During the rut, bucks are struck by vehicles more frequently than at other times of the year and are more vulnerable to hunting. In areas with large predators, such as wolves or mountain lions, rutting bucks are preyed on because they are less wary and perhaps weakened by intensive breeding activities. The rut leaves most bucks in poor physical condition. Besides weight losses of up to 20 percent, bucks also may suffer from battle scars and exhaustion. They often enter winter in poorer condition than the rest of the herd.
Winter can be a very difficult time of year for deer, especially in the north.
Cold weather and reduced food availability force deer to change their habits in order to conserve energy and survive. Although Missouri winters are not severe, our whitetails display some of the same behaviors as their northern counterparts. These northern deer spend the winter in a sheltered area, sometimes referred to as a deer yard, then return to their summer range the following spring. A number of radio-tagged deer in Missouri made movements of up to 10 miles each winter then moved back to their summer ranges each spring. Extended family members often reunite during winter.