Deer movement patterns changing?

[josephmrtn]

Does anyone else feel like deer movement patterns are odd this year?

I'm hunting the same piece of property in Upstate that I grew up hunting, deer have moved in a similar pattern every year that I can remember however this year it seems to have changed and I'm having a tough time figuring out exactly what has changed or why.

For instance there is a specific ridge that has always had a historic line of rubs running down it, this year there are none. There are certain spots that I've always had tons of activity on trail camera, this year they seem to be dead.

I've spoken with some neighbors who have shared my sentiment that something has changed about the movement patterns but there really are no major changes to the landscape or food options in the area that I'm aware of besides the fact the acorns seem heavier this year than some. 

Just scratching my head trying to figure out what may have changed and learn from it.

[ATbuckhunter]

Usually when something like that happens, there's some major food source change. There also might be some change you are not aware of. heavy acorns could explain a lack of movement, so maybe that's the reason. Sometimes a change in pattern could also be explained by someone baiting unfortunately 

[Larry]

 Well you have the October lull. I also have a large corn field to deal with not on the property I hunt. If I hunted that property I would just find where they go in and out. They don't even need to come out they have everything they need right in the corn field.

[G-man]

Found sweeter nuts someplace is all.. heavy mast years actually make hunting harder as deer have so many options.. not like you have only tree producing in front of you...

Edited October 4, 2024 by G-man

[broomeguy]

Definitely changed. I think because of acorns because most of my cams are on small food plots and I'm not getting lots of pics. I only have one camera in the oaks and am getting more pics on that camera. I'll be hunting where the cameras aren't located 😆 

[Bucksnbows]

Acorns in a single word drive more pattern changes than any other factor. This is a good acorn production year. 

[dbHunterNY]

could be the case for you but nope. same things as other years. soft mast that was getting hammered has died off and not getting hammered. white oaks are dropping and deer have moved to those. ag fields are getting harvested and beans and corn have matured so deer are hitting those before they're gone too. deer don't cut corners. find out where they're feeding. also first doe are coming into estrous maybe one or two that have visited where you hunt or maybe not. they'll be in the thickest nastiest crap there as any and all bucks in the area will be keyed in on them and they need to just get away or be receptive and find a private spot to party. there's no october lull. just a change is behavior and feeding patterns.... IMO. 

[grampy]

As said above, the abundance of acorns can be a double edged sword. On one side you have lots of mast to keep them on the property. On the other side with so much mast, they won't need to move much at all to feed and bed. If they don't move much, chances of seeing them are lower. I have found that the deer are still there! And when cooler temps come, and the rut starts to unfold, you will see much more movement. 

Until then. Try hunting south facing oak ridges. Dig a little deeper, to find some prefered oak trees. Possibly white oaks over reds.

[dbHunterNY]

to go off what @grampy said they don't move much in the context of covering a lot of ground to be visible. GPS studies have shown the move more and more as we get closer to peak breeding. that's under the context that a step is a step. one of my favorite early season methods is to find where the deer are in cover and then safely hunt the outside edge of that cover with the right wind. i don't take does in these locations because I don't want to risk needing to recover them deeper into cover where the deer are bedded and loitering in comfort. it can key you in on bucks in the area and/or if any doe are in early estrous. observe them for a sit and if need to make a plan to move in tighter. i killed my widest spread buck that way. Don't remember how wide but i can sit inside it or use to anyway.

[ChevyZr297]

Food and water source changes along with predators can change their habits. I've seen this on my trail cams with the change being more coyotes. They keep them moving now and away from their favorite food areas.