Dave C. from Vermont asks, “when is the best time of the year to learn about deer movement on a piece of property?”
Dr. Dave Samuel
This is a great question. Of course you have to realize that just because deer use certain trails at one time in the year does not mean they will be there at another time. However, my favorite time to scout an area is in late winter when there is snow on the ground. And that’s mid-March where I live.
I’ll walk stream bottoms to start because trails there are easy to spot. When snow is melting and the woods get a bit muddy, it is very easy to find major deer trails, especially as they pass through stream bottoms.
Next, backtrack those trails to learn a lot about deer movement. As you do so, note wind conditions both in the early morning and late evening. Also, note the direction the deer are traveling, and keep your eyes peeled for a good funnel area to set a stand.
Dr. Dave writes a weekly column for sportsmansguide.com. If you have a question for Dr. Dave, e-mail your question to Dr. Dave in care of Tom Kacheroski, senior editor of www.sportsmansguide.com‘s content at tkachero@sportsmansguide.com.
Dr. Dave studied deer for 30 years as a wildlife management professor at West Virginia University. In addition he has been a bowhunter for over 40 years, with deer being his main prey. He’s also an outdoor writer and has been with “Bowhunter” magazine for 31 years.