Deer move best when temperatures are below seasonal averages, the barometer is dropping, and recent wind has died back to under 10 mph. The combination signals incoming weather and pushes deer to feed before storm systems lock movement down.
Worst conditions: extended high-pressure stretches with above-average temperatures and steady wind. Mature deer become almost entirely nocturnal under those conditions. Plan vacation days around forecast cold fronts during the rut peak window — see your state's rut date pages — and the days you sit will outperform random November days by a wide margin.