Weather can get deer moving, but it’s not a simple formula.
QUESTION: Several articles I’ve read recently said some weather fronts get deer moving during daylight. What should I be looking for? And is high or low barometric pressure better?
ANSWER: There’s not a lot of supporting research, but my personal observations and those of many other hunters I know have been that there is a correlation between deer movement and barometric pressure, more precisely, changes in pressure. Animals sense, or at least recognize changes in weather better and sooner than we do. We probably feel it in things like achy joints, slight swelling or even a more energetic feeling but don’t really recognize why we feel that way.
A falling barometer means bad weather is on the way, and it sometimes prompts wildlife into getting up on their feet and out and about to feed ahead of the storm. Steady, low pressure is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but it’s often associated with inclement weather like wind, rain and snow that may suppress deer movement.
I live in snow country and have noticed deer often lay low during a prolonged snow event. As soon as the weather clears and the barometer rises, they’ll be back on their feet, and the longer they stayed sedentary, the more active they’ll be afterward.
Even brief weather events and sudden pressure changes can have an effect. Afternoon thunder showers are often followed by a sudden rise in pressure, making that a great time to be in the woods. Just be mindful that fast-moving fronts are often accompanied by dramatic changes in wind direction, usually shifting from south and east to north and west. Keep that in mind when considering which stand to use for a given hunt.
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