times of eating
 

Please let me know if you can tell me the times whitetail deer eat. I know it is according to the moon so I would like to know if you could tell me. Thanks Alot! Alan

Alan Coleman

RE: times of eating
 

Welcome to the board Alan. Where do you hunt? Deer normally come out just before sunrise and just before sunset to feed. Hunting pressure can change their patterns so that they come out at darker times. Moonlight seems to give them more light to work with so that they come out later. I've seen deer and heard gunshots during the day so no time is excluded. Just get situated at least an hour ahead of time so they come in to your area not knowing you're there. My experience is that under "normal" circumstances the deer come out at the same time using generally the same trails (lately 6:30 pm for the evening hunt where I'm at in upstate New York).

RE: times of eating
 

Welcome to the board.

Your question has many answers. It depends on many factors.

Weather; -high pressure sometimes gets them moveing
-before a front hits
-light rain/snow
-mild wind
-cool weather, if its hot or windy stay at home

Time of day; -mornings and late after noon
-They will move all day if the weather is right and
during the rut

Moon phases; -on new moons get out that morning
-full moons stay at home, deer are naturally nocturnal
when it is a full moon they will feed all night.
Exception is on night that clouds keep it dark.

Rut; - Hunt all day during the rut, the deer are crazy
during this time.


This is just some of the basic things I have noticed. Hope it can help some. Good luck.