Do deer really like water?

[Fish- N- Hunt]

I have permission to hunt a new piece of land this year. This piece of property has a creek going through it that is about 8 ft wide and at least 5 feet deep. I have been out there scouting and walked along the sidebanks, but do not see any sign of the deer walking through the water. Do you think they just jump it or do they not go to the other side at all because all food supply is on that side. Had my camera on both sides, but activity seems to only be on the one side. Any ideas or thoughts?

Thanks

Fish- N- Hunt

[89Bronco]

Fish-n-Hunt,

Not sure why the deer would stay on one side or another, but I know if they want to cross they'll do it. They are excellent swimmers.
During the last week in August my dad and I saw two young deer swimming across Crane Lake up in Northern MN. The place they decided to swim has to be around a mile across, so there's no doubt in my mind that a deer will swim a few feet if there is a good reason to do so. There must be some reason they stay on one side of the creek, besides the water.

[Mark Christianson]

I have witnessed deer swimming across the Mississippi in St Cloud. They were not walking either. They were swimming, and the current was not slow.

If they want something, nothing will stop them from what I have seen.

[hanson]

We hunt deer near a river and they cross all the time. They mainly will cross in the shallower areas but we do see them swimming across quite a bit. If you find these areas, you can get your stand set up in an area where you're sure to see a lot of deer. Just a head and the top of their back is all that will be sticking out of the water. Doesn't seem to bother them a bit. Its actually kind of a funny sight watching a couple does and 3-4 fawns all crossing at the same time. Loch Ness monster perhaps?

[bigbucks]

I know my Uncle took a picture of a couple of does swimming across the middle of Lake Osakis mabye 5 years ago. Why they were out there who knows.

As far as an 8' creek, I think a lot of adult deer could jump that, but like someone else said there must not be anything they're very interested in over there.

I also have seen them cross the river near my house, which is pretty shallow for the most part, without hardly slowing down. Maybe 10 years ago one of the guys in our hunting party shot a big 8 pointer that was swimming across a beaver pond, apparently to avoid hunters on the other side.

[PikeTipper]

During my graduation party (quite a few years ago) 3 deer ran right through our backyard in the middle of all the guests, jumped in the lake and swam to the other side. They had no hesitation about jumping in and I was suprised how quick they got to the other side so they must be very good swimmers.

[doubleUcubed]

We've watched many deer swim to the Island on the lake we live on and some of the swims are 1.5 miles or better. As posted earlier they are very good swimmers.