What Time Are Deer Most Active in the Morning?

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Basit Ali Chaudhary

In general, deer are most active in the early morning, usually an hour or two before sunrise. This is due to the fact that deer are crepuscular animals, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. During this time, they are out foraging for food or engaging in other activities, such as socializing with other deer or marking their territory.

So, what hours are deer most active? They are most active in the morning from 4 am to 7 am. It’s also important to keep in mind that deer behavior might change depending on a range of elements, such as geographical location, weather, and season. Deer behavior can be affected by weather conditions like rain or snow, which might make them more or less active at different times of the day. 

It’s crucial for hunters and wildlife watchers to be aware of the usual deer activity patterns in their area and to organize their actions accordingly. To achieve this, you might scout out potential places beforehand, keep tabs on the deer’s whereabouts, or change your plans to coincide with the deer’s regular activity cycles. 

What Time of Year Are Deer The Most Active

Source: Snapshotwisconsin– Data collected by Snap shot Wisconsin. They reported deer detection of 5.7 Mil. And clearly you can see majority of movement during dawn and dusk.

Below is the table of average deer movement detections recorded during 24 hours from start of day to end.

HourDetectionsActivity Level
0              125,883.00Moderate
1              124,297.00Moderate
2              122,293.00Moderate
3              127,421.00Moderate
4              154,039.00Slightly High
5              217,954.00Higher
6              258,379.00Higher
7              232,523.00Higher
8              169,568.00Slightly High
9              121,610.00Moderate
10              101,698.00Slightly Low
11                96,620.00Low
12                97,096.00Low
13                94,362.00Low
14                97,786.00Low
15              117,170.00Moderate
16              177,269.00Slightly High
17              243,275.00Higher
18              258,873.00Higher
19              223,660.00Higher
20              166,734.00Slightly High
21              118,735.00Moderate
22              111,915.00Moderate
23              122,586.00Moderate
Data Collected by Snapshot Wisconsin during 24 average hours cycle

Deer activity levels can vary depending on the time of year and their specific location. Deer are most active during the fall and winter months, particularly during the breeding season, or “rut”. During this time, bucks are more active as they search for does, and does are more visible as they move around to find food and engage in mating behavior.

In some areas, deer may also be more active during the spring and summer months as they forage for food and care for their young. During this time, deer are more visible during the early morning and late afternoon hours when temperatures are cooler and food sources are more plentiful.

Deer are more active during cooler, overcast days and less active during hot, sunny weather. Additionally, human activity and hunting pressure can also impact deer behavior and cause them to be more cautious and less active.

When Under Pressure, Do Deer Change Their Movement Behavior?

Yes, deer will often move differently when they feel pressured or threatened by human activity or other disturbances. When deer sense a potential danger, they may become more cautious, alert, and skittish and may modify their behavior in a number of ways to try to avoid detection or escape.

Some common changes in deer behavior when they feel pressured include:

Avoiding open areas: Deer will be more likely to stick to areas with dense cover, such as forests or thickets, where they can hide from view and avoid being seen.

Moving at different times: Deer will be more active during the nighttime or during the early morning when human activity is typically lower, and they are less likely to be detected.

Changing travel routes: Deer may also alter their travel patterns or routes to avoid areas where they have been disturbed in the past or where human activity is high.

Using wind to their advantage: Deers have an amazing sense of smell and will try to move upwind to avoid being detected by humans or other predators.

Becoming more alert and skittish: Deers will be more likely to freeze, stomp their feet, or snort when they sense danger in an attempt to warn other deer or to assess the level of threat.

What’s the Best Time to Hunt Deer?

The best time to hunt deer can vary depending on several factors, including geographic location, weather conditions, and time of year. However, in general, the most productive times for hunting deer are during the early morning and late afternoon hours when deer are most active and feeding.

During the early morning hours, typically within an hour or two of sunrise or form 5 am to 7 am, deer are often on the move, seeking out food and water sources after a night of sleep. During the late afternoon and early evening hours from 4 pm to 7 pm, typically within three hours of sunset, deer are also active, feeding and moving around in preparation for the coming night.

It is also very effective to hunt during the rutting season when bucks are looking for does, and it’s a good opportunity to hunt them down. That why hunters often use does estrus lures to attract the deer

You can also hunt at night while they are taking a rest. Most of the time deer find a place near water fountains or where food sources are abundant, so they don’t need to travel far to eat. This can be an opportunity for hunters to track such places for hunting.  

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