Risto,
My reasoning is that this time of year snow or no snow the big boys will be on their feet in the daylight, it just may not be in the open and it may be the last 1/2 hour.. They need to feed to replenish body mass and pack on the fat before we do get the brutal weather.
Here is my reasoning for hunting in the timber between bedding and my food plots. When we have snow cover it often times eliminates them from browsing grass and acorns and they will make their way quickly to the beans. When conditions are like they are now, the deer (in my experience) will slowly make their way to the fields picking their way along. This will often cause the mature deer (does or bucks) to come on the fields at last daylight. A lot of guys think that if they don't see the deer until last light that they are moving late. That is not always the case. Often times they are on their feet earlier and just mill around in the timber browsing and picking their way along. I relate it almost to hunting staging areas in October, where you hunt a couple of hundred yards inside the timber to catch the deer before they get to the fields at last light.
I know this isn't the ideal late season weather, but it is still cold enough to make the deer move. They know what is ahead and IMO they are going to be feeding hard and taking advantage of the availability of food before the snow comes. I love that we are having a mild winter thus far, and I think it will really help them to make it through the next few months. I scouted one of my bean plots last night and the does were filing in about 4:30. I'm not going to hunt directly on my plots until I see earlier movement. With that said, I would be willing to bet that all of those deer were on their feet by 3 or shortly after though. It's definitely tough, but I am willing to sacrifice seeing high numbers of deer for a chance to see the right deer by sitting in the woods. :way:
One more important factor is being able to get out of your stand without having to walk by the destination feed fields. If you spook the deer off the food on your way out, than IMO it's not worth going in the timber. I guess when it comes down to it, each individual has to hunt the way that they feel they will have the most success. For me that is being able to adapt to different conditions and have stands that will allow me to hunt different ways if need be. I'm only targeting 2 or 3 different bucks so my chances are already low, but you have to hunt when you can, and we only get so many days.
From what I have seen since Monday, deer movement is starting to pick up and I think it will only continue to get better.
