If you plan to hunt deer, check their feeding times. Since deer move places for feeding, they are vulnerable when out. Therefore, understanding feeding times for deer and their habits is the best-case scenario for hunting deer.
Moreover, many hunters believe the moon and sun significantly affect deer feeding times. Researchers suggest that the deer’s peak feeding time is when the moon peaks overhead or is directly beneath the Earth’s surface.
Likewise, deer move to and from their beds only for feeding. Therefore, it is important to focus on these patterns to maximize hunting opportunities. We will touch all aspects of deer feeding times to help you plan your next hunting expedition.
What Are the Most Common Deer Feeding Times?
The most common times for deer to feed are during the twilight hours of the sunset and sunrise. To avoid predators, deer have developed this habit of feeding in the dark at night. Thus making it tough for hunters and predators to have a clear sight of them.
Moreover, they prefer staying in their hideouts in daylight as they already have fed early in the morning. Moreover, this pattern indicates that they feed before bed early in the morning. Likewise, they get out at night once they feel safe.
Deer Feeding Chart
A deer-feeding chart is the best way to view, analyze and develop hunting sessions. These charts will help you understand deer behavior and suggest the best time for hunting.
Click here to check the live deer feeding chart for your zip code.
What Affects Deer Feeding Times?
There are numerous that affect deer feeding times. However, the top most factors that play a pivotal role in changing deer feeding times are mentioned below.
● Weather
● Temperature
Let us have a closer look at both.
Weather
Deer feed in moderate weather. They love to go out when it is not rainy. Likewise, they go for feeding before and after a cold front. So, if you are expecting a cold front, plan your hunting accordingly.
Temperature
Deer tend to move less when the temperatures are high. However, as soon as the temperature falls, you can expect more movement by deer. So, they like going out in colder temperatures.
How do the moon phases affect deer movement?
Many hunters have strong evidence that the moon significantly affects deer movements. They plan their hunting sessions accordingly. Although no scientific evidence supports this observation, it certainly shows it has an influence.
Here are the results of a study of moon phases on daytime deer activity.
● New Moon: 33.7%
● First Quarter: 26.1%
● Full Moon: 19.9%
● Last Quarter: 33.5%
It is clear from the above study that deer tend to move more on darker nights. It is an obvious fact that they tend to avoid facing hunters. Moreover, hunters, to get clear sight, prefer going at night with a full moon.
Therefore, the brighter the moon, the lower deer movement and vice versa, and feeding times for deer change according to moon phases.
Stage of the Rut
There are three stages of the rut, pre-rut, peak-rut, and post-rut. Let us have a look at feeding behaviors during each phase.
Pre-Rut
It generally occurs between late September and continues into October. Since deer are getting into the best possible shape for mating, thus, they move a lot during the pre-rut phase.
The key behaviors include active feeding, limited daytime movement, and bucks sparring to establish dominance.
Peak-Rut
It occurs from late October to late November. It is the best time to hunt as the feeding movements slow down, and bucks are involved in mating sessions.
Post-Rut
With the rutting season ending around early December, deer again start moving in search of food. Thus, hunting becomes difficult.
Whitetail Deer Feeding Times
Whitetail deer have certain preferred feeding times, so hunters must know and plan their hunting accordingly. Here are feeding times during different sessions of the day.
Whitetail Deer Dawn Feeding
Although there is no certain feeding pattern, deer generally prefer at early dawn. So, the best time to hunt deer is to locate them at dawn when they are out looking for food.
Morning After After a Full Moon
Generally, deer move a lot in the morning after a full moon. Since, they remain inside due to light at night. Therefore, they roam around searching for food the morning after the full moon night.
Whitetail Deer Dusk Feeding
Dusk is another preferred time for whitetail feeding. Since, they love a meal before dusk, therefore, offering a hunting opportunity.
Whitetail Deer Feeding Times and Weather: Storm Fronts
Whitetail deer, just like other deer, prefer feeding at night times. They chose to feed in the dark to keep them safe from predators. Therefore, you will see more movements closer to dawn and dusk at night.
Likewise, deer would prefer to get their bellies filled if there were a prediction of a storm. It is preferred not to go for a hunting expedition when there are storm fronts. The deer prefer staying inside during storms.
A Note on Deer Food
Just as feeding time is important, knowing deer has a preferred food item is also vital. By understanding this phenomenon, you can visit places where there is an abundance of deer’s favorite food, thus increasing chances of successful hunting.
Although feeding times for deer change, common food items that deer enjoy the most remain the same. Here is a short list of the food which deer love to eat.
● Corn
● Rice
● Bran
● Nuts
● Attractants
● Soybeans
● Apples
● Salt blocks
● Food plots of red clover, chicory, or orchard grass
How Deer Feeder Timers Can Help
Deer feeders with a timer can significantly improve the chances of getting a deer. They can easily lure deer, even at odd times. Therefore, offering you the best shot at getting them.
You can easily set the day’s timer when you want to hunt; the deer will come in feed, and you can hunt them accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Breaking down deer feeding times?
Deer prefer to move outside to feed when it is dark. Generally, they feed an hour before and after sunset. Likewise, during a full moon, they stay inside and only come outside when the moon is set.
What deer are feeding on?
Deer enjoy eating several items, including corn, rice, bran, nuts, apples and green leaves.