The Cold & Calm Before The Storm

Our chilly grey overcast and scattered pockets of drizzle and mist might make it a little miserable outside, but the deer are still moving. I've noted outstanding nocturnal movement on both my trail cam and just in front of the hood of my truck the past few nights. I'll credit the bright moon, low pressure and rutting activity. The Waning Gibbous moon (still 98%) full has been shining through the clouds casting a dim bluish light over the fields at night. Several low pressures are tracking overhead which is also stirring the pot, encouraging the deer to feed and prepare for the storm. And the rut may be locked down, but its not out! Big bucks are still jumping from one spot to another although the weather and any remaining hot does may have been limiting their movement recently. But great news is in the forecast, a Canadian high pressure is building in signaling the end to this storm. Light northerly winds will turn easterly by evening and with near freezing temps, Tuesday will be a perfect day to go afield. I'm expecting great morning activity with thick clouds eventually breaking apart. But the evening will be decent as well. The Iowa crop fields will be filling up with deer as our pressure plateaus and then begins to fall. The next storm system will be bigger and badder than the one we just saw and the clouds filling the western sky will tell the deer its on the way. This active weather pattern means good deer movement, and a great time to be in the woods!