Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Nocturnal Deer

I know this subject has been beaten to death but what is the biggest reasons that deer go nocturnal? My problem is I hunt almost 60 acres and I'm the only one that has hunted it for the last 10 years and during that time it just sat and didn't get hunted for about 4 years. When I started hunting it again the deer activity was pretty good and I shot the biggest deer of my life that year. Ever since then the hunting as gotten worse and worse and I have not seen one single deer during daylight this year and I've been hunting since November. I only have about 4 daylight pictures all year so far. The only time I go on the property is to either hunt,check my camera or put corn out so to me it's not over pressured since I only really get to hunt on the weekend so it just sits for 5 days with nobody setting foot on it. My set-up is a small quarter acre food plot that's not planted with anything with a shooting house sitting just off of the food plot in the woods. I also just got to meet the guy that hunts the neighboring property and he's having the same problem which started at the same exact time as me but the only difference is he has bears and hogs which I have not had any pictures or sign of. Sorry to post such a long drawn out post but I'm just confused on what happened to all of the deer that used to be on this property and why they have gone completely nocturnal. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Nature. They are crepuscular animals. And they seem to be more nocturnal at times / seasons.

I think they see alot of deer in Iowa during the day. Seriously though, I have the same problem. Been that way since I started hunting nearly 30 years ago. Deer everywhere at night, seldom see em during the day. If there wasn't a rut, I wouldn't have a chance in the world

If ya'll don't learn anything from things I've said...listen up. Deer are individuals, every one of them is different and reacts differently to outside stimuli. There some broad rules, but there are as many that react outside the "normal".

"Deer" will usually tend to go nocturnal when pressured. Some deer go nocturnal just because they can, and choose to do so. I have seen a two year old go completely nocturnal, even to not visiting feeders except between 8pm and 4am. Never seen by anyone ever in, or near daylight.

Hunt another area of the property for the current wind conditions. Up here in my neck of the woods, the deer are never in the fields during shooting hours.

Serious wisdom right here

I've noticed feeding corn makes them do it on my property. They know once the woods get quite and they shed their velvet that they can come feed at night. I've got 160 acres and can really only hunt 80 of so I try to stay off of it as much as possible but me and my brother can go hunt a weekend after not being there in two weeks and by the second day our deer sightings go way down. It doesn't take much to pressure a small tract of land.

If you own the land here's what I suggest you start doing after the season ends.

Start a QDMA study on your small spot. Should be pretty easy because of the size. I had 800 acres and did a 5 year study to see exactly what the hell was going on 24-7 365 out there.

I had cell cams, video cam's, and various commercial and homebrew units at food piles, crossings, water locations, mineral sites, bottoms, harwoods, cut overs etc.

I had it down to really what the size of herd stayed or were usuals there all year long and what patterns they developed over the months.

Quickly did I find out which were usual travel runs or rut trails. I was able to locate the popular areas for bedding locations at different parts of the year.

It takes time to figure them out "BUT" what happens on your guys land isn't the same just miles down the road or state. A big part of holding deer in a location is what does that particular area have to offer the browser (deer) to stay, return or hit and miss it.

I always knew the month of August was a no show period for all the bucks in my herd. Where'd they go, is anyone's guess but it wasn't on the 800 I owned that offered everything any deer would want.

They were breaking up the bachelor groups during this time as well.
Many man made intrusions always help in aiding to why they left.

You have to think stealthy when doing the survey. No odd smells, spit from tobacco, beer cans, kids running everywhere picking up sticks and logs leaving stink, dogs running amuck, cigarette hands touching trail cameras, discarded batteries lying around etc.

I had the herd on my land down pat enough that I had them all named on my image gallery I saved. I could see who the stranger bucks were during the rut and how many fawns were born as well.

Trail camming is a fun hobby and can be irritable at the same time be it theives or poor cell reception to forgetting to turn on the darn camera. Yes, it happens.

If you can afford the best and don't want to disturb and area(s) by going in to check SD cards, may I suggest cell cams cameras from Reconyx.

I've used about all kinds and these are really seriously hard to beat and can take up to 30-40k worth of images depending card size and trigger settings PLUS last up to a year in the field without a battery change out. Video settings eat battery life so, equip them with a solar panel if possible. Cell signals eats power as well so be prepared when embarking on a study.

As all things, studies cost bucks so, how much you invest is how much you get back. R.O.I.

The study is well needed there and you'll have fun if you have cell service or alternative antennas to receive a signal even solar panels to maintain a constant charge if applicable.

The less people you have tromping around in there the better your results.

JMO, after doing my 5 year study. I hope this helps you or somebody else out as well.

Go cheap = cheap results.

I hunt some land that's just like what you described, my dad went to the last place you would think to see a deer let along a buck and killed a good 8 point he did break half his rack off at the brow on one side tho. Me not so lucky so I've been going to other places I hunt and seen plenty of deer. I'm going back to this slow property tomorrow, will see what happens

I guess I'll just have to go to different sections of the property and put cameras out. Try putting some up in open hardwoods,thick areas and open pines to maybe track the deer a little better. It's just strange to me how 6 or 8 years ago you could not set foot on this property without seeing deer and that was back when there were 2-3 people hunting this property and now that it's just me going out there maybe 2 days out of the week the deer have gone nocturnal and it seems like the numbers are way down.

Check for predators (human or dogs/coyote)

Take it for what it is worth.... I quit shooting at them and now I see a lot more during legal shooting light. Average less than 1 doe per food plot. Thus they get use to standing around out there without bullets flying in their direction.

Course that isn't going to work for everyone....or not how you might want to operate.


The other problem is 60 acres isn't that big. The habits of your neighbors are going to influence your property significantly.

I did start seeing and getting pictures of both dogs and coyotes about the time that all of the deer disappeared and went nocturnal but last year and this year I have not seen any at all. The guy that hunts the neighboring property told me that he has already killed 2 coyotes this year.