Deer Behavior - Recent Change

[Mayfly]

Living where I live one of my favorite things to do is watch the deer. I have learned the deer and they have become my friends or so I thought......

It started a few days ago and I have confirmed my suspicions today. They have changed...alot. No longer are they as friendly and no longer do they sit and play at my feeder every evening. They disappeared a few days ago and I just saw them back tonight. They came from different direction and one of the bucks was solo and moving fast and didn't even stop for a bite to eat. I saw two new does....or at least I think they are new, at least one of them was. She had two fawns that were pretty small, smaller than any I have seen lately. Their eating habits have changed, their patterns have changed and their schedules are off. Glad I wasn't patterning a big buck!

2 days before bow season and they feel its time for a change :ROTFLMAO:

[Spinach]

38 degree temps will definitely change their patterns. As fall rolls in the bucks will break off alone and the rest will gradually start to group up. Daylight hours are less and less each day and pre-rut will be kicking in before we know it.

That being said.... I'd probably put the blame on more people are starting to feed them at this time of year, there is probably more food sources in your area as bowhunters are getting ready for this weekend. A lot of landowners and bowhunters will start feeding them 1-2 weeks before archery opener.

[Mayfly]

I saw one of the bucks that is ALWAYS with his buddies all alone tonight. I was hoping this would happen a week or two down the line. But then again it is nice to see new deer in the area. Was getting sick of the same ones. I also noticed the 6 point tonight was nice and shined up. Haven't seen him for maybe 5 or 6 days and the last time he was in full velvet. Been in the woods a lot and haven't seen any rubs at all. you would think they would be working that head grear and neck a bit more. Saw them sparring a week ago. Going in tomorrow to put up a one last stand and then it is game time.

[ChrisWallace]

Bachelor groups will start splitting apart soon. You have to remember when you go to a bar, do you want to be sitting next to a bunch of young studs who are trying for the same girl as you or do you want to be around a bunch pigs? When push comes to shove, I want to be around bucks that I can kick their ass, not get mine kicked. Rules of relativity, you put your hand on a hot stove, a second seems like an hour, put your hand on a hot doe, an hour seems like a second in weird sick way.

Make sense? Thats the easiest way I can describe it.

[Mayfly]

Bachelor groups will start splitting apart soon. You have to remember when you go to a bar, do you want to be sitting next to a bunch of young studs who are trying for the same girl as you or do you want to be around a bunch pigs? When push comes to shove, I want to be around bucks that I can kick their ass, not get mine kicked. Rules of relativity, you put your hand on a hot stove, a second seems like an hour, put your hand on a hot doe, an hour seems like a second in weird sick way.

Make sense? Thats the easiest way I can describe it.

I'm familiar with deer behavior I was just surprised to see it happen over night and this is the first time I watched it happen in my own back yard So yeah.....makes sense

[ScottPugh]

Saw the same thing up north a few weeks ago when the temps started to drop up there.  Lot's more grunting from behind the cabin at night.