In addition, though major feeding activity often occurs under the cover of darkness, deer take advantage of these daytime calls of nature to stretch their legs and browse on available vegetation or mast before bedding down once more. Over the course of a day, a deer may cover an area of 50 to 100 yards or more.

It’s true, deer do minimize their movement when temperatures are high. That means they’ll often bed in close proximity to a preferred food source -- as was dramatized by a situation a colleague told me about.

He was hunting near a large persimmon tree that was in the peak of fruit production. Every time a persimmon fell from a branch to the forest floor below, a doe would rise from her bed nearby and walk over to eat the fruit beneath the tree. She would then return to her bed only 20-yards away and listen for the next piece of succulent fruit to fall.

After a few hours of witnessing the scenario replay over and over, my pal harvested the doe.

It’s common knowledge that deer tend to move the most during the cooler hours close to dawn and dusk, as opposed to the middle of day when temperatures are nearing their peak.

Armed with this knowledge, I always try to be on stand early in the morning and again late in the afternoon during the archery season. However, I also make an effort to be on stand during major feeding periods, even if they’re predicted to occur at midday. I’ve killed several deer between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. when temperatures were scorching hot.

In my experience, at no other time of year are the published “feed periods” more reliable than during the early archery season. Hunting pressure is low this time of year, and major cold fronts have not yet come into play. Either or both of those factors can override published feed periods.

This archery season, make plans to be on stand during the major feed periods.

DRESSED TO KILL!
How you dress on hot, “buggy” days can greatly determine your comfort level -- and your staying power.

Florida’s mosquito population is legendary. To deter the bloodsuckers, in the past I relied on repellants containing 100 percent Deet. However, Deet is messy and can damage equipment. And unless you diligently cover every square inch of your body, you will still get bitten.

I now rely exclusively on the Thermocell mosquito repellant device. It’s become an absolute vital piece of equipment for me, and I cannot imagine hunting in Florida without one. A Thermocell keeps the bugs away completely -- so much so, that I can even listen more effectively for approaching game without the nagging sound of mosquitoes swarming around my head.

And most notably, by removing the bloodsucking dive-bombers, it has allowed me to wear ultra-lightweight clothing without being eaten alive. When it comes to hot weather, the lighter the garment, the better. I like to use lightweight garments with moisture wicking properties such as Under Armour camo apparel -- or X-System clothing, which contains nano silver that helps to regulate heat and also has antimicrobial properties to control human scent.

Also, I wear knee-high rubber boots, or hip boots if I plan to traverse deep water. Rubber boots are admittedly warm, but I usually don’t walk far in them, and they are vital for controlling human odor. After I reach my stand and get settled in for the hunt, I immediately remove my boots and hang them on the back of my tree stand.

That’s right -- I hunt in my socks, with my boots off. Believe me, you will be much more comfortable if you remove your boots on hot days.

Your feet will be cool, but what about your scent? The traditional thinking is that wearing rubber boots helps to control your scent, both on the way to your stand and while you’re in it. In years past, I carried with me a tiny spray bottle of scent-elimination formula. After removing my boots, I’d douse my feet with the spray. Currently, I use X-System brand socks instead. They have the same antimicrobial properties as the garments I wear, so that foot odor is no longer an issue.