Virginia Deer Movement Forecast

“within the reproductive season, movements and space use were greatest during the rut, followed by pre-rut and post-rut, and least during the non-breeding season.”

Simoneaux 2015 Bucks cover the most ground during the rut, then the pre rut and post rut, and the least outside the breeding season.

“Hunters should remember that breeding periods vary annually and peak breeding times are not necessarily peak buck movement times. Bucks may be more active before or after peak breeding periods, but research has shown that peak buck movement is one to two weeks before peak breeding.”

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Buck movement peaks one to two weeks before peak breeding, which is why the chasing week scores highest.

“Once the peak of the rut arrives a week or two later, hunters will typically see fewer bucks because they are courting and breeding receptive does, rather than searching for receptive does.”

Mississippi State Deer Lab At peak breeding, bucks stay with a doe, so the lockdown week scores lower than the weeks before it.

“During the rut, males will expand their home range 2-4 times in size.”

Farther and Faster, 2023 Rutting bucks roam two to four times their usual range.

“within each region the duration is relatively consistent; about 30-45 days with most of breeding taking place within a 21-day period centered on the peak breeding date. There may be a second, much smaller peak of breeding 3-4 weeks later”

Mississippi State Deer Lab Most breeding falls in the three weeks around the peak, with a smaller second peak three to four weeks later.

“Activity was greater at night than during the day and was highest within 2 hours of sunrise or sunset.”

Wandering in the Moonlight, 2017 Deer move most in the two hours around sunrise and sunset, which is where the best window sits every day.

“Female and male movements were primarily crepuscular.”

Webb et al. 2010 Both bucks and does move mostly at dawn and dusk.

“If we look at the average hourly speed of Buck 12776 from November 3rd through November 12th – the two weeks leading up to when half the does are bred – there are no morning and evening bursts of activity.”

Chasing the Ladies, 2017 In the chasing days before the peak, a collared buck moved all day, so the window opens up to midday.

“activity of both sexes decreased with increasing daytime ambient temperatures, and generally increased with increasing nighttime temperatures during the breeding and post- breeding seasons.”

Goethlich 2019 In the breeding season, deer moved less by day as the daytime temperature rose.

“Changing weather can stimulate deer movement, but a drop in temperature does not influence when the breeding season occurs.”

Mississippi State Deer Lab A change in weather can get deer moving, while the rut keeps its own dates.

“Deer may respond to cold fronts but we likely would need a lot more data to tease out any effect.”

Cold Wet Winds of Change, The Verdict, 2023 The cold front effect is real enough to count and small enough to keep modest.

“First off, I could find no effect of temperature on deer movements.”

Deer and Rain, 2015 Penn State found no temperature effect, which is why the cold front lift is capped at 14 points.

“when it rains they travel about 4-tenths of a mile less per day.”

Deer and Rain, 2015 Bucks travel about four tenths of a mile less on a rainy day.

“Rain alone causes a decrease in buck movement.”

Blown Away, 2018 Rain on its own cuts buck movement.

“For females I found NO EFFECT of rain on their movements.”

Deer and Rain, 2015 Does kept moving in the rain, so a wet day loses 8 points, not more.

“less likely to be active when rain was falling at night, and more likely to be active when rain was falling during the day.”

Goethlich 2019 In South Carolina, daytime rain did not stop deer, which is another reason the rain penalty stays small.