How cold is too cold?

[TinyTucky]

I already have my opinion on the topic, but I enjoy reading others thoughts and experiences to hopefully better myself (selfish I know). Up here in the NW part of the state we are forecasted to have a high of 0° tomorrow, and stupid high winds. Let’s just pretend that wind isn’t a factor for this instance. When do you think it’s too cold for deer to want to move and just wait it out? Typically when we get super cold, I’ve noticed the deer will wait to move until the warmest part of the day, but tomorrow there really isn’t going to be one lol. Also, do you see more movement before, during, or after a significant weather front? Just curious on others opinions.

 

[Wildlife]

I'll speak for my area only.

Regarding this Friday's storm, I expect the deer to up their intake of food over the next 12 hours, then when the front hits, I won't see deer until winds diedown some and maybe they'll get to the feed-station late in the night. Once the wind gets down to a somewhat calmer conditions, that's when I expect the deer to move, and move a lot. I think this Sunday will be good to get out for a hunt for most anything.

This is what I expect, and have experienced with any major weather fronts/storms that presses through our parts over the past seven years.

I'm like Rich these days, my hunting in shifty weather conditions, are pretty much over with. I want to enjoy my times out for now on. I put in the time to learn my area the past five years, hunting & scouting the area, observing and learning the behavior of the deer that live in the same woods that I do.

Hope this makes some sense to you.

 

[TinyTucky]

I'll speak for my area only.

Regarding this Friday's storm, I expect the deer to up their intake of food over the next 12 hours, then when the front hits, I won't see deer until winds diedown some and maybe they'll get to the feed-station late in the night. Once the wind gets down to a somewhat calmer conditions, that's when I expect the deer to move, and move a lot. I think this Sunday will be good to get out hunt for most anything.

This is what I expect, and have experienced with any major weather fronts/storms that presses through our parts over the past seven years.

I'm like Rich these days, my hunting in shifty weather conditions, are pretty much over with. I want to enjoy my times out for now on. I put in the time to learn my area the past five years, hunting & scouting the area, observing and learning the behavior of the deer that live in the same woods that I do.

Hope this makes some sense to you.

Makes total sense and I 110% agree. The movement on my cameras last night definitely reflected what you just said, and I’m not surprised by it one bit.

 

[bowhunter1023]

IMO, deer down here don't like winds above 15 mph or temperatures below 20. There's certainly a point of diminishing returns when it comes to cold temps where they'll favor hunkering down over moving around. As far as timing of the front and how it impacts movement, I notice a more drastic change after the front than before or during. Occasionally, I'll see an uptick before, but it's more noticeable and reliable after it's passed.

 

[Fletch]

I'll speak for my area only.

Regarding this Friday's storm, I expect the deer to up their intake of food over the next 12 hours, then when the front hits, I won't see deer until winds diedown some and maybe they'll get to the feed-station late in the night. Once the wind gets down to a somewhat calmer conditions, that's when I expect the deer to move, and move a lot. I think this Sunday will be good to get out for a hunt for most anything.

This is what I expect, and have experienced with any major weather fronts/storms that presses through our parts over the past seven years.

I'm like Rich these days, my hunting in shifty weather conditions, are pretty much over with. I want to enjoy my times out for now on. I put in the time to learn my area the past five years, hunting & scouting the area, observing and learning the behavior of the deer that live in the same woods that I do.

Hope this makes some sense to you.

Denny.... If your referring to me... Your 100% correct.... The days of going out and getting soaked or freezing my ass off are long gone.. It's about enjoyment not torture... Esp. with the seasons being so long... Nope... Let the young bucks carry that torch...

 

[Bowhunter57]

When it comes to deer hunting, I hunt like the season is about to end in another week. Especially, since I just retired in April, I have the option of hunting as much as possible and I like it. That being said, I will not hunt in the rain! High winds don't bother me, unless it's below freezing. Typically, I'll be on a stand for 3ish hours in the morning or evening, but if the weather conditions are such that I'm having to be dressed like the Michelin Man to be able to stay out there longer, I'll pass on going altogether.

The times that I've seen the deer not move as much, is during an east or north wind. The prevailing winds here in Ohio are typically out of the south or west. Since deer live by their noses, they're somewhere else, during an east or north wind.

 

[giles]

I suspect they will stay bedded for a couple of days on this one. On average though, I never see much after the front. Unless it settles in for multiple days. Then you gotta hunt whenever you think you can sneak in tight. Because they aren't traveling far in extreme conditions. Hunt food.

These kind of conditions are also the only time I will blow out deer. If I'm cold and suddenly feel warm, I will get up and walk out. That is the dangerous stage of hypothermia when you start to make bad choices. At that point I don't give a shit about the deer. Just getting back to safety. That walk back to the truck is often the coldest walk of your life.

Back to what you asked though, I'd be in the stand ahead of this one. Or give it a couple of days and let the deer tell you when they want to get up. Then hunt where you see them.

 

["J"]

The days of sitting in a tree in temps in the teens or single digits are long gone for me. I remember (painfully) numb fingers and toes, snot frozen too your stache, all in hopes of seeing a deer within range, and hoping like hell you’ll be able too draw that 30% let off bow back. Standing on a wood platform 20’ above frozen ground, bundled up like said Michelin man…. Then the walk of shame back too the vehicle in hopes it’ll start up. At the time I was young and justified it. Now? WTF was I thinking?
From 1988-92 I archery hunted only, didn’t hunt during gun season. Hit it hard late season in hopes of a good buck. Never happened, just didn’t have permission for good deer property. Lots of deer seen, just nothing that you would put on a wall. Those were the years I was on stand the last day of season still trying for a good one. Shivering my heinie off and looking forward too a warm meal and hot coffee….
We had a muzzy season a few years back. Couple single digit days with well below zero windchill. Deer had too move and not be too far from a food source. Farm I hunted had corn that year. So I parked the truck. Set the E-brake and let it run with the heat on high. I still hunted 1/3 the farm, took about 40 minutes. Made it back too the truck and sat there and drank some coffee. Nothing seen, contemplating my next move on the rest of the farm. Didn’t take long too put the truck in gear and go back home. Wasn’t anything moving or close by them fields in all that wind and temps.
Since then I’ve invested in warmer gear, higher end stuff. Well at least higher end then k-mart/Walmart stuff. I’m more picky on the weather I hunt in, but have the gear too make the choice a little easier.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

I'm Eyeballing the day after Christmas, winds finally settle with still brutal cold temps.

 

[Wildlife]

This year's leadoff video from my playlist will show our deer behavior before, during and after a major ice storm back in February, I believe it serves as a good example if interested in checking it out.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX-1JMYXAH9NRNIhDWR5kFo0S5Z23wHkp

 

[bowhunter1023]

The times that I've seen the deer not move as much, is during an east or north wind.

"Best from the west, least from the east."

I am 100% certain movement on E and NE winds is the worst of the year. SE is not as bad, but I have certainly experienced plenty of slow days on E winds to notice the correlation over the years.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I'm Eyeballing the day after Christmas, winds finally settle with still brutal cold temps.

This. When I say movement after the front, it's that first stable day that really sees the jump in activity in my experience. I agree with @giles that they will hunker down tomorrow and Saturday. I think Christmas evening could be a good day to be out, but Monday evening should be dynamite.

 

[Bowhunter57]

If I'm cold and suddenly feel warm, I will get up and walk out. That is the dangerous stage of hypothermia when you start to make bad choices. At that point I don't give a shit about the deer. Just getting back to safety. That walk back to the truck is often the coldest walk of your life.

@giles
This is dangerous stuff, brother and not worth risking your life and/or health over. Also, exactly why I won't bow hunt deer, under such conditions.
Hunting on the ground gives me the option of using afforded cover like a brush pile or downed tree. Even so, that's more of a gun hunt, than a bow hunt, during the late season. I'll hunt coyotes or other game in colder weather conditions, before I will bow hunt deer.

 

[Fletch]

"J"..... Sounds like your in the same boat as me... Did a lot of stupid shit back when we were young all with high hopes of getting a deer.... I remember one opening day of the Pa. deer season back around 1963 or so... ( Yes George, we hunted with muskets back then ) Anyway we hiked to the top of the Laurel Mnts. in Western Pa. in balmy mid 60 temps with a lite rain coming down.. Around 10 am temps started to drop going down into the 20s with now snow... By the time we went back down the mountain around 5 pm our WOOLRICH outfits were frozen solid from first getting wet then freezing... Like "J"said if you had a stache it was hanging below your chin with shit froze to it... Oh... FUN, FUN, FUN...

 

[giles]

@giles
This is dangerous stuff, brother and not worth risking your life and/or health over. Also, exactly why I won't bow hunt deer, under such conditions.
Hunting on the ground gives me the option of using afforded cover like a brush pile or downed tree. Even so, that's more of a gun hunt, than a bow hunt, during the late season. I'll hunt coyotes or other game in colder weather conditions, before I will bow hunt deer.

Everyone has limits. Know your personal limits and the limits to your equipment plays a huge part in everything we do in life. I am no stranger to cold conditions and have found this to be a my limit.

 

[Wildlife]

This year's leadoff video from my playlist will show our deer behavior before, during and after a major ice storm back in February, I believe it serves as a good example if interested in checking it out.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX-1JMYXAH9NRNIhDWR5kFo0S5Z23wHkp

BTW, the daylight buck activity that's within the first leadoff video, I just so happen to be out in that tree-stand setup and captured 'SHYBUC' on the cellphone camera getting in his evening dinner. It's a good one too where I got to study him up close and personal again.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

I suspect they will stay bedded for a couple of days on this one. On average though, I never see much after the front. Unless it settles in for multiple days. Then you gotta hunt whenever you think you can sneak in tight. Because they aren't traveling far in extreme conditions. Hunt food.

These kind of conditions are also the only time I will blow out deer. If I'm cold and suddenly feel warm, I will get up and walk out. That is the dangerous stage of hypothermia when you start to make bad choices. At that point I don't give a shit about the deer. Just getting back to safety. That walk back to the truck is often the coldest walk of your life.

Back to what you asked though, I'd be in the stand ahead of this one. Or give it a couple of days and let the deer tell you when they want to get up. Then hunt where you see them.

I need to get you back out ice fishing. You're getting soft.

 

[giles]

I need to get you back out ice fishing. You're getting soft.

I think you put your thong on backwards again. That is a totally different ball game.

 

[Shoot-straight]

Man bundle up, throw in the thermacell insoles, and a couple hot hands. I’ve braved it in subzero before. Really only do it if there is something worth chasing. Can’t say I’ve killed anything spectacular with it being that cold. A go to move in cold weather is wearing a face mask and putting a hot hand on the back of your neck. Hold the hot hand down with the elastic on your face mask. Definitely makes a difference.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Thong is on correctly, you're getting soft and so are the comebacks.