What's more important - temps or movement times?

[pamike]

When deciding how to plan your sit time and you have a choice between following realtree deer movement charts (moon phases) or the fact that it is 70deg in Nov (Ohio) during the best movement period (around noon) - which would you pick?  Hunt early when it is colder 40's or later during peak movement times but 70deg? Really thought about sleeping in and hunting the movement chart but .....

[wtpops]

Both..

[Kc kreger]

This time of year I vote for both too.  I like all day sits, but slept in to late today!  So I'm grabbing my gear and heading out in just a few.

Good luck!      

K.C.

[threeunder]

I'm pretty headstrong about temps.  This time of year, most deer are well on their way of growing their winter coats.  I've read a number of studies that say at this point in the year, a whitetail really can't stand temps once they get up to about 55 degrees.  It just physically too taxing on them to move a lot.
This has been proven true here in Virginia.  Higher temps shut down the movement.  The years we have really warm temps during the rut, trail cam evidence shows that most of the activity is during the night time hours.
In these situations, mornings are always the best sit it seems because that is the coolest part of the day.
Young bucks are most often the ones that seem to "violate" this theory.  They will move when temps are up cruising and pushing bedded does out.
I've got a buddy who doesn't subscribe to this.  He points out that deer move during much warmer weather throughout the year.  However, I keep telling him the difference is in the deer's coat.  A summer coat allows them to move at much higher temps without getting overheated.
Sorry for the long post.  Just one of the things I'm really interested in.

[Rob W.]

I'm with threeunder.

Rut or no rut these temps and wind have shut down my deer sightings. But the scrapes are beinge freshened at night.

[Montanawidower]

I would usually agree with you... But I'm hunting Illinois as we speak .  

Last. Night I rattled in a giant from across a forty acre field.   He came in running.  He blew by me at thirty yards. ...
  It was darn near 70 degrees and blowing a gale.  

He came back through the funnel this morning at 8:30 and winded me just before th shot.... Again it was 65.   This guy was the biggest deer of my life ( I'm still kind of sick   :(  .  )

I think when the rut is cranking all theories go out the window to a degree.   Get out and hunt and if you get lucky you get lucky.   Imo

[Mike Bolin]

4:40 p.m. yesterday wind was flat gettin with it. Had a real nice nine pt. sneak in in me to my right. He was in a position where a shot was impossible, but I got caught off guard. I was telling myself that it was too hot and too windy!!! Sighting overall are down. Set for 4 hrs. this a.m. and saw a doe and two young uns and a forky. Tomorrow afternoon should be great if the temps drop as forecasted. Good Luck-Mike

[Littlejake]

It's November park your butt in a tree, you never know what might show up.

[pamike]

I personally like to sit all day as well during November in Ohio. I have always subscribed to the theory that I can't kill them on the couch but generally the guys I hunt with will not sit all day. Hence the question.

As for results .... I hunted early morning and at 1030 I shot a 13 pt. he was moving in 60+ temps. Unfortunately I had my "other" bow this morning so no pics.

[JamesKerr]

I have to say I let temperature tell me when to hunt, but not so much from the deers perspective. When it is over 65 down here the mosquitoes are bad enough to carry you off.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Just hunt! Like said its November. My son killed this buck two days ago at 12yds, very windy and 70f.

 

Tracy

[pamike]

Gotta love Kansas!!!

[T Lail]

this time of year in NC, it can be hot too....I agree with some others, hunt ALL day if possible.....deer don't read the charts and now are driven by LOVE...think about a lustful teenager, he will try anything to see his sweetie, even if it means moving in the middle of a hot day .......  

[Covey]

I would have to agree with threeunder and Rob. I could tell a huge difference the last two days, deer movement was slim. I'm not saying they don't move, they just move a lot less and at night.
JMHO!

Jason

[Stumpkiller]

The ONLY time I would consult solunar tables is in planning a future trip and hunt.  

The rest of the time I hunt all available hours because the deer NEVER consult those tables and will move and feed as the mood and hunger strike them.  Ihave taken deer in all hours of the day and with or without new moons or full moons.  If someone or something kicks up a buck you won't be able to take advantage of that opportunity while at home consulting a solunar table or ouiji board.  It's all about being in the woods.

If they ain't moving - you can be.  Be flexible in your hunting techniques.  Sit or stalk.

[Friend]

The desire to extend the whitetail’s existence for the buck ramped with testosterone and does raising their skirts will command precedence. Sure- weather conditions and moon phases have an impact however, not anywhere close to the degree of which the rut, competing bucks and available does contribute.

Roll the dice enough and one may more likely find themselves positioned at the right time and at the right place.

[Knawbone]

I'm with 3under on this one. Once the Deer get their winter coat, It would be like you hiking in summer with your winter cloths on. They just get too warm. They may move some, but very slowly, if at all. When the weather is warm I try to find gulleys or areas were the air is cooler and or shady.