Deer activity in western Kentucky monitored via GPS tracking

KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — If you’re seeing deer in western Kentucky with collars on, they are likely part of a research partnership, not pets.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and the University of Kentucky have been working to fit some deer with GPS collars to study their movements and ranges in western Kentucky.

On Friday, KDFWR shared an update on the study.

The department said the deer were most active at dawn from Sept. 18–24, but they don’t seem to be working hard for food.

“With acorns now on the ground, deer don’t have to travel far to find food. That means overall movement is reduced for now,” noted the update.

These current trends will shift with the rutting season starting soon, usually between late October and early December, according to Fish and Wildlife.

The department said it plans to share more updates in the future.