The current issue (January) of Deer and Deer Hunting magazine includes an interesting article on how the weather impacts deer hunting success. I'm not going to give away all the findings shared in the article, but was very surprised to see the study found the highest level of success between a very large group of hunters was during periods when daytime temperatures were relatively close to average. Now, this could be true only because that was the time when the majority of hunters were in the woods. Still, some have claimed that like us, deer prefer to stay inactive during the coldest and hottest times of the day. If so, it's worth staying on the stand, or even getting to the stand a little later, on those very cold mornings. And likewise, showing up a little early for an evening hunt when temperatures are going to plument after sunset would be another good move. So in other words, maybe getting to the stand early on those coldest mornings isn't such a must.

The article is a very good read because it also tracks the results of hunter success rates relative to wind speed and barometric pressure.

Well I hate to throw a Cog in your Wheel, Betsy Ross the Pyromaniac...

But this has been around longer than William Oxners story about shooting a penny with a BB Gun with Abraham Lincoln


Download ISolunar and keep your Peeps watching the Moon Phases ..

But if you like just to re read stuff like that...Letter Rip Tator Chip..

Try this

Open...Click


Donski

The next time I need a weather forecast, I guess I should just check a lunar table first.

isolunar has weather data as well

The key piece of information is not just the current temperature, but how the current temperature compares to the daily average. According to the article, hunter success rates were highest on those days when the temperature was close to average. In other words, if the temperature was well above or below the average for that day of the year, success rates were lower.

The Intellicast.com website provides tables that show the daily average high and low for anywhere on the globe. The article was somewhat poorly written in being specific, as it only referenced the average "daytime" temperature, which one can only assume is the daily average high. For the area that I hunt in East Texas, today's average high is 62 degrees.

So then, combining both weather and lunar impacts, the absolute best time to be in the woods are those times when the moon is directly overhead, and the temperature for that day is expected to be close to the average high.

For me, the absolute best time to be in the woods is whenever I can be there, soak it in, relax and enjoy it. Time, temp and lunar tables are variable tools but I gotta go when I have the time (they don't always align)

Wouldn't you have the "highest level of success" when the temps are "relatively close to average" because most days are relatively close to average, by definition? I guess it does indicate there should be less expectation of success when in the stand during a passing cold front...

Lies, damn lies, and statistics.

This.

Not sure. Deer do often seem to remain bedded all day on those rare days when the temperature remains well below average throughout the day. And those cold, frosty mornings when the temperature starts rebounding quickly toward the daily average seem to produce more deer sightings.

Like ourselves, perhaps deer prefer to stay bedded on those coldest mornings, but will quickly get up and start moving once the temperature starts getting more comfortable.

this gives me hope for this weekend...at first glance I was looking at hunting on the day of the week with the highest temps. But, looking at the average high temps for this time of year it will be real close to the average. Maybe this weekend will be the time for that big 10 pt to slip up...maybe

Sounds like you have about an average chance...

No, no, no. You don't know anything about deer hunting.

On those very coldest of days, you're supposed to get to the stand by 3:00am and sit there and shiver for six hours until your fingers and toes hurt. Then when it finally starts to warm up a bit you fall asleep, only to wake up seeing a white tail running away from you. Then you go back to camp and tell a story about how you eyed this 12 pointer for a half hour but couldn't get a clean shot. Everyone knows that's the way that it's done.

Dang...somebody else hunts like I do!