Scientifc studies have been done to determine when most deer sightings occurred, while driving along pre-described routes.
Other studies were done with radio-collared deer, to see when and where they moved during what type of weather.
Because deer in different parts of the country are accustomed to different temperature ranges, they obviously move in temperatures. Deer in the north move less in high temperatures, and more in cold temperatures, than deer in the south, which move in higher temperatures and move less in colder temperatures.
Once deer grow long winter coats there is obviously a temperature range where they feel most comfortable. If it is too hot they often wait until the sun goes down before moving, or the seek areas of shade, dampness, or colling winds. If it is too cold they seek areas open to the sun where they gain heat by solar radiation, an/or they get out of cold winds.
In the upper midwest it was found that deer in general, including large racked bucks, were most active between 15 and 25 degrees, with peak sightings at 20 degrees.
During one study it was found that when temperatures fell below 19 degrees for 3 days, the deer migrated to areas with more cover.
You can view John Stone's study in Texas at this address
http://home.houston.rr.com/deerproj/SpecialLinks.htm
He found that most sightings occurred between 67 and 75 degrees in Texas.
Most deer sightings occured when the wind speed (in the area where the deer was traveling) was below 10 mph, however large racked bucks were seen moving during the rut in wind speeds up to 15 mph. Wind created noise, and can cause secnts to bounce off trees and flow through open areas, so deer often want to get into areas with lower wind speeds.
Precipitation in the form of rain, sleet and hail can be noisy, it can also cause the deer to get wet and lose body temperatures. But, it can also reduce the amount of available sunlight, which may make it resemble dawn or duck, when deer are most normally active. Most deer activity occured during light to no precipitation, fog or snowy days, when there was little wind.
More deer were sighted during daytime hours, when there were clouds than on clear days.
Very little correlation has been found with Barometric Pressure, other than changing pressure, which may percede dramatic weather changes.
Here is an excerpt from my Complete Whitetail Addicts' Manual:
"In his study in Georgia, Kent Kammermeyer found that deer activity was correlated with barometric pressure changes in the morning and evening. But, he noted that this is when these barometric pressure changes normally occur in that area.
Illinois biologist Keith Thomas found that the highest amount of white-tailed deer movement and feeding activity occurred when the barometric pressure was between 29.80 and 30.39. I suspect that deer may react to the weather changes associated with barometric pressure changes, such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature factor changes, cloud cover and precipitation; but not necessarily to minute changes in barometric pressure."
The moral of the story;
If the temps are right for your area, the wind is below 10-15 mph, there is little to no precip, and it is cloudy, and the other half does not have something for you to do GET OUT THE DOOR and hunt.
Now realize, there are always going to be exceptions, especially during the rut, when bucks just plain act stupid.
I hope that helps guys.
May Yahweh bless you and yours,
T.R.
