Ask The Biologist

The Answer My Friend...

The Answer My Friend...

By Bob Humphrey

Geography plays a role in how whitetails react to wind.

QUESTION: I recently read somewhere that according to research, high winds don’t affect deer movement. How can this be true? — David W.

ANSWER: I can’t answer directly without knowing the source, but I suspect the author might be over generalizing. I’ve read several studies on radio- and GPS-collared deer that, surprisingly, showed little or no correlation between deer movement and wind speed. However, I’ve also read research that did find some correlations. One study showed a slight decline in movement during high winds. Another showed a slight decline during moderate winds, but an increase when winds were high.

One possible explanation for the difference is geography. Regardless of what the research says, the deer around my home flat out don’t move during high winds unless someone or something makes them move. The first time I traveled out west to hunt, I was discouraged by the wind, but my outfitter assured me not to worry. “The deer will still move,” he said. “They’re used to it.”  He was right. Habitat, climate, time of year and even time of day can also play a part in how the wind affects deer movement. The bottom line is the best time to be in the woods is when the season is open, regardless of the wind.

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