When Are Deer Most Active?

Sunrise and sunset are generally known as golden hours for hunters. This is because during this time of day, deer are most active. If you are not much into hunting but prefer viewing these majestic animals, it’s the best time to do it as well – not to mention that sunrises and sunsets provide you with charming scenery. Sporty hunters usually want to make the most of their time spent in the woods – so when are deer most active?

What time of day are deer most active?

If you want to go on a successful hunting trip, you might want to take a moment and prepare properly, ensuring that all your gear is in perfect order. That being said, each hunting trip gives rise to several questions – at what time of day are deer most active? What are the deer movement times? Where do deer go during the day? Let’s get to it.

Deer are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. Most deer will sleep during the day and feed during the early hours of the morning and throughout the night. That being said, there are situations where deer will be active during the day and even midday.

Deer movement times

Deer tend to sleep during the day, between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm but they will resume activity in the hours just before dark. After waking up between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, most deer will quickly move to find a source of food. The deer will go for a source of food that’s closest to their bedding area, even with disregard to their safety. This is the best time to catch deer unprepared and unaware – they are too focused on finding food.  Once the deer begins to eat, it will become more alert to any dangers it may face, including humans. If you have a Sweeney Deer Feeder on your property, you’ve likely encouraged deer to make their bedding area somewhere close to it. Another way to track deer movement times is by using trail cameras set around your deer protein feeders or on an animal trail.

When do deer come out at night?

Deer become very active during the hours just before dark – between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Bucks tend to be more active during the evening hours and after dark, but most deer will leave their bedding areas to feed, starting from dusk and well into the evening. Hunting can change deer behavior in the sense that they might wait until after dark before venturing out of the relative safety of their bedding areas to feed. After the deer come out at night, they may use different routes to and from their feeding areas, or even discover new ones. A protein deer feeder is the best investment you can make if you want to change your deer’s feeding and behavioral patterns.

What time do deer come out in the morning?

Deer will come out in the morning during 6:00 am to 10:00 am. During this period, the deer return from their feeding areas to their bedding areas. Since they are lethargic and sleepy, you’re more likely to catch them off guard.

Do deer move in the middle of the day?

With nights and mornings covered, you might ask yourself, “well where do deer go during the day?”. Most deer will spend their daytime sleeping peacefully in their bedding areas but in some situations they may venture out to feed or explore new territory. During daytime, deer are most active when in rut or when it’s raining – they will be looking for shelter fast.

How often do deer eat?

Deer will feed as much as 5 times per day, or every four hours. This is due to their diet consisting of low fiber foods that digest quickly, leaving them hungry again. If you own a commercial deer feeder, should set it to feed at regular intervals during sunrise and sunset, when deer are most active.

Deer movement calendar

The deer movement calendar is highly dependent on abundant vegetation growth – this means that for most areas deer will be more active between April and September. During these months deer can feed on a multitude of greens such as native grasses and forbs plants, alfalfa and soybeans. Acorns are also a very popular food among deer – keep a close eye on any oak trees you might have on your property.