WMU 60: Deer behaviour

M16LR.50

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I know 60 is a very big area and the deer might be different across the unit... Or maybe these are general questions but I'd like to understand how the weather affects the deer in this area:

  1. On very windy days, do they move with their usual pattern?
  2. What about on rainy days?
  3. On colder (-5 to +5) days?

I'm not looking for golden rules or anything, just from your experiences hunting in various parts of 60 during the rifle season as well as the later bow/muzzle seasons.

Thanks
 
I agree with the above.most deer do there feeding after dark but many things can get them moving during daylight hours. After a all night rain I see deer moving a lot early in the morning to get into the sun to warm up.windy days you will see less movement. I like to hunt south east facing slips on real cold days were deer love to lay in the sun
 
Depends where in 60. I have found the last couple weekends many are using the EOTA trails more than in the summer as the activity is a lot less and my neighbor hasn't had any activity on his cams compared to last year .. if you can set up on land closer to the trails you will have success.
 
Today (overcast, foggy and cool), they're moving around in force. I've taken a small buck and seen an additional 6 does, and that's all this morning between 6:30 and now.
 
On days where deer can't see,hear,smell very good they tend to move less.Cold days they move more.

I agree. During big storms they tend to hold up and you will see a lot of movement when the storm breaks. Our camp has shot some of there best bucks during all day steady rains. The participant that moves the least in rain are hunters who only tend to move between the bar/camp kitchen/ bunk/ card table and the out house. We had enthusiastic young fellas who would head out in steady rain and more often than not would come back to camp soaked to a$$ needing help with the buck they just shot.
 
Today (overcast, foggy and cool), they're moving around in force. I've taken a small buck and seen an additional 6 does, and that's all this morning between 6:30 and now.

Congrats! The deer in 46 have gone to ground. Nothing is moving. Just a bear trying to decide if he wants to commit and take the bait.
 
Last Thursday it was raining at a steady rate throughout the day and tapered down to a light on and off drizzle in the late afternoon and I got a buck just before sunset
 
Congrats! The deer in 46 have gone to ground. Nothing is moving. Just a bear trying to decide if he wants to commit and take the bait.

Thanks.

It caused a bit of an argument in my camp actually. I wanted to keep my tag for archery season (as I prefer to go for the big bucks, while the rest of the group only meat hunts), so I asked if one of the older guys that never shoots anything (and was asleep in bed when I shot it :rolleyes:) would tag it and he refused, but still wanted an equal share. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of it but I am pissed about this, lol.
 
Thanks.

It caused a bit of an argument in my camp actually. I wanted to keep my tag for archery season (as I prefer to go for the big bucks, while the rest of the group only meat hunts), so I asked if one of the older guys that never shoots anything (and was asleep in bed when I shot it :rolleyes:) would tag it and he refused, but still wanted an equal share. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of it but I am pissed about this, lol.

You should have had this conversation ahead of time... not after the deer was shot... but it sounds like you have multiple party members... could you not have asked if anyone who would not be hunting again after this trip and would be willing to tag the deer so that you can get back out during the late archery season??? Surely someone in the group would see that as a reasonable request.
 
You should have had this conversation ahead of time... not after the deer was shot... but it sounds like you have multiple party members... could you not have asked if anyone who would not be hunting again after this trip and would be willing to tag the deer so that you can get back out during the late archery season??? Surely someone in the group would see that as a reasonable request.

They've done it before (like every year for the past 5 years) for other members who also bow hunt so I figured it would be a non issue. The whole group knows I bow hunt, and in years past when I was the only one with a doe tag I have been more than willing to give it up regardless of whether I shot a doe or not (which I prefer not to shoot and let pass by instead). Basically I'm selective and always get good sized deer (the small buck is still close to 150lbs dressed, just a small rack, and the smallest deer and only doe I ever shot won the areas big doe contest, her dressed weight was 125lb), yet other guys are happy to shoot a 70lb doe fawn (when we already have 2 bucks hanging) and use my tag for it.
 
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They've done it before (like every year for the past 5 years) for other members who also bow hunt so I figured it would be a non issue. The whole group knows I bow hunt, and in years past when I was the only one with a doe tag I have been more than willing to give it up regardless of whether I shot a doe or not (which I prefer not to shoot and let pass by instead). Basically I'm selective and always get good sized deer (the small buck is still close to 150lbs dressed, just a small rack, and the smallest deer and only doe I ever shot won the areas big doe contest, her dressed weight was 125lb), yet other guys are happy to shoot a 70lb doe fawn (when we already have 2 bucks hanging) and use my tag for it.

That sucks if a tag goes wasted.... clarification will be needed for next year.

Maybe you can find partner with a tag for the bow seson.
 
Do you realize that you were asking him to break the law by tagging a deer shot during a hunt he did not participate in?

He is part of the group and I didn't know he was in bed when I asked. The point was he wants a share when he is not putting in the effort. I'm fine having to tag it but do not think that sleeping in and not being out gets you a share.
 
Thanks.

It caused a bit of an argument in my camp actually. I wanted to keep my tag for archery season (as I prefer to go for the big bucks, while the rest of the group only meat hunts), so I asked if one of the older guys that never shoots anything (and was asleep in bed when I shot it :rolleyes:) would tag it and he refused, but still wanted an equal share. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of it but I am pissed about this, lol.

I am so glad i dont have to have fights with my friends over stuff like this. It is all decided beforehand. This year it will be anyone who shoots a buck. They are scarce. Anything with 3" of antlers is fair game.
 
Learned something today.
Had no idea you could shoot a deer and use another persons tag.

Only if they are a member of an organized group... "Organized Group" = two or more hunters cooperatively hunting a specified area for a specified period of time. Specified in the written or verbal understanding of all party members.

You can't call your partner to come from work to tag an animal, or ask your neighbor to run out and buy a licence in order to tag a harvested animal.
 
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