So just looking for some opinions. The past two weekends activity has picked up but it is all TINY deer (like fork bucks and 5 pointers) chasing does all over the place. They are like kids running through the woods, first one way, then they other sometimes they'll stop and eat, then chase again. I even say two little bucks out in a field sparring, head gear was so small didn't register in my binnoculars, then one of them (a super little fork) came into by me after a doe. Where are the big guys??? I've seen them on camera...but they're not around, wouldn't little bucks sparing in a field drive a big buck crazy and bring him out? I'm hearing stories from around the same area about huge bucks charging in after a grunt calls, and coming to rattling, but nothing responds to the same on our property, and these little bucks are all over chasing does...what is going on? Is it possible for two areas that are within 30 miles to be at different points in the rut? Our farm always seems to be behind. Last year it wasn't until the second weekend in November where we saw a mature buck panting after a doe with his tongue hanging out.
I have noticed the same thing in my parts. Spike bucks butting heads and chasing does. The big bucks have even disappeared off of the trail cam. I put a scrape dripper over a scrape and my cam just got a bunch of young bucks. Maybe they are resting for the coming mayhem. IDK.
i had a few doe run under my feeder and 5 minutes later a big buck came to my feeder and didnt even know there were doe around... the rut here... non-existant
is it possible for the rut to be "stronger" on certain types of geographical areas, like near river beds etc than in othe areas? It never seem very strong by us...we've never had a buck come to a grunt or rattle. I've even experiemented with bucks walking near me and grunted and they don't even look up? It is like they're all deaf or something. But like I said in the intial post we heard about people not far away experiencing the rut like on a cable hunting show!
Think about your herd dynamics. How many does are around? Why would a buck fight for a doe, if he doesn't have to? Stop thinking "dominant buck" and start thinking "dominant buck....of the ones present". If your big boys are laid up with does, why do they care what the youngins are doing? The older bucks have been around the block more than a couple times. They know the does likely aren't ready, yet. These juveniles don't. When you see the first doe in your area come in to heat.......my bet is there isn't a punk buck on her rear. If you have a lot of does where you hunt.........good luck. It's a blessing and a curse.
I don't think we have anywhere near as many does as we used to, in fact there are more small bucks on the trail cams than does. So do you think there just isn't a hot doe on the property yet, or the big bucks are already bedded down with one? How would I know. How long is a doe in heat? I only get to go hunting on the weekends, is it possible a doe goes into heat Monday and is done by Friday so I could miss the whole thing?
Is the scenario you presented possible? Sure. But, I'm betting they ALL don't come in and go out at the same time (wink-wink / hope-hope).
wow how things can change one day later i go spot lighting pigs see big bucks and small chasing and continued today in the stand nothing coming to my feeder deer wise in past day and a half the switch has been turned here
If the rut is on, and you have big boys in the neighborhood, but all you are seeing is little ones, odds are the older bucks are tied down to a receptive doe. Been watching a nice 150-160 8 pointer about a mile or so from where I hunt earlier this week, and he was in the same spot for 3 nights in a row, tending a doe, wouldn't let anything get near her. Wasn't there last nite, and a buddy that hunts in that area got a couple pictures of him on the trail camera, so he is out looking again..... Just an example, but I know previous years, when the breeding part of the rut is on, big buck sightings slow down and all I would see is the JV. Prior to that time, when the seeking phase of the rut is on, anything at any time could come by.
