There’s a good reason for hunters to pay attention to when deer do what they do.
QUESTION: What are the feeding times of white-tailed deer, and how does knowing these times lead to hunting success?
ANSWER: Whitetails can feed 24/7, which is one of several reasons why they can easily out-compete turkeys for food. However, as most hunters will attest and countless research projects have demonstrated, deer are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active around dawn and dusk.
Knowing this can be helpful in many ways. It tells you when to prioritize your time in the woods. Sure, you can kill a deer any time during the day, but odds are best when they’re most active.
Knowing when deer are most active also lets you know when to get in the woods before these peak periods so you’re less likely to spook deer before they become active. It tells you the best time to sit still and wait, and when it might be better to move around.
— Recent Ask the Biologist Question: Here and There: Deer, both here and in Europe, can find their family units with no worries. Find Out The Answer!