deer movement after dark?

[MadScientist]

At least four deer visit my front yard every night around 9pm. Are the regularness and hour of their visits any indication that they're bedding nearby? or do deer move a fair distance that late at night?

 

[ATTICUS]

They are probably bedding down close by, in the thickest cover available.

 

[Will Beararms]

Deer are nocturnal by nature. By this time of the year save the rut when Bucks go crazy, the majority of their movement---------feeding, scraping, voiding and breeding occurs at night or right before dawn.

This is a trend I have noticed for the last 5 to 7 years and it is occuring due to the intense pressure deer face with more types of hunting seasons and longer seasons. They are startled by the start of the bow hunt in October, followed by the Muzzle-loader season. By the time the gun hunt starts at the end of October or Early November, they are as nervous as a cat on the proverbial roof.

By this time, they have patterned the humans around them and start moving at night and before dawn. Occassionally, you will see movement at Noon if they have patterned the hunters in their living area.

 

[Navy joe]

They sure do stop that movement when you turn on the spotlight

And yes, hunting pressure is probably putting them in your yard every night.

 

[Navy joe]

They sure do stop that movement when you turn on the spotlight

And yes, hunting pressure is probably putting them in your yard every night. Expect them to move to and from their bed areas at dawn and dusk and lay low all day once gun season is going good.