Whitetail Forecast
Live Springfield-area forecast

Illinois deer movement forecast

Big-ag Illinois deer often lean nocturnal during warm stretches. Fronts and evening windows carry more weight, so start with Springfield and then localize the forecast to your hunting area.

54
Fair
Movement Index · Springfield, IL

Fair — Not a kill-sit day. Use it for intel — observation or a camera check.

As of Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7:50 PM · Confidence: High — All key inputs are reliable and well-defined. This is a high-accuracy forecast.

Get your exact ZIP forecast

Best sit today

Morning stand (6:09 AM – 8:24 AM) — solid window. Be in your stand 30–45 min before the window opens.

Season phase: early-season

Best movement times

  • 6:09 AM – 8:24 AM
  • 5:28 PM – 7:43 PM

Today’s sit windows

Early Morning
6:09 AM – 8:24 AM
Good · 66/100
Midday
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Poor · 32/100
Evening
5:28 PM – 7:43 PM
Fair · 62/100

Weather snapshot

  • 76°F
  • Wind N at 7 mph
  • Pressure steady
  • Waning Crescent moon

What’s driving it

  • Wind: 7 mph — favorable wind that tends to keep scent moving predictably without overloading deer senses.
  • Temperature: 76°F — warm conditions that tend to push deer toward more nocturnal activity patterns.
  • Precipitation: Rain — deer may still move briefly near cover edges, but active windows tend to be shorter.
  • Warm Front: 3°F warming trend — slight negative that may shift movement toward dusk rather than dawn.
  • Season: Early Season: Deer follow predictable food-source patterns. Target mast crops and ag fields at dawn and dusk.