I live in northern NH, right in the middle of a "deer yard". Is this behavior most common in nothern states? Is it due to heavy

[Lead Curtn]

I live in northern NH, right in the middle of a "deer yard". Is this behavior most common in nothern states? Is it due to heavy snow, cold weather, or a mixture of both? I mean during hunting season the state estimates 7 deer per square mile. Right now I count 24 in my back yard and probrably another 50 if I went for a ride a mile up the road. How far do these deer come from?

[Jim in Mo]

Lead Curtn, thats called 'yarding'. I believe they do it for warmth. Oh, they do it here in Missouri too.

[mattreney]

that many deer? any problems with the cougaror bear population?

[koeka]

Deer are crepuscular, being most active in early morning and evening. In forested areas, they may, depending on snow depth, migrate to traditional winter yards in December or January and stay there until March. These yards are generally areas with conifer cover and/or south-facing slopes which provide warmth and tend to accumulate less snow. Stands of northern white cedar are especially preferred for yarding because they provide cover and the greatest interception of snow.

[herbie57_57]

I've seen deer do this in Kansas and Nebraska. It seems that if there is a heavy snow with bitterly cold temps is when they group up. I've seen groups of well over 25 deer before, its a pretty amazing sight.

[Smitty77]

Deer in northern regions yard up. They move to areas with the greatest thermal protection and to areas where there might be less snow which makes finding food easier. Depending on the quality of the habitat deer may or may not yard. For deer who do yard this migration can be many miles.

What does being crepuscular have to do with deer yarding up?

[60256]

When we were driving on the freeway we saw at least 60 deer in one field. Explain that.

Nate

[rudyglove27]

Wow, that's awesome!

[rudyglove27]

Wow, that's awesome!

[rudyglove27]

Wow, that's awesome!