For the passed few days it's been really cold here. Day time highs sometimes not making it out of the single digits. Night time lows have of course been those same digits but with a minus sign in front of them.

Veteran hunters, what is this doing to the deer? Are they not moving and just sticking close to food sources or are they moving to keep warm?

While I'm at it, what temps have you guys seen the most movement in?

When it is that cold the deer have to get up and eat often. In my expierence about every 4 hours unless is is real windy. Food sources are the best bet but be careful in stand placements because they are on high alert from all the gun hunters. It is super tough to stay on stand in those temps but late season hunting is really more predictible than the early season. Good luck

Deer are bedding close to the food - and NOT moving often.
They will consistently move between 3:00pm and 5:00pm when its really cold. - The trick is to leave the bedding areas alone in the day so as not to mess up the afternoon hunt.

The deer conserve their energy - and have no idea when warmer temps will come.

Sometimes they will bed right in the food crop (like corn) - but more often in the closest cover. Late afternoon hunts rule - undisturbed deer especially.

FH

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lived in Montana for 4 years and took some dandy whitetails there. Three different buck I shot were from stands when the temperature was -10 or more. This cold thing is relative. If your from an area that it gets cold every year then single digits wont make the deer lay down. In my experience they get more active. Somebody on this board has to be from the Alberta or Sas areas. They don't even like to hunt until they hit the single digits or below.

During the late season muzz and bow we usually get some really cold days. Normally the morning hunts are all but a waste of time until around 9:00 when the sun gets high. I've had the best activity starting around 1:00 and then going until about 4:00. They don't seem to want to hang around right until dark as much when it is that cold. There is usually very good movement though when it gets real cold. Food sources are the key.

It's beenbelowzero where I hunt at night andjust above during the days for the past week. Late archery seasonopens Saturday. If it stays this cold, I will sleep-in and and I will be hunting food source stands during mid morning (once that sun comes up)to early afternoon.Then again in the evenings. I will be bundled in my warmest gear.