Live Columbus-area forecast
Best time to hunt deer today in Ohio
Ohio farm edges and woodlots reward hunters who match their sit to today’s strongest weather window.
Today’s sit windows
Early Morning
6:42 AM – 8:57 AM
Good · 71/100
6:42 AM – 8:57 AM
Good · 71/100
Midday
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Poor · 37/100
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Poor · 37/100
Evening
6:01 PM – 8:16 PM
Good · 67/100
6:01 PM – 8:16 PM
Good · 67/100
Movement Index
59
Movement Index · Columbus, OH
Fair — Stick to your best spots and be disciplined. This isn't a day to gamble on a new location.
As of Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7:49 PM · Confidence: High — All key inputs are reliable and well-defined. This is a high-accuracy forecast.
Get your exact ZIP forecastBest sit today
Morning stand (6:42 AM – 8:57 AM) — solid window. Be in your stand 30–45 min before the window opens.
Season phase: early-season
Best movement times
- 6:42 AM – 8:57 AM
- 6:01 PM – 8:16 PM
Weather snapshot
- 80°F
- Wind SSW at 12 mph
- Pressure steady
- Waning Crescent moon
What’s driving it
- Wind: 12 mph — favorable wind that tends to keep scent moving predictably without overloading deer senses.
- Rain Clearing Boost: High residual humidity (84%) with clearing conditions — deer that held tight during rain are likely to move aggressively as weather improves.
- Temperature: 80°F — warm conditions that tend to push deer toward more nocturnal activity patterns.
- Warm Front: 4°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.