Many hunters that track how weather patterns affect deer behavior have found that barometric pressure might be one of the most important weather events to keep track of. Deer can sense when the weather is about to change and their instinct to hunker down and ride out a storm kicks in. Barometric pressure plays a part in that ability to sense change. In this week’s blog below, we’ll discuss what barometric pressure is and why it might affect deer behavior.
What is Barometric Pressure?
Merriam-Webster defines barometric pressure as, “the pressure of the atmosphere, usually expressed in terms of the height of a column of mercury.” Basically, barometric pressure is how much force the air is exerting against you. A high barometric pressure reading indicates more force than a lower reading. Barometric pressure readings drop right before a cold front or a storm. The shift in pressure is what triggers a storm as the high pressure systems and low pressure systems clash. Deer, who spend their entire lives outside, are in-tune to changes in pressure, so they know the sudden drop will mean trouble for them.
Does it Affect Deer Behavior?
Hunters believe that the higher the barometric pressure, the more the deer will move. Keep in mind that what constitutes “high” barometric pressure changes throughout the season. At the beginning of the year, in late summer and early fall when it is still warm, a barometric reading of 30.0 would be considered high. As the season goes on and the temperatures drop, a barometric reading of 30.0 would be normal, so you’ll need to look for readings of 30.2 or higher. A high barometric pressure reading means clear, calm skies, so the hunting conditions will be comfortable for you as well as the deer.
Deer will also move when the barometric pressure drops before a cold front or storm. The deer herd will sense the pressure drop and they’ll know that means rain. So, they’ll move around to try to find a good spot to ride out the storm. Before they bed down, they’ll visit food plots to load up their stomachs before the storm. You can position yourself between a food source and bedding area to catch them during their trip from a last-minute feeding session to their bedding area. So, keep an eye on any trail cameras pointed at your Feedbank Gravity Deer Feeders. The deer feeders have multiple feed ports so multiple members of the deer herd can feed at the same time.
While barometric pressure readings can be a good way to track deer movement, it’s not a fool-proof strategy and results can vary. Whether you’re hunting during a high pressure, sunny day or a cold front before a storm, you’ll be comfortable in our Stump blinds. Our blinds are insulated to keep sound in and scent out, which means you’ll be sealed in, away from the weather elements, as well. The Stump blinds are made of a weather-resistant polyethylene material that can withstand sun, rain and snow. The blinds won’t deteriorate from excess sun exposure or rot from rain. You can be out in the woods any time of year, taking advantage of the increased activity.
Have you found a correlation between barometric pressure and deer movement? Let us know what you’ve discovered in the comments below!
