Written By John VanDerLaan
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Curious about the best deer feeding times for successful hunting? Deer feed mainly at dawn, dusk, and at night. This article explores these feeding times and the factors influencing them to help you plan your next hunt.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on prime feeding times—dawn and dusk—to maximize deer hunting success.
- Understand seasonal changes and weather patterns to optimize hunting strategies and increase deer encounters.
- Utilize technology and scouting techniques, such as trail cameras and feeding habitats, to enhance your hunting effectiveness.
When Do Deer Feed?
Deer browser and will feed to some extent anytime they are on their feet. As deer walk, they take a nibble of this and a nibble of that.
So, we can break down deer feeding times to those periods when they are on their feet. This is usually around five times in a 24 hour period.
Three of those times I would consider major feeding times and two of them are minor feeding times. Think of humans, most eat three meals and a couple of snack a day. Deer are no different.
These are the five times that deer feed in a day.
Daybreak Feeding
Daybreak feeding occurs as the deer finishes feeding in the agricultural areas and begins to meander back to the bedding area.
During this period, they will feed on browse and mast crops, like acorns.
I would consider this a major feeding time.
Mid-Late Morning Feeding
Mid to late morning feeding is considered a minor feeding time. This feeding will occur in or around the bedding area as deer get up the urinate, defecate and stretch their legs.
They will browse on shoots, woody plants and other browse for as short period before laying down again.
There is very little travel during this time and it is very difficult to hunt these deer around their bedding areas.
Late Afternoon
This is the most important deer feeding time for hunters. The deer are hungry and they want to make their way back to agricultural fields, food plots and even feeders that you have out.
These deer are on a mission for quality food sources and they will be on their feet and traveling during daylight hours.
Feeding Times Four And Five
These feeding times are minor feeding times that don't really matter as hunters. The deer will feed between 10pm and 3am, mostly in agricultural areas. These times are why a lot of people think that deer are nocturnal, but they are not nocturnal.
There is no way for hunters to capitalize on these feeding times.
Prime Deer Feeding Times
Understanding the prime feeding times of deer is crucial for any hunter looking to increase their chances of success. Deer exhibit predictable feeding patterns throughout the day, primarily during dawn and dusk. These major feeding times are influenced by natural light and temperature, making them key periods for planning your hunts.
Focusing on these key daylight feeding periods allows hunters to develop more effective strategies and significantly increase their success rates. Examining each of these prime feeding times helps to understand their importance and how they can be leveraged to maximize hunting success during feeding time.
Dawn Feeding
As the sun rises, deer movement becomes more active. Deer are finishing feeding and beginning to filter back to their bedding area to chew their cud. This increased activity is driven by the natural light that dawn brings, signaling to the deer that it’s time to find their way back to the safety of thickets and benches where they can rest and watch for predators.
Deer prefer to feed in the woods and greenfields during these early hours, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and abundant food sources. However, higher daytime temperatures can reduce deer activity, potentially affecting their early morning feeding times.
Positioning yourself in between these key feeding areas and the bedding areas at dawn allows you to capitalize on heightened deer activity and increases your chances of a successful hunt.
Dusk Feeding
As the day transitions to evening, deer activity once again peaks. Late afternoon to early evening sees heightened deer movement as they prepare for nighttime feeding. The twilight hours are especially important as deer return to agricultural fields and open hardwoods from the safety of the bedding areas
After a day of lying in their beds, deer are hungry and anxious to get to the feeding areas, making dusk a prime time for hunting. Understanding and anticipating this behavior allows hunters to position themselves strategically to capitalize on increased deer activity during these critical hours.
Influencing Factors on Deer Feeding Times
Several factors influence deer feeding times, making it essential for hunters to understand and consider them when planning their hunts. These factors include seasonal changes, weather conditions, temperature variations, barometric pressure and moon phases. Each of these elements can significantly impact deer activity and feeding patterns, affecting the best hunting times.
Understanding how these factors interact with deer behavior enables hunters to make more informed decisions about when and where to hunt. Exploring each of these influencing factors in detail will reveal how they shape deer feeding times and overall activity.
Seasonal Changes
In the spring, the new growth of vegetation leads to enhanced deer activity as they transition back to active feeding times. The fall season triggers an increase in feeding due to the need to build fat reserves for winter. During September and October, acorns start to fall, becoming a primary food source and attracting deer.
These shifts in feeding patterns throughout the seasons significantly impact hunting strategies. Understanding these seasonal changes allows hunters to plan their hunts around peak feeding times, increasing the likelihood of encountering deer.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions are another critical factor affecting deer activity. During severe weather events like storms and high winds, deer seek cover and reduce activity to avoid harsh conditions. However, bucks are more likely to be active immediately before and after turbulent weather events, such as storms.
After the weather improves, deer need to feed more to replace the energy and nutrients lost during cover-seeking behavior. Recognizing these patterns enables hunters to time their outings to coincide with periods of increased deer activity, thereby improving their chances of success.
Temperature Variations
Temperature variations also influence deer activity patterns. In the spring, the return of new vegetation stimulates deer activity as they transition back to crepuscular schedules. Higher daytime temperatures tend to reduce deer activity, leading to less movement and feeding.
Conversely, cooler evening temperatures increase deer movement and feeding times, making them more active as night approaches.
The extreme cold of the late season will have the deer seeking sunshine and feeding heavily in the daylight hours to help them stay warm.
Monitoring temperature changes and understanding their impact on deer behavior helps hunters plan their hunts for times when deer are most likely to be active.
Moon Phases
Moon phases play a significant role in determining deer feeding behavior. Full moons lead to increased nighttime feeding and reduced daytime activity. Hunters should consider these lunar effects when planning their outings to optimize success during different moon phases.
There are many hunters that live and die by the solunar tables, which claim to measure the lunar effects on deer. One of the most famous is called the Deer Hunters Moon Guide.
Understanding how moon phases affect deer activity can help hunters time their hunts more effectively, taking advantage of moon periods when deer are most likely to be feeding.
Tracking Deer Feeding Patterns
Tracking deer feeding patterns is crucial for any hunter aiming to maximize their time in the field. Understanding these patterns allows hunters to plan their stand placement and adjust their strategies based on deer behavior. Monitoring deer activity with trail cameras and other technologies can provide critical insights into feeding habits, allowing for more effective hunting.
The use of trail cameras, scouting techniques, and leveraging technology, can provide valuable insights into when and where deer are feeding.
Using Trail Cameras
Trail cameras are invaluable tools for monitoring deer movement and providing insight into their habits. Placing trail cameras along deer travel routes and feeding areas allows hunters to gather data on deer activity, helping to identify the best hunting times and locations.
Regularly checking and analyzing footage from trail cameras can reveal patterns in deer behavior, enabling hunters to adjust their strategies and improve their chances of success.
Scouting Techniques
Effective scouting is crucial for understanding deer feeding habits and planning successful hunts. Arriving early or late in the day based on deer patterns increases hunters’ chances of observing deer activity. Regular scouting helps identify feeding habits, which are essential for planning effective hunts.
Timing your scouting efforts around known feeding patterns will provide insights into optimal treestand locations, leading to better understanding and success during hunting excursions.
Leveraging Technology
Leveraging technology can significantly enhance hunting strategies. Apps like HuntWise track temperature changes, deer movement, and wind conditions to ensure accurate deer feeding times. HuntWise also provides features for scouting, including topographic mapping and 3D options, helping hunters identify prime deer locations.
Combining these technologies allows hunters to plan their hunts more effectively, uncovering deer bedding area locations and maximizing their chances of success.
Best Hunting Times Based on Deer Feeding Patterns
Optimal hunting days coincide with major feeding times that align closely with sunrise or sunset. Research indicates that deer may move more during the day around the full moon, contrary to the belief that they feed primarily at night.
Understanding these patterns and planning hunts accordingly increases the chances of encountering deer during their most active periods.
Morning Hunts
Late morning activity in deer tends to increase notably after a full moon. Deer typically feed closer to noon after a full moon, making it a prime time for hunting. Hunters should capitalize on these late morning feeding surges to enhance their chances of success.
Planning hunts for late morning hours during these periods allows hunters to take advantage of increased deer activity and improve their chances of a successful hunt.
Evening Hunts
Dusk is a prime time for deer feeding, particularly during the rut when does attract bucks. Deer are more active in the evening, especially during the rut when feeding behavior changes. Understanding and anticipating this behavior allows hunters to position themselves strategically to capitalize on increased deer activity during these critical hours.
During the rut, does frequent food plots, which increases the likelihood of bucks being drawn to those areas in the evening.
All-Day Sits During Cold Fronts
Cold weather results in heightened feeding frequency among deer, making all-day sits effective.
Cold fronts are fantastic times to hunt, because the deer will feed heavily before, and after the front passes.
Deer and other animals can sense the changes in barometric pressure and they know there is a front approaching. They also know it could be an extended period of bad weather and they should fill their stomachs and seek cover.
Depending on the length of the storm, the deer will be very hungry after the weather passes and they will immediately head to food sources to meet their nutritional needs.
Enhancing Deer Feeding Habitats
Enhancing deer feeding habitats is a crucial aspect of attracting and retaining deer. Seasonal factors, such as temperature changes and food availability, significantly impact deer movement and feeding behaviors. By creating diverse food plots with various nutritional options throughout the year, hunters can promote healthy deer populations and improve hunting success.
Let’s explore some of the best strategies for enhancing deer feeding habitats, including food plots, natural food sources, and supplemental feeding.
Food Plots
Planting both warm-season and cool-season crops in food plots ensures deer have nutrition available year-round. Preferred food sources for deer during the season from April to September include alfalfa, soybean, greens, native grasses, and forbs. Establishing food plots with nutritious vegetation is essential for consistent deer feeding and improving herd health.
Creating a food plot with a variety of plants provides deer with the necessary nutrition to support antler growth and fawn development.
Natural Food Sources
Natural food sources like white oaks or apple trees can attract deer, particularly mature bucks during the daytime. Oak trees provide acorns, a favorite food of deer that can draw them to specific areas. Acorns typically begin to fall from September through October, making this a crucial time for deer feeding.
Utilizing natural food sources like oak or apple trees not only draws deer to specific areas but also enhances tracking and hunting success.
Supplemental Feeding
Supplemental feeding is a strategy that can significantly improve hunting success by creating regular feeding schedules for deer. Implementing feeders with digital timers ensures that deer are lured throughout the day and trained to eat during daylight hours. Regular feeding schedules make it easier to predict deer movement, improving hunters’ chances of success.
Using tools like the Moultrie Mobile app, hunters can monitor feeder activity and manage feeding times and conditions more effectively. Ensuring that deer become accustomed to feeding during the day helps create more predictable and consistent hunting opportunities.
Summary
Understanding and leveraging prime deer feeding times is a powerful tool for any hunter. By focusing on the major feeding periods of dawn and dusk, and considering the various factors that influence deer activity, hunters can significantly increase their chances of a successful hunt. Seasonal changes, weather conditions, temperature variations, and moon phases all play a role in shaping deer feeding patterns, and being aware of these can help in planning more effective hunting strategies.
Additionally, tracking deer feeding patterns through trail cameras, scouting techniques, and leveraging technology can provide valuable insights into deer behavior. Enhancing deer feeding habitats with diverse food plots, natural food sources, and supplemental feeding can further attract and retain deer, making your hunting grounds more productive. By integrating these approaches, hunters can maximize their time in the field and enjoy greater success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the prime times for deer feeding?
Deer feed mostly at dawn and dusk, making these the best times for you to observe them. Plan your outings around these prime feeding times for a successful experience!
How do seasonal changes affect deer feeding patterns?
Seasonal changes greatly influence deer feeding patterns, with spring providing fresh vegetation and fall offering acorns that attract them. Embrace these rhythms of nature to enhance your understanding and observation of wildlife!
How do weather conditions influence deer activity?
Weather conditions significantly influence deer activity, with severe weather dampening their movements while bucks tend to become more active before and after storms. Embrace these patterns to enhance your hunting strategy!
What role do moon phases play in deer feeding times?
Moon phases significantly impact deer feeding times, as full moons encourage more nighttime feeding and less daytime activity. Understanding this can help you strategize your deer hunting or wildlife observation efforts effectively.
How can I enhance deer feeding habitats?
Enhancing deer feeding habitats can be achieved by planting diverse food plots, incorporating natural food sources like oak trees, and using digital feeders for supplemental feeding. These strategies will ensure a rich and varied diet for healthy deer populations!
Does anyone believe in planning hunts according to major deer feeding times? I usually hunt whenever I can get away from work, but if I’m planning a special trip to hunt for multiple days, I usually look at the feeding chart to pick a weekend. I just found a new website that seems pretty good: Solunar Forecast.
Hi Jim,
We always use the solunar forecast to determine the best times to be in our stand. We also use the Moon Guide. These are just some of the tools that we use to stack the odds in our favor.
Are they always spot on? No, but any advantage that we can get is worth taking! There is definitely an influence from the moon and sun and it can be seen in fish feeding behavior as well as deer feeding behavior.
I have been researching this for an in depth article and I have been very intrigued by the data that I have collected.
It is extremely difficult to determine if the deer feeding activity can be directly attributed to the moon and sun because of the constant influence of other factors like weather fronts, barometric pressure, hunting pressure, predators, etc.
Even with all of those extenuating factors, I am amazed at the accuracy of the solunar tables and their ability to predict the peak times of deer activity.
I would suggest that you get your own Moon Guide, or use the link above to check the tables for your area.
Make yourself aware of the predictions and do your own research to see if they pan out in your area. I think you will be surprised at how accurately they can predict the major deer feeding times.