Warm weather and nocturnal feeding

[TringSaint]

Over the last two winters (warm and wet) I have noticed that the amount of slots and general activity on all of my permissions has been high (early season counts support this) but in both years the numbers of deer presenting at usual feeding times has been lower than normal.
I don’t over shoot the ground so I know it’s not stalking pressure, but was wondering if the warm weather is enabling the deer to feed at night without getting cold, hence they are choosing to seek darkness where possible.
This is mainly on cwd, so welcome any thoughts.

 

[sika_198]

Funny I have noticed the same on one of my permissions and it isn't over shot either. I have seen deer present at the last hour once this winter but signs of activity everywhere they're just not coming out at the usual time they did. I blame the mild wet winter. The grass hasn't stopped growing all winter so there's no shortage of food for them.

 

[old 30-06]

Recently I have had several pheasant feeders knocked over on my shoot, and a herd of slot marks all around them. Sat up on them last evening from an hour before dark, then an extra hour after dark for a fox. I saw nothing at all. This morning two more feeders knocked over and I think they must have played football !

 

[B&W FOX]

I was watching 3 feeding last night through the thermal while waiting for to make an appearance.
It's a regular nightly occurrence, along with counting 71 rabbits and 1 Newcastle supporter.

 

[TringSaint]

Yup, and with it being so mild, the deer aren’t hunkering down in a sheltered area to keep out of the cold once the sun goes down.
Next week speaks of being much colder so maybe activity will return to normal.
Because of the reduced number showing in the light I reckon I am 20-25% light on my cull so far this winter season.

 

[tom308w]

Your at the time of the year when it's dark for a lot longer than daylight.deer are feeding in the dark and lying up in the shorter days.

 

[TringSaint]

Your at the time of the year when it's dark for a lot longer than daylight.deer are feeding in the dark and lying up in the shorter days.

I have been stalking for over 15 years on one patch and 4 years on my other two and I have only noticed this behaviour during 2 or 3 seasons, this year and last year being two of them.

So I am used to dark nights drawing in and we have had a very dull Xmas period (thick coils and fog) but this is unusual behaviour as nothing is moving even when it’s almost pitch black.

Maybe the cold snap next week will bring some different behaviour

 

[Twodogs]

I have noticed, on my small and not overshot permission, that the roe deer seem to be coming out later and later to the point that they rarely appear before last shot time.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Yup, and with it being so mild, the deer aren’t hunkering down in a sheltered area to keep out of the cold once the sun goes down.
Next week speaks of being much colder so maybe activity will return to normal.
Because of the reduced number showing in the light I reckon I am 20-25% light on my cull so far this winter season.

First two months of the does season & I’ve exceeded my total cull for the whole 2023/24 season, it’s not been easy as others have said, movement seems very late or indeed very early. Last morning I was out I got up a ladder an hour & a half before sunrise, only to see the fallow already up the far end of the field & on their way off the farm a good hour before I had expected them to be moving. The trick is to think like a deer & look for them in the right places Shot another 3 last evening, that’s 13 in 4 evening sessions over the weekend. Looking forward to a cold snap at the end of the week - got plenty of ammo

 

[TringSaint]

They do keep you thinking!!
My winter cull is usually 35-40 and I am currently on 15 whereas I should be closer to 20.
I usually am done by end of Feb but this year I think I will have to keep going until end of march.

 

[dave booth]

The biggest impact I’ve seen, especially since Covid is the amount of disturbance from people! Running, cycling, walking, wild swimming but at times of the day you wouldn’t expect to see anyone even in weather you wouldn’t expect to see anyone! I’ve gone out at times you’d not expect anyone to be about, only to disrupted by head torches and chatter. Unfortunately these are the times we live in and nothing gets a rest!!

 

[TringSaint]

So…… I went out on Saturday evening, when the air was much colder, and the number of deer out grazing well before sunset was significantly higher than earlier in the week.

It’s not exactly a scientific study, but maybe it does suggest some close correlation between temperature and deer feeding patterns.

Either way, I bagged 3, bringing my Xmas holiday tally to 6 and 18 for the season so far, so was happy.

 

[Camdig]

So…… I went out on Saturday evening, when the air was much colder, and the number of deer out grazing well before sunset was significantly higher than earlier in the week.

It’s not exactly a scientific study, but maybe it does suggest some close correlation between temperature and deer feeding patterns.

Either way, I bagged 3, bringing my Xmas holiday tally to 6 and 18 for the season so far, so was happy.

It's quite simple, deer need to eat more and for longer when it's cold.
We have 100mm of snow that has frozen deer will be moving all day around here and travelling fair distances to get to food sources.