Deer @ -20F

[RobG]

We are going to have a cold week (22 below this morning) here in Bozeman and there is an archery/shotgun season right now. Trouble is, all the deer on accessible land only seem to come out at night. How do deer behave when it gets really cold? Are they feeding at night or bedding down and only coming out during mid-day when the temps are tolerable?

 

[teamhoyt]

I would think that the deer would be on their feet feeding alot as long as its clear. especially the bucks as they will need to be in feeding mode after the rut to replenish their fat reserves. Probably not always the case but I would say they will feed more than they sleep. JMO

 

[Z Barebow]

They are in the survival mode. Meaning they are about eating and bedding in "warm" spots. (South facing/sunny exposure and sheltered from wind). Back out to eat in evening. It seems like early in a cold spell, things can be kind of tough during shooting hours. But as spell lingers, they need more food and will come out earlier in the day.

Does and fawns are always first to get moving. You might never see a buck.

I find morning hunts are short. No need to stay on stand until 11 AM. (My rule of thumb is 1.5 hours after legal sunrise.) When deer have 15 hours of darkness to eat, they don't linger in feeding areas long. If snow is deep, generally they are not bedded very far away from the feeding areas either. (Conserve energy)

I will add I am describing WT hunting. Mulies, with only one killed I am no expert. (I live in ND so hunting in cold is something you learn how to do. Otherwise you would only hunt 2 months out of the season)

-1F this morning with temp dropping all day. Wind 15-30 MPH. Not a mosquito to be found.

 

[MToutdoorsman]

Hey Rob not insulting your intelligence. GMU 309 is open still but only anterless til jan 15th. My buddy thought he was gonna go out and shoot a buck this weekend. I said yeah if you don't want to hunt for the next 6 yrs. You have a place to go by bozo.

 

[RobG]

Hey Rob not insulting your intelligence. GMU 309 is open still but only anterless til jan 15th. My buddy thought he was gonna go out and shoot a buck this weekend. I said yeah if you don't want to hunt for the next 6 yrs. You have a place to go by bozo.

Yup - antlerless only. I went out yesterday and today in the afternoon - deer don't seem to be moving much, but I saw a few more tracks today than yesterday even though it was 12 below. The snow is very starchy/noisy.

 

[CabinFever]

I'll be chasing the same type of deer, and I've been seeing them a mile from bedding areas a half hour after shooting hours. They are often crossing moving fast across the roads to the fields where they feed. My plan is to hit the state lands on river bottoms during the day or at first light hoping to jump something or spot something coming back to bed, guess we'll see how that goes. If that doesn't work in the next few weeks, I guess I gotta work on private land access.

 

[MToutdoorsman]

Went out yesterday. Saw at least 50 deer in the fields. Man was it cold. Nothing within shooting distance, but still cool to that many deer out and about.

 

[RobG]

The choice today is to go hunting or glue down the Formica countertops.

 

[TLC]

The choice today is to go hunting or glue down the Formica countertops.

there ya go. fixed it for you.

 

[RobG]

there ya go. fixed it for you.

Thanks. Now I can go with a clear conscious.

 

[Z Barebow]

Killed one on Sun eve. One of ~ 10 deer I saw that eve. It was a balmy +4F.

It is a warped world we live in when that temp is comfortable.

 

[naturebob]

These temps aint made for Humans. I work in it At Nite. Sucks. Just here for the $. Give Me the heat any day . Call Me Pusss. ....BOB!

 

[RobG]

Didn't see crap on Monday. Talked with the tax man and then glued the Formica table tops today. Maybe ski tomorrow

 

[bigskyblueman]

Dozens of whitetails up in the residential areas on the west side of 309. Up there every a.m. and p.m. for work. 11 WT in one front yard this afternoon. They are active all day long.

 

[Frenchy]

I grew a little frustrated with some of these areas this year. Lots of people pushing the bedding areas all day long, and even came across a big bright red pile of that bait stuff advertised on the outdoor channel. Think it might have been that apple crush stuff. Never thought I'd see that in MT!

 

[RobG]

No hunting on a powder day! You guys behave.