deer trails
 

do deer usually use the same trails from year to year?

RE: deer trails
 

It really depends upon the situation, there are lots of places where deer have trails wore a foot in the ground where they have been useing them for generations upon generations. Pinch points they use all the time, trails on the sides of hills are a few examples. Deermost of the time will take the easiest way possible so most of the time it will be on trails or edges of clearcuts and fileds ect. Hope this helps you a little.

RE: deer trails
 

Usually they always take the same trail daily or so especially on our farm. But it really depends because of hunting season and such, they change their habits until season is over.

RE: deer trails
 

I don't remember where I read this, but I think I saw this in D&DH magazine. Deer travel mainly on trails in the winter because their food sources are so limited. There really is not much of a reason for them to travel through other areas. In the summer however deer will disperse over a wider area because there is more food available to them away from their main trails. Spring and fall are kind of in the middle as food sources rise and decline. I have also noticed that at anytime of the year when deer want to escape from a situation quickly they will make their way to a trail because that is the fastest way out of the area. Just my few cents worth.

RE: deer trails
 

I don't know if this is true or not but I have been told that does use common trails more frequently than bucks. My observations in the field have shown this as well. Granted everything is a toss up during the rut as bucks could show up from anywhere.

RE: deer trails
 

They do where I hunt at.

RE: deer trails
 

While I would call them more energy efficient than lazy, Deer will take the shortest point between 2 areas. The caveat here is it must also be safe. They will go out of their way to stay concealed if they feel endangered.

In years where there is no acorn crop, the area is devoid of deer trail use. There has to be a reason for them to be there. In winter they can't meander back and forth nibbling if there's nothing to nibble on, so trails will be more pronounced.