Is programmed into a bucks brain from birth? For example, take rutting/cruising bucks. Every year we all get pictures of bucks that we never see again. Bucks that people tell you they saw miles away in the summer. How did that buck know how to navigate that seemingly foreign land? How did he know where all the trails/bedding areas/food sources were? Was he maybe a button buck in that area that got forced out? Did he do it all based on other deer scent? Or are deer born with this information in their heads (Kinda like elephant migration routes)? Ive always wondered how deer that seemingly have never been in my neck of woods know the terrain so well. Anybody have any articles on this? (Its a long drive from Wisconsin to Ohio...lol)
I think it can be measured more in an instinct to survive. It's not that the deer necessarily know your area, its just that they know what to look for. Lets say it's been since last fall that you had a "lady encounter". Your friend invited you to a party the next town owner to break said dry spell. Won't take more than a few minutes to get the easy ones figured out. Now you have does in different area codes:D
Im guessing they learn all that when they are yearlings following mom around. It is then programmed into their brain to do that. The bucks that leave a property usually just bed where they want to and where they don't get pressure. Also, they take their own way to food sources and can find out where the food sources/other deer trails are by scent. It seems navigating the terrain just comes natural to them. They will see that they are headed toward a steep hill and find another way around. Which usually is where all the other deer go so there will be a strong scent he could follow. Who knows, maybe they do pick the wrong terrain route sometimes. We're not out to watch when a buck makes his first trip through that particular property. Just a guess, but it makes sense.
