Do Deer Travel the Creek Beds?

As a hunter, you must have heard many facts and rumors about deer, and the creek beds are just one of them; so do deer travel the creek beds? Ys, deer travel the creek beds, mostly for food and security.

 In this article, we will look at why deer love hanging out in these areas, and we will also look at marks that will guide you on deer travel in the creek. Before we go ahead, it is good to understand what a creek bed is. 

What Is a Creek Bed?

A creek bed is a channel formerly occupied by a stream, and when there is sufficient rain, it is filled with flowing water. People usually have different terms for creek beds.  Some will refer to it as a dry creek, a wash, and even others will call it a stream bed. 

 A creek bed can either be natural or human-made, though the cost of constructing a creek is relatively high. Stones are lined, and on the edges, there are plants to mimic a natural riparian area.

Why Do Deer Travel the Creeks Beds?

Do Bucks Travel Creek Bottoms?

When the topography is not different, the buck usually cruises the creek bottom to travel from one place to another, searching for a female. This is more often during the deer mating season.

Creek Beds Are Safe and Convenient

Many creeks are neglected, and therefore they act as normal funnels for these animals to travel undercover. Most of the time, these areas receive fewer predators and aren’t visited as much, making it a perfect place for deer. 

Creek Beds Serve as Water Points for Deer

For deer to survive, hydration is very important. More is that hydration becomes more necessary during the rut season. Animals lose a lot of water as they move from place to place, looking for a mate. It is believed that a deer can walk for miles to breed.  

They will travel to the creeks to quench their thirst from the water that collects when it floods. 

Deer Bed on Creek Rocks to Cool Their Bodies in High Temperatures

 Interesting to note is that not all deer travel the creek to quench thirst.  You will find deer in the creeks bedded on the rocks during the day when the sun is up, and there is no water around them. The creeks provide deer with a cool place to cool off when it’s too hot. 

Also, most banks of the creeks are around 6- 12ft tall. And warm air rises and cool one is trapped in between the bottom of the creek, and it becomes a good place when the weather is hot. The cooler current is pushed down by the thermos current to the creek’s bottom, which is the lowest point. Also, the thermos current will follow the creek current like water does. 

 Most of the creek’s ground remains damp even when there is no water flowing. When the sun is up, deer travel to the creek to wet their feet. Also, this is the place where deer find most of their food.

The place is a win for the deer since they can easily spot an enemy way before they see them. When they spot a predator, they bed on the island or swim through the shallowest part to the mainland. 

How to Determine Deer Travel Signs in the Creeks?

Various leads can inform you whether deer travel to the creek. First is when you locate a large track leading to the water and is only on one side of the stream. The trails may be at a point where the pool supports the creek or probably near a single bit of cover. 

Deer Travel Lane

Suppose you come across a slightly outlined trail with big tracks parallel to the stream and lead from a bedding area to a feed. This should alert you that the deer are using the path to fast-food.

Deer Crossing

A shallow riffle with large tracks on both sides of the stream confirms that a deer uses the cross path. Another indicator is rubbing on trees near the creek.

Deer travel creeks are very useful to hunters and sportspersons. Once they identify a creek, they set up ambush spots on the creek beds’ sides, and when they get deer crossing, they shoot.  It should be known that deer love visiting creeks when it is hot and dry weather and enhance still hunting.  

When there are heavy rains, and you happen to see the path remain shallow, get your armor ready as this is the best opportunity to take down deer.  If the water level keeps rising, it can block other passages and bring the deer to your stand. 

Note: if you want to place a stand, you must be careful not to alert the deer. The bank should be high enough to carry the scent above the deer or use the crosswind to take the scent into the adjacent field. You can also consider using scent killer sprays to keep deer from smelling you or your hunting clothes.

 Conclusion

Deer use creeks for safety.  When deer bed on the creeks, it becomes very hard for predators and hunters to spot them.   But this can act as an advantage to the hunters. 

The best way to hunt deer on a creek depends on the size of the creek and level of water. If it is a river, you should make your set up on edge, and be careful not to spook the animal.  

You should approach from the downwind side and make sure throughout the approach is silent. But it is good to determine how deer are using the water sources to be able to place your stand accordingly.