Nocturnal Movements and Activity Rhythms of White-Tailed Deer

The nocturnal movements and activity rhythms of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgin- ianus) were studied during all months of 1958 by observing marked and unmarked deer on a 3,000- acre area in central Pennsylvania. Deer spent the days in wooded parts of the area, but began to move into open fields 1 or more hours before sunset in winter and during the hour of sunset in summer. Before bedding, they grazed in open fields for about 4 hours after sunset in winter and for 7-8 hours after sunset in summer. They usually bedded in fields near the lower limits of their ranges. Seasonal changes in timing of the peak of nocturnal bedding may have been related to seasonal changes in the time when the evening feeding period began. Deer usually moved back to the woods just before dawn.