Deer Behavior Changes When CWD Is Present — What To Expect?

Changes in Activity Patterns

Deer infected with CWD tend to become nocturnal, moving more at night and during periods of extreme weather such as intense heat or heavy rain. This shift in activity can be attributed to the disease’s effects on the deer’s brain and motor functions. In areas with CWD, hunters can increase their chances of success by hunting at night or during these extreme weather periods.

Changes in Movement and Feeding Patterns

Infected deer often exhibit reduced movement, traveling shorter distances and staying closer to their preferred habitats. This reduced mobility can make them more predictable and vulnerable to hunting. Additionally, CWD-infected deer tend to alter their feeding patterns, sometimes relying more heavily on browse and other vegetation. Hunters can capitalize on this by focusing on areas with dense vegetation and using tactics that exploit the deer’s altered behavior.

Implications for Hunting Strategies

To effectively hunt CWD-infected deer, hunters must adapt their strategies to account for the deer’s altered behavior. This may involve using scent strategies to locate deer, such as tracking scat and urine, and employing tactics that exploit the deer’s reduced movement and altered feeding patterns. By understanding and responding to these changes, hunters can increase their chances of success and help manage deer populations in areas affected by CWD.