Thread: deer wallow behaviour (timing)

I've recently noticed a wallow spot;



I see this wallow is being used regularly now, it's changing everyday. I have never seen the deer using it so I don't know what time of day they are actually there. I need a trail cam to watch. Every time I go have a look there are no deer there, but there are signs it's been used regularly.

Unfortunately this is on the neighbours, my boundary is the fence in the background, and I do not have permission to shoot in this new pine forest. So I need to wait until they hit my boundary fence. It's easy to see where they jump in, but more difficult to be there at the right time.

So has anyone noticed patterns of timing when they are most likely to use wallows?


Quite a lot of damage to the new pines, the new forest owners don't seem to be doing any pest control, but also don't want anyone shooting there.

Early in the evening befor the frost freezes up the grass or a cloudy none frosty night,drizzely night.

A late or second oestrous hind has stirred up some young lads and they think it’s cuddle time

They will be having what they think is quite a good time but it hardly ever ends in a receptive hind for them

Give them another 3 weeks and they will start feeding up harder than normal when the hormones wear off

Wallowing to rid change of season moult hair......could be male or female perpetrators.

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

I've recently noticed a wallow spot;



I see this wallow is being used regularly now, it's changing everyday. I have never seen the deer using it so I don't know what time of day they are actually there. I need a trail cam to watch. Every time I go have a look there are no deer there, but there are signs it's been used regularly.

Unfortunately this is on the neighbours, my boundary is the fence in the background, and I do not have permission to shoot in this new pine forest. So I need to wait until they hit my boundary fence. It's easy to see where they jump in, but more difficult to be there at the right time.

So has anyone noticed patterns of timing when they are most likely to use wallows?


Quite a lot of damage to the new pines, the new forest owners don't seem to be doing any pest control, but also don't want anyone shooting there.

I have a wallow on the farm similar Ben I'll grab a pic next time I go past.
It goes a bit against what most are saying but it gets regularly all year round buy hinds and stags, I have never seen them there during they day despite always looking but a trail cam a few years ago indicated it was mainly getting used at night.


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Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

I've recently noticed a wallow spot;



I see this wallow is being used regularly now, it's changing everyday. I have never seen the deer using it so I don't know what time of day they are actually there. I need a trail cam to watch. Every time I go have a look there are no deer there, but there are signs it's been used regularly.

Unfortunately this is on the neighbours, my boundary is the fence in the background, and I do not have permission to shoot in this new pine forest. So I need to wait until they hit my boundary fence. It's easy to see where they jump in, but more difficult to be there at the right time.

So has anyone noticed patterns of timing when they are most likely to use wallows?


Quite a lot of damage to the new pines, the new forest owners don't seem to be doing any pest control, but also don't want anyone shooting there.

Idiots
See it a lot
A block just not far from me
90K planting cost - literally buggered
Near every tree had top taken out :-(

Here these guys have someone like you @Ben Waimata over the fence will to get cold and shitty and do it for free
Idiots !!

Originally Posted by Sarvo

Idiots
See it a lot
A block just not far from me
90K planting cost - literally buggered
Near every tree had top taken out :-(

Here these guys have someone like you @Ben Waimata over the fence will to get cold and shitty and do it for free
Idiots !!

Hey @Sarvo I now have permission to shoot on the pine block, possibly sending them this picture above and the one of the damage to their pine trees did the trick. The manager said they intend to bring in a ballot system for people to shoot there in future, but I'm welcome to shoot anything I can see, which also will be damaging my place. I have no intention of doing all their pest control work for them but from now on if I see deer (or any other feral pest) from my side of the fence I'll be knocking them over if I can. There are a couple of forum guys who come out here on occaison too so it might work for everyone.

I have put many game cameras on wallows in Doc land and this is what i have discovered.
Deer use them all different times of the day, night , any hour. Does depend if its in the bush out the way or near foot traffic etc.
Open country like the one in the post it be at night or early morning while still dark. I had deer most hours on camera at wallows, normally the stags are late at night or early morning but
all depends on time of year and where the wallow is etc.
Hinds use them more than stags unless its the roar of cause. Pigs use them too , more often at night. Prob more so at night generally animals turn up as i think there guard is a little
down when in a wallow so the cover of darkness might make them feel more secure.

Thing is i have found is they turn up very random. one day at 8am sometimes there then it might be 5 days before the next animal appears and that be at 11pm..
Rarely have i found a animal turns up at any regular time or days in a row unless its in the roar then the time is random but might turn up a couple of days in a row.

Best way to hunt such animals that are using a wallow is just hunt the bush etc around the wallow.
The deer will be living not miles away, look for a likely ridge or river flat first thing in the morning and you come across them or sign where they travelling.

I have shot many deer from sign from a wallow and followed used games trails from them that lead to the areas the deer are living.

You can stake out the wallow, if private land at night etc but i wouldnt waste my time.
i have faith i find them in the surrounding bush just bush stalking
Hope that helps

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

Hey @Sarvo I now have permission to shoot on the pine block, possibly sending them this picture above and the one of the damage to their pine trees did the trick. The manager said they intend to bring in a ballot system for people to shoot there in future, but I'm welcome to shoot anything I can see, which also will be damaging my place. I have no intention of doing all their pest control work for them but from now on if I see deer (or any other feral pest) from my side of the fence I'll be knocking them over if I can. There are a couple of forum guys who come out here on occaison too so it might work for everyone.

Good News !!
Maybe the read my Post :-(

Originally Posted by deer243

I have put many game cameras on wallows in Doc land and this is what i have discovered.
Deer use them all different times of the day, night , any hour. Does depend if its in the bush out the way or near foot traffic etc.
Open country like the one in the post it be at night or early morning while still dark. I had deer most hours on camera at wallows, normally the stags are late at night or early morning but
all depends on time of year and where the wallow is etc.
Hinds use them more than stags unless its the roar of cause. Pigs use them too , more often at night. Prob more so at night generally animals turn up as i think there guard is a little
down when in a wallow so the cover of darkness might make them feel more secure.

Thing is i have found is they turn up very random. one day at 8am sometimes there then it might be 5 days before the next animal appears and that be at 11pm..
Rarely have i found a animal turns up at any regular time or days in a row unless its in the roar then the time is random but might turn up a couple of days in a row.

Best way to hunt such animals that are using a wallow is just hunt the bush etc around the wallow.
The deer will be living not miles away, look for a likely ridge or river flat first thing in the morning and you come across them or sign where they travelling.

I have shot many deer from sign from a wallow and followed used games trails from them that lead to the areas the deer are living.

You can stake out the wallow, if private land at night etc but i wouldnt waste my time.
i have faith i find them in the surrounding bush just bush stalking
Hope that helps

Thanks @deer243 that is exactly the kind of information I was looking for! Now I have permission I will be stalking the wallow every time I'm nearby.

Ben I went through my trail cam pics and the average time throughout the year around here at the wallow was 4am if that helps you at all.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

Ben I went through my trail cam pics and the average time throughout the year around here at the wallow was 4am if that helps you at all.

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Was the 4am a consistent pattern, or was it more like the situation deer 243 described?

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

Was the 4am a consistent pattern, or was it more like the situation deer 243 described?

It was just an average time throughout a year of a trail cam on a a well used wallow, both hinds and stags but most action was 3-5am

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Originally Posted by BRADS

It was just an average time throughout a year of a trail cam on a a well used wallow, both hinds and stags but most action was 3-5am

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The best time of night to be stiil in bed.... (must be getting old or something).

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

Was the 4am a consistent pattern, or was it more like the situation deer 243 described?

It depends where the wallow is but 3-5am can be a common time esp if the wallow is near where the deer are feeding.
It makes sence that deer travelling to grass or a flat are often in the move early morning and if a wallow is handy either on the way or on the way back into the bush they go visit it.

I noticed wallows close to river beds, flats etc early morning seemed a little more common but wallows deep in the native the times were alot more random and more in the day.

Think the wallow you looking at hunting the area at very first light, getting into the bush or pines as soon as you can see might pay.
The deer have moved back in the bush if not out in the open but they wont be very far away, maybe within a couple hundred metres. If you allowed to spotlight etc get there at 3am and see whats around
if you real keen lol