BSK
Well-Known Member
So I've been tracking my personal trail-camera data for quite some time. Recently, I went back and added in all the data for October for the last 11 years (I had only been looking at my hunting months - November and December - previously. But I began to notice something odd. As most hunters know, on any given property, there will be peak traditional dates for buck activity. This held true for my property as well. The peak date year after year was Nov. 8, which corresponds with the beginning of our peak breeding. And by entering October data, I found a second but smaller peak about October 22, approximately 17 days earlier.
All well and good. But over the last few years, ever since a remnant hurricane moved up KY Lake in 2019 producing 110 MPH straight line winds which levelled much of the forests along the lake, we've noticed a change in patterns. Starting that year, our peak dates changed. So in the below graph I've illustrated the average daily older bucks (2 1/2+) caught on camera from 2013 to 2018 (red line), and then the same data from 2019 onwards (aqua line), with the exception of 2022 which was a crazy year due to the drought. Notice in the graph that the 2019+ data still shows two peaks, approximately 16-17 days apart, but since 2019, these two peaks are delayed 9-10 days compared to the earlier years.
So my question is, anyone ever seen anything like this? In that a major habitat change (downed timber and then logging to remove downed timber) produces a change in what dates see the best buck activity? I've seen changes in herd dynamics do this, but not changes in habitat. Changes in habitat usually just change the number of deer using the area, and which areas are best for buck activity, but not changing dates of best activity. And for what it's worth, the higher overall values post hurricane (2019+) are real. The massive habitat changes have increased the number of older bucks using the property.
All well and good. But over the last few years, ever since a remnant hurricane moved up KY Lake in 2019 producing 110 MPH straight line winds which levelled much of the forests along the lake, we've noticed a change in patterns. Starting that year, our peak dates changed. So in the below graph I've illustrated the average daily older bucks (2 1/2+) caught on camera from 2013 to 2018 (red line), and then the same data from 2019 onwards (aqua line), with the exception of 2022 which was a crazy year due to the drought. Notice in the graph that the 2019+ data still shows two peaks, approximately 16-17 days apart, but since 2019, these two peaks are delayed 9-10 days compared to the earlier years.
So my question is, anyone ever seen anything like this? In that a major habitat change (downed timber and then logging to remove downed timber) produces a change in what dates see the best buck activity? I've seen changes in herd dynamics do this, but not changes in habitat. Changes in habitat usually just change the number of deer using the area, and which areas are best for buck activity, but not changing dates of best activity. And for what it's worth, the higher overall values post hurricane (2019+) are real. The massive habitat changes have increased the number of older bucks using the property.
