]

Deer are smart animals. Reserve energy levels in colder temperature. Deer travel around more in colder weather,  is just a myth. Still plenty of food sources here. They don't have to travel far. Also we notice that snow on the ground bumps'em right into nocturnal. In the heavy cover more. 

[Northcountryman]

Yup I agree and she’s still there. I’m wondering if it’s all relative anyway. So, when temps have been consistently in the 50s and then drop to the mid 30s or so does that trigger increased movement? I’ll bet it does and that’s normally why normal wisdom dictates the sudden drop in temp and greater deer activity maxim. But when it’s this cold? Nope, I think they huddle up and wait for the sun to warm things up a bit before they move 

[mowin]

The colder it is, the less early movement I see. See more deer on their feet late morning during extreme cold. 

[OldNewbie]

I agree, on mornings when its very cold they sit a bit longer before getting on their feet. At least until there is some sun to warm their backs.

[wooly]

I put a deer in my freezer last week and he hasn't moved since....

I'd say yes, deer activity definitely decreases the colder they get!

[BowmanMike]

When it gets really cold deer get very efficient about feeding. If they fed when it is the coldest they would burn more calories getting that food. So they tend to feed when it is warmest on frigid days. 

Being bedded keeps them fairly warm without exerting much energy/calories.

At least that is what i think,and i am no expert,only in my own mind,haha.

[grampy]

15 minutes ago, BowmanMike said:

When it gets really cold deer get very efficient about feeding. If they fed when it is the coldest they would burn more calories getting that food. So they tend to feed when it is warmest on frigid days. 

Being bedded keeps them fairly warm without exerting much energy/calories.

At least that is what i think,and i am no expert,only in my own mind,haha.

X-2....... this is what I think too.

They are apt to move more during the warmest part of the day. To get the most benefit from feeding vs energy output. 

Just my observations. Every deer is different. Just like us.

[thphtm]

Yesterday only one small doe , born late last year came out around  8:00 AM, usualy are a group of 6. The others came out around and after sunset and started hitting anything they could find to eat.

[biggamefish]

Can't feel my feet now don't know how I am going to walk out!! J/K I left at 9 nothing seen. Change of boots warm up and back for a long afternoon sit! Hopefully you idea of them moving when it's warmer out works.

[Swamp_bucks]

Well miday seems to be right.  Sitting in the house and my neighborhood doe group is milling around and feeding.  2 are bedded.  I know its cold out when they sleep on my bank.  Always facing into the sun. When ut gets like this.

[Daveboone]

I think it depends a lot on other factors too...the wind, precipitation, etc.  On a cold snap like Thursdays, I would certainly be keeping a close watch on the sunny hillsides. the deer will move to those, and then probably earlier in the evening than normal to get to food sources. They will still need to drink, also.  

[thphtm]

Three young does have been feeding in the back yard for the last 20 minutes, there mothers were out early this morning. 29 degrees and a 7 mph wind .

[cas]

On 11/23/2018 at 5:22 PM, Daveboone said:

 On a cold snap like Thursdays, I would certainly be keeping a close watch on the sunny hillsides.

On real cold days I know exactly where to find deer. Problem is I can no longer hunt there. Then the only thing worse than not knowing where the deer are, is knowing where the deer are.  

[Hock3y24]

in cold snowy weather i usually find deer close to bedding that has an easy accessible food source, they save energy by browsing and not having to walk as much. 

[bruno1]

I know when I used to hunt in Saskatchewan that the deer would always move later in the morning. Temps were typically below zero when I was there. I remember the outfitter telling the new guys that were getting agitated that they weren’t heading out in the dark to leave their NY hunting ways back in NY lol.