Essentials of Whitetail Deer Migration Patterns
Does weather influence deer movement? Are deer really more active during light rainfall? Let’s debunk all of that. If it comes down to them moving, we’ve got it listed here. You can utilize this information for tracking purposes, but keep in mind, this is not our take on how to track whitetail deer. What you do with the data is up to you. These are patterns and habits that have been noticed and traced.
Is Whitetail Deer Migration Related To Winter?
There’s a lot of information to point towards this idea. It’s been described as “a complex annual phenomenon in the northern portion of the whitetail’s range,” according to Dr. Karl V. Miller of Field and Stream magazine. While data is still being created today, we don’t know the specifics, but we can look at years of habit. Nature doesn’t make mistakes, so what can we learn from this bizarre behavior?
In the northern part of the country, temperatures that dip below twenty degrees can, and absolutely have influenced deer to yarding areas. Further south, especially in Texas, whitetail deer migration patterns are shaky. We know that there is a consistent level of heat, even through the Winter months, but during years with adverse or severe weather conditions, the whitetail deer migration patterns can change completely.
Some attribute it to the landscape adapting to the weather changes, thereby affecting the nutritional intake levels to the local whitetail. This can cause them to migrate at later dates, especially the buck, who generally migrates later than doe and fawn.
Whitetail Deer Migration Patterns: Light Rainfall and Cold Conditions
Just about every hunter agrees—rainfall brings out different behavior in all whitetail deer. This ranges from doe popping up more often, to Buck being our earlier in the day. It’s another part of the whitetail deer behavior that we’re not one-hundred percent sure about, but it works like a charm. When you know that it’s going to be a light drizzle, you don’t have to pack up for the day and head on home. It makes out for one great hunt.
Hunting Whitetail Deer In The South: Does Migration Apply?
The short answer is: no. As stated previously, it takes adverse or extreme weather conditions to actually make whitetail migrate. This is due to the climate and foliage being roughly the same throughout the year. From witnessing the testimonies of experienced hunters, there’s a synonymous common thread: whitetail deer are creatures of habit.
Unless you run into those adverse conditions, they’re most likely to stay in the same general area, eat from the same sources, and drink from the same streams/lakes. It isn’t until predators or hunters disrupt their natural area—much like with a rutting buck—that they’ll leaver their territory, although, when not in the rut, they will be more timid in their surroundings.
Does Whitetail Deer Migration Affect Hunting Conditions?
It’s difficult to say, for most online publications. A lot of it comes down to opinion, but we’ve managed to scrape together bits of information from everywhere. When it comes to hunting conditions, such as the likelihood of seeing whitetail pop-up, are we going to see a difference? It’s a firm maybe.
It’s unlikely that you’ll run into a whitetail while it’s in mid-migration, and even then, they don’t always migrate very far. Certain areas—even those that were previously well-populated, even if you frequent them—can seem barren and void of any whitetail. It’s not that the deer are avoiding you—you’re just hitting the wrong weather conditions.
If you’re in an area where there’s been bizarre weather, due to natural disaster or anything else, then you might want to check out local forecasts and check with any local hunting publications or forums to see if there’s been a decrease in activity. It can help you plan your trip accordingly, and make for a higher chance of actually encountering game.
Data Gathered on Whitetail Deer Migration
Interesting data has been compiled on whitetail deer migration. A study at Washington State aims to understand more about whitetail, and why they’re continuing to grow in mass population, particularly in the west. Each year, they’re tagged thirty-five whitetail deer with local transmitters, to learn more about their behavior. While the region is separate from Squaw Mountain Ranch, it’s still a great insight tool to see more about how whitetail deer behave.
This study, conducted in 2013, shows that whitetail deer actually do migrate to different climates for different seasons. Even though their home range is said to just be a few thousand acres, it’s been proven that some doe have migrated up to twenty miles from her original starting position, classified from her summer range to her winter range.
But this is where we hit that geographical wall again. Where the climate in the south is much more consistent than elsewhere, do whitetail actually migrate at all, even under adverse weather conditions? It’s up for much debate, and with scientific grant-funded studies still going underway, we’ll be able to see more data in the coming years. Based on how whitetail deer migration patterns differ in the northern and eastern parts of the country, we’ll see a great deal of light shed on the possibility of whitetail deer migration in the south. From experienced hunters noticing different behavior in extra-cold winter months in local southern areas, it’s safe to say that there’s at least something going on with their migration pattern, it’s just a matter of finding the data to give exact ranges and expected acres/miles travelled in these months.
The Only Place To Hunt Whitetail Deer Year-Round
Without fail, our 2,000 acre ranch at Squaw Mountain Ranch is the ideal place for year-round whitetail deer hunting in Texas.