Do you take a mid-day break when you hunt whitetail deer?

if knowing about hunter movement is not reason enough to make you sit still in anticipation of the noontime deer stroll, scientific reasons exist for why we should stay put — even if we have a stretch of woods all to ourselves.

“Deer do have a mid-day activity period, before, during and after the rut,” . “As we would expect, studies show that deer movement peaks just before and after dawn and just before and after dark. But those studies also show considerable deer movement at mid-day. The middle of the day is certainly a good time to be in the woods, but many people don’t realize that fact.

“Personally, I like to be on stand at mid-day, not walking about. In fact, I think it’s often a good idea to remain there until 1 p.m. Studies also have shown that 1:30 is not a major time for deer movement and this pause in activity continues until around 3 o’clock or so.

“Remember, though, that during the rut, all bets are off regarding deer movement. There will be a mid-day activity period just like always, but deer, especially bucks, can move at all times. That’s why during the rut, I like to stay, and recommend to others that they do the same, on stand all day or as long as I can.”

I agree and if I am able to hunt all day will generally not move from a morning stand until 1 p.m.

Author: michael mcstay

Michael McStay serves as the Senior Editor and CEO of NockedUp, a platform dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts in Massachusetts. An avid fisherman, hunter, and hiker, he has a deep passion for the outdoors and values the importance of sharing knowledge and information related to Massachusetts' natural environment. If you have any thrilling outdoor news to share, or if you would like to provide feedback or suggest story ideas, we encourage you to contact us via text at 339-309-8721 (Join NockedUp Massachusetts Outdoors—it's free and simple! Stay in the loop and never miss another post or update).