Let's talk weather...

[Tom Anderson]

...and how it relates to deer hunting.
Now first of all, I work as a meteorologist, so this is of quite interest to me.
Anyway, under what conditions do you see the most deer?  Or under what conditions do you see no deer at all?

Front approaching?, windy?, cold?, hot, drizzling, foggy, raining cats-n-dogs, etc....particularly in the southeast.

[leewillis92]

Well I live in texas but they seem to move a lot more after the first cold snap.  Could be wrong but that is what I notice. -Lee

[BigRonHuntAlot]

You need to be in the stand when the Barometer is falling!!

 Any time before and during a front.

During a full Moon I see more deer during midday than in the morning or evening.

[tackhammer]

Here in southwest VA this is what I've noticed, front approaching = deer moving, windy = not good, colder the better, hot = not so so good, drizzling,  raining = me in the lazy boy hehehe! Gary

[George D. Stout]

Just don't be under the barometer....especially if it's a large one.   Deer seem to feed ahead of an approaching front....but they will also feed after a storm.  I don't put much creedence in charts, or rumors or old wive's tales.  The deer can make you look foolish.  I hunt when I have the time to do so.  Deer eat and sleep every day.

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Here is an interesting article...

 http://www.hunttheoutdoors.com/articles/default.php?id=146


  The bottom line is you can't get an arrow in one if you are not out hunting!  Hunt every chance you get even if only for an hour or less.  

[woodchucker]

I don't have a barometer,fal I agree a falling or rising barometter is better than a steady one.Before and after fronts etc.....

But,I have to agree with George,the best time to hunt is when you CAN!!!!!

(that being said,I usually see the most deer during a sudden temperature drop. Even if it's only 10 degrees,a 10 degree drop in an hour will really get them up and moving.)  

[George D. Stout]

And remember what Willard Scott once said: "Whether it's cold, or whether it's hot, we're going to have weather, whether or not!"

[John3]

I agree with the others,,, hunt anytime you can. That being said I will stay home in crazy heat or during a very windy stormy day. Strong wind defeats the deers senses so they do not move unless they are pushed.

Light drizzle is a superb time to still hunt.

[woodslinger]

Here in Maine I see increased deer movement   before an approaching weather system and right after the system moves out. For whatever reason the first steady snow of each season really gets them up and moving all day.

As for when I don't see them it is during periods of sustained high winds.

[doeboy]

Tom,

Where would one find resources to learn more about weather? i have always been interested but need to read up on it and learnt he details.

[Tom Anderson]

Originally posted by doeboy:
Tom,

Where would one find resources to learn more about weather? i have always been interested but need to read up on it and learnt he details.

Oh, goodness, doeboy - to be honest with you, I don't really know.  If you like learning from books, I'd first recommend a basic college-level textbook titled "Meteorology Today" by Ahrens.  It'll give you the whys and hows of the weather.  Forecasting is a science in itself and I don't have the knack for it, so I can't help with that really.  (I'm an "air pollution meteorologist" and don't do much forecasting...my work is mainly "analysis after the fact").