Deer disappeared?

[razorsharptokill]

I had a feeder out before I left for Iraq and had a few deer on my trail cam. Camera batteries died back in Oct but pics began to dwindle up until that point.

New batteries and I had three does on one cam late at night and one button buck under the feeder also. Its as if they have just moved out of the area. I havent found a single scrape.

It is still green here in places so there is no need for them to need the corn yet.

Been out twice since I got home so that in itself is worth it.

[sweeney3]

Yeah, pretty similar here.  They always make themselves shy from when acorns start to drop untill well after gun seasons finally close.  Between say late October and mid-Jan we don't see much at all.  They'll be back around later though.

[doug77]

Join the crowd. I think it's happened every where

doug77

[Green]

We've been in a pretty good drought around here and the only thing we can come up with for the disappearing deer is that they've moved to water.  Our creek is dry, but we got a little rain today, and supposed to get some heavier rains tonight.....fingers crossed.  Good luck to you, Welcome Home....and Thanks For Your Service!

[razorsharptokill]

Thanks, good luck to you guys too!

[DannyBows]

I reckon word got out you're back in town and party time is over. They're scared, so you'll have to hunt'em harder.      

Good luck, I'm really hoping you get to use that stone head. How long does your season run?

[razorsharptokill]

Till Jan 15th I think.

[Bjorn]

EHD seems to be taking its toll.

[KellyG]

Is there water in your area. I have a friend up here in KS that ponds dried up this year. He has only got one PIC of a good deer all summer. He normally has 3 or 4 really nice deer hanging out.

[razorsharptokill]

Lots of standing water. I moved my mineral lick to where my feeder is and they have barely touched it. It was the granulated diaclcium phosphate and mineral salt from the farm store. The absoutely destroyed it in Sept. It even closer to water now near a spring and it looks untouched. The ate 100 lbs of it the 1st time I put it out. I do have lots of pics of coons though.lol!

[KentuckyTJ]

As Sweeney said, Thats about the time our deer always move to the acorns. Find them and you will find your deer.

Welcome home.

[Night Wing]

I'm not seeing any deer. Texas is in the throes of a severe drought since October of 2010. In my area where I bowhunt, many of the water holding spots don't have water. Plus the wildfires didn't help either.

I'm surprised to see our live oaks have acorns, but the squirrels are eating them. No deer tracks. I think the deer in our area have moved elsewhere.

[Jake Diebolt]

If I think the deer have moved out, I start looking for little wheel tracks in the mud from their rolling luggage. Then you know for sure they've moved out!

In all seriousness, maybe they're feeling pressured? It would have to be a pretty big change to force them out of the area.