Frankfort, Kentucky - It seems like we haven't had a decent rain in months. August rainfall was the third lowest for that month since 1895. September is likely to post a similar record. Throughout the state, moderate to severe drought conditions are causing streams to dry up, leaves to turn and fall earlier than usual, and deer hunters to ask questions about how this drought will affect their season.

Drought can affect deer movement. Deer are usually able to meet most of their water needs with the moisture contained in plants they eat, as well as dew licked from forage in the morning. But when drought sets in, plants dry up and deer must rely more on other water sources.

"Standing water is important now since we have drought," said David Yancy, a wildlife biologist in the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' big game program. "They're not going to strike out cross-country, but if there's a watering hole in their core home range, they're probably using it more now."

Hunters should target watering areas like ponds, creek bottoms and even small pools left in nearly dried-up streams. Drought conditions can actually make these areas easier to find.

"With a drought, you know where the deer aren't going to be," said Tina Brunjes, big game program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "You're going to be able to identify where there's good forage and standing water, versus a year where everything is green. It makes your scouting job a little easier."

The fact that leaves are falling off trees earlier than usual can also make a gun hunter's job easier. However, bowhunters may need to look harder to find stand sites with foliage, and may need to pay more attention to camouflage.

"The sooner the leaves fall off, the better, because you can see deer," Brunjes said. "But this is a mixed blessing for bowhunters. You can see better, but the deer can also see you better."

Some hunters may be concerned that the drought could actually kill deer who can't find enough water. However, even severe droughts don't usually impact deer numbers in the eastern United States.

"They don't generally die of drought here like other places," explained Brunjes. "If deer can't get to water for a couple of days, they can die of thirst. But that doesn't typically happen in the east. A place like Kentucky has few square miles without some source of water - a pond, a creek or a livestock trough."

Concentrate on these areas and you could make this year's drought work for you. Kentucky's statewide archery and crossbow deer seasons are going on now, with early muzzleloader season coming up Oct. 18-19. For complete season dates and hunting regulations, pick up a copy of the 2008-09 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, available wherever hunting licenses are sold.

Author Hayley Lynch is an award-winning writer for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. She is an avid hunter and shotgun shooter.