It is no secret that winter is the most difficult time of year for a hunter. Temperatures are low in most areas of the country and deer change their practices, becoming more difficult to find. They too want to avoid the harsh weather and they are often challenged with finding food. They suppress their appetite to survive the winter, venturing out once spring arrives.
Tip 1: There is less food available during the winter, so deer must exert more energy to find it. In addition, they use more energy to digest food during cold weather. By suppressing their appetite, deer are better able to survive winter. This means they do not move around as much in search of food. Hunters will have a more difficult time locating prey.
Tip 2: Like humans, deer seek warmth and shelter during winter. Locations shielded from prevailing winds are places where deer will congregate. Areas featuring thicker vegetation, protected faces, and faces that feature a northerly orientation are spots where deer warm themselves in the sun. Hunters should look in these areas as well as thick sheltered brush near small clearings located on a hillside that faces north. In addition, more deer are usually found in middle elevations on ridges and mountains because these are in between cold valley air and high altitude cold temperatures.
Tip 3: Hunters should be aware of the sex and species of deer being hunted. Smaller deer are more susceptible to cold temperatures. They are more likely to be found lower in valleys and close to sea. Larger deer have an easier time than smaller animals do in colder weather and at higher altitudes. Therefore, they are usually found in higher elevations. When the quarry features the same species, stags will be found higher than hinds.
Tip 4: Deer are most active during dawn and dusk in the summer, feeding through the night. During winter, they are very active just after dawn and right before dusk, moving around throughout the day and seeking shelter at night.
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