Ask The Biologist

Hunting Pressure

Hunting Pressure

By Bob Humphrey

If every place gets hunted, where do they go?

QUESTION: The area I hunt gets a fair amount of hunting pressure, and it seems like the deer disappear once gun season starts. But if every place gets hunted, where do they go? — Brent W.

ANSWER: Believe it or not, they’re probably still there.

Recent research on mature bucks fitted with GPS collars has shown that rather than moving to new areas, mature bucks subjected to increased hunting pressure simply move less during daytime and more in thicker cover.

It also shows that mature bucks use only 5 to 10 percent of their home range for core area activities throughout the year.

Even during the rut they still use only about 30 percent of their home range.

My recommendation would be to shift your hunting activity to areas of thick security cover and let the other hunters work for you.

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd