How many acres does a buck travel?

On average, these are generally 600 to 700 acres. Some bucks will have a different spring, summer, fall and/or winter range. Even more, some bucks change home ranges from year to year.

How far do bucks roam?

Radio telemetry documents remarkable dispersal of Missouri buck during three weeks in November. Researchers have discovered the longest distance ever recorded by an adult male white-tailed deer—close to 200 miles (300 kilometers) in just over three weeks.

How large is a Bucks territory?

While the average home-range size was 350 acres, some interesting observations emerged when age was considered. “Our two smallest home ranges were yearling bucks at 60 and 90 acres. Our two largest home ranges of 754 and 640 acres were also yearling bucks!” said Clint.

Do big bucks stay in the same area?

Some big bucks have very large territories, while others confine their travel to relatively small areas. The good news is, The 7-Day Rule works for all bucks, whether they're nomads just passing through or local homebodies.

How far will Bucks travel to feed?

They get up to feed. They get up to drink. They get up to relieve themselves. However, when mature deer do feed during the day, it's generally within 100 to 150 yards of their bedding area.

Whitetail Buck Travel Patterns Revealed

Will a buck come back after seeing you?

Spooked deer will return to their bedding area, but when they return depends on how much the intrusion frightened them. If they can't pinpoint the threat, they'll likely return sooner than if they saw or smelled you.

Do Bucks bed in the same spot?

Deer are creatures of habit and may bed in the same location repeatedly. One exception is during periods of the rut when bucks are on the move searching for estrus does and defending their hierarchy.

What time of day are most big bucks killed?

Most of them are specifically between 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning to be exact. It's a proven time, and it could have a lot to do with the common perception among deer hunters that things slow down once early morning is through.

How far do deer travel overnight?

There have been studies to show that bucks truly are nocturnal for the most part. These bucks still move in daylight, but the distance in which they travel from their beds is minimal. They do well to move more than 100 yards from their beds before nightfall.

Why do I never see bucks?

The more time you or other hunters spend on the property, the less likely you are to see deer, especially older deer. Studies have shown that as hunting pressure increases, mature bucks move less during daylight. They also spend more time in thick cover, where you're less likely to see them even if they do move.

How do mature bucks travel?

Mature bucks know where and how to find does during the rut. That's why you'll commonly find bucks cruising through doe bedding areas, leeward ridges, field edges, pinch-points, saddles, etc.

Do bucks and does stay together?

Life of the Buck: As mentioned, bucks will sometimes stay with does for 12 to 24 hours because they still emit pheromones synonymous with peak estrus. That said, once the doe is no longer receptive, most bucks leave them in search of the next hot doe.

Where do big bucks like to hang out?

Look for thickets, steep hillsides, deep draws, little swamps—out-of-the way spots where old boys might hide. The key to hunting one of these places is hidden, quiet access with a favorable wind, so you won't blow out the bucks.

How do you get a buck to come back?

Do Bucks travel the same route?

However the great thing about mature bucks in general is that although no two are alike, most of them do follow the same travel routes.

What time of day do mature bucks move?

Like taxes and death, you can count on two things when talking about mature bucks: they move most at dawn and dusk, and during the rut. Deer are crepuscular. It's built into their DNA.

Where do deer go when it rains?

Final Thoughts About Finding Deer in the Rain

But when it comes time for a deer or herd of deer to bed down, they will seek shelter under a rocky outcropping, or under a stand of pine trees where they'll stay dry and have a clear view of approaching predators.

How far do bucks bed from water?

3. Buck Beds Will Be Relatively Close to a Water Source. Recent studies show that many deer — especially mature bucks — often bed close to water. Of the largest buck beds I've discovered in heavy cover, the vast majority of them have been located within 75 yards of a water source, even if it was a very small source.

Can deer see in pitch black?

On a pitch black moonless night, I would venture to say 100-150 yards is not out of the question. However, on a full moon night, a whitetails eye could very well allow detection from 150+ yards.

When should I sit all day for deer hunting?

For the most part, hunters who only sit early in the morning and/or late in the day steer clear of bedding areas to avoid spooking deer while climbing in or out of a stand. The all-day hunter can get right in the middle of a bedding area, like a creek bottom or swamp, where deer feel safe at high noon.

Should you hunt all day during the rut?

The rut only comes once a year. If you have the opportunity to get out and hunt all day it's simply a must this time of year. Pack some food, water, a book, anything that will help you stick it out. Get in a habit of scanning the area once every few minutes because it's easy to lose focus after long hours on stand.

How early should you get in your deer stand?

Try to be in your stand and ready to go at least an hour before shooting light, which often means leaving the truck a solid 2 hours before shooting light. This gives you time to cool off from that extra-long hike, get your gear ready and let the woods settle back down before the sun peaks over the horizon.

Do deer sleep standing up?

Do Deer Lay Down To Sleep? Deer usually lie down when they want to sleep. This is because they lose muscle control while sleeping and are not able to lock their legs to remain standing, the same way that elephants do.

How can you tell a buck bedding area?

Finding Buck Beds

The most obvious sign to look for is the presence of oval depressions in the grass, brush, or dirt indicating where a deer laid down. Take note of how many beds you see clustered together in one area. If you see four or more beds in a circle, it's likely a doe bedding area.