Just checked my south trail cam and have a photo of a doe blasting through at 7:19 PM. In the same minute, a huge buck came through and stood there looking around. Appears he was after her. Isn't it too early for the big boys to be chasing tail?
I have seen a buck nudging a doe around as early as October 3rd. It wasn't a full out chase, but that 9 pointer sure was set on making sure he got every good whiff of her that he could. I watched him mess with this doe for 30 minutes about 60 yards away. I killed him a month later about 1/2 mile from that spot.
Always some does bred in early/mid October around here. Not many, but some. I would bet a mature buck has a good idea what doe(s) go into estrus first in his territory.
I think GregH said It, old doe's come In to estrus much earlier then all the others. Could've been the case. Otherwise I'd say probably just a buck getting a little antsy.
What's the definition of huge buck? Was it a mature buck? Yes, it does happen that a few will come in early, but a truly mature buck is very unlikely to be doing any chasing yet.
Well Dan, He was outside the infrared flash area, but I'll post a pic. When I say huge, I mean huge. This is the best I can clean up the pics due to fog I think the buck in the 3rd picture is the same guy.
I was in the stand by that camera this AM and the does/fawns moved through at 5:50 AM on their way to the bedding areas. Didn't see any others. Right at sunrise the muzzleloaders started going off. Yep, early muzzle season opened today. Bummer!
I added a photo off the same camera from last night. I think it's the same buck. This morning my neighbor from across the road shot a buck chasing 2 does this AM. Weighed 230 on the hoof. I excused him from the "Shoot a buck, you have to mount it clause we both have in effect for our properties due to his rack all broken up and the fact that even though it was an older buck, I didn't want him passing on his genes. Also, Dan, never got your response as to whether or not that qualifies as a huge buck...
Very nice buck! What camera do you use that has a trigger speed fast enough to catch a doe blowing through in front of it before the buck?
I'm using a moultrie IR40 set to take 3 pictures. The doe came through all blurry and next shot taken during the same minute was the buck.
I wasn't interested in the size of the rack, more if the buck was mature. Which he is. I still think its just a coincidence that the doe was by the camera just before the buck. Even though its cool, the chase won't be starting for a little bit.
I realize that, I was just making a statement. When people say "huge", it tells me nothing of their age. There's the key...."this buck." I'm not saying that this doe isn't coming in early, as I wasn't there...but I'm also not going to say this buck was chasing, as I wasn't there. My point with the "can't make the rut come any earlier" comment was that a lot of guys misunderstand what their seeing out there. Many take what young bucks are doing and interpret it as chasing, when most likely, they're just young and ansy. Yes, cooler weather can keep deer on thier feet more in daylight hours and yes some does can come in early, but make no mistake that when the actual chase begins, it'll be a totally different world out there than it is now.
