MuleyMadness Hunting Forums

I understand winter vs. summer range, but I don't know when a deer makes the move. Is 30F nights and 40-60F days considered cold enough for deer to move? If I am hunting high altitude in November on a 50F day should I be in the foothills (7000 ft) or higher up in the mountains (8000 ft)?

The amount of snow is what will push deer to their winter range, not the temp. Once their feed is covered with snow is when they'll start moving to lower elevations to find food.

That being said, deer will also stay in lower elevations year round in some places.

Thanks Abert. I hadn't realized that. I thought it was a cold weather impetus. That makes sense though.

The area I'll be hunting has received more rain than usual this season and November snow would be highly unusual so high altitude it is. There should be plenty of food in the mountains.

The rut also makes them move, does leave and bucks follow. Deer move from weather for sure being the biggest factor, rut number 2 IMO. But they can and will move without weather, when it's time it's time and they will leave.

Thanks MM. From what I have read, the rut doesn't start until late December to early January in Southern NM.

I agree with both ABert and Muley Madness. Feed or lack there of is the first factor and the rut second.

Two weeks away! We plan on putting some time and miles in on this trip. Hoping my nephew fills his first tag and my third!

Hunting pressure moves deer too. But not usually between summer/winter ranges. Just to less accessible terrain.

Thanks for the input. There is a muzzleloader hunt the week before our hunt so we plan to pack in pretty far pretty early.