I was watching a doe feed with one of her yearlings yesterday, would this indicate that she hasn't been bred yet, or not necessarily? Don't they chase them off when the rut approaches?
Not always. Sorry I should expand on this. From what I have seen at my place it looks like the doe will leave her fawns while she breeds and then rejoins the group in the area. Not the dispersal that you may see in the big woods.
Does still have offspring with them here in Nebraska too. They'll split up over the winter most likely.
It's the same in the big woods also. Doe gets dogged and chased by bucks and the fawn just can't keep up. They will get back to gather after the mating ritual is over.
The does seem to run the button bucks off but keep the doe fawns around. Buttons will group up if not killed. Nothing dumber than a button buck. I have seen big bucks run buttons away from does.
Yesterday I saw two doe with offspring. One doe with a little doe and another doe with a button buck. The woods seemed to have changed here in Pa a lot in a weeks time. I saw bucks yesterday, none were in chase mode. They were just wandering and feeding. A little over a week ago I saw 5 bucks in one morning all nose to the ground on the move on a trail.
