Why would we want to have an understanding of deer habits you might ask? Answer: the male “Buck” is the trophy all hunters covet when deer hunting. A quick look at harvest rates across the country indicate the majority of deer taken annually are bucks. The female “Does” are managed very carefully, state by state, and only a limited number of them are legally harvested each season, and for good reason.

Learning the habits of deer will certainly increase the chances of you “filling” your tag. Generally speaking, if you plan to just walk into the woods knowing little to nothing about the animal you stalk, you will likely spend a peaceful quiet day enjoying the surroundings but failing to bag, or even spot, a deer let alone harvest one. To increase odds in your favor, you must observe habits that deer exhibit which will likely increase your chance of a successful hunt.

First and foremost, we need to find where the deer community dwell. We want to locate areas more heavily populated by Western Deer and avoid the areas they do not. Before ever stepping foot into the forest, I like to research areas that I believe will have higher concentrations of deer. I do this at home from my computer. Water is an essential all deer yearn for. When I know which “Big Game Unit” I will be hunting, I locate that units topography on websites such as “Google Maps” and search the landscape for water sources shown from aerial views. If you can find a water source, you can be certain wildlife drinks from that source.

Western deer require adequate food sources, shelter, coverage for hiding and areas uninhabited by human activity. Learn what diet Western deer adhere to. Research what foods in the area they consider enticing then locate the area where those foods are plentiful. Areas of shelter and coverage can be researched from your computer, similar to your search for water. I also find that speaking with the local forestry and/or DNR personnel result in tips and locations to the whereabouts of trophy animals.

Next, we need to learn the Western deer’s schedule. Deer perform certain activities at different times of the day. Grazing in fields and pastures predominantly occur during dusk, late evening and/or dawn. On lowlight days under heavy cloud-cover, deer tend to be spotted in wide-open areas as opposed to their presence in the same location on a bright and sunny day. Deer conduct watering activities under cover of darkness. They do this to avoid human contact and predators. Western deer will likely repeat their habits over and over again provided no unsuspected interference.

Find scrapes and rubs. Deer season, in most parts of the country, occurs coincidently with “the rut”. Bucks create “scrapes” and/or “rubs” to attract does. In addition, some claim it to be a sign to warn off other bucks. During the rut, bucks are mainly interested in mating, often going without food, water or rest for long periods of time. Keep in mind that a “scrape line” will be checked by a buck several times a day.

Throwing together all the knowledge you have gained through research and visual cues should greatly improve your odds at harvesting the deer of your dreams!