Deer Movement In the Fall

by Jennifer Smith September 20, 2017

In the next few weeks of early fall, homeowners will see a change in deer movement. There are a few factors that dictate deer movement.

For starters, deer activity and habitat is based on the availability of food. In the summertime, deer found an abundance of twigs, leaves, berries and other plants to satisfy their cravings; but in fall, natural resources start to diminish. To add more frustration for whitetails, deer hunters and out-and-about and are pushing them further away from their woodland home. And, where do they end up but our yards, of course.

Because food is scarce in the autumn, deer will not only change their feeding patterns but also their location. They will travel longer distances than before for meals and they will change from early morning activity to evening activity to avoid strong (cold) wind gusts throughout the season. They will stay put in low-key areas or hills until it's safe to come out.

This is why deer fencing is needed this season. As hunters push out white-tailed deer, they will make themselves at home in the garden to feast on cool-weather crops such as squash, corn, lettuce and apples. They really don't mind at all, as long as they don't become deer meat.