I was hunting in a nice patch of oak trees this morning, loaded with acrons. There was a 1.5 yr old doe feeding all morning. THen came a mature doe with fawns. The second she spotted the other doe, she ran her off. Eventually she chilled for a little bit, but then got into this weird mode of trotting around with here head low, almost like a big buck does when he's sniffing after a doe. Her path brought her under my tree & I shot her. But the actions she showed before that were really weird. I don't know what she was doing running around like that? Anyone have any thoughts?
Ryan I seen the same thing this morning, A Doe came in and fed on browse for about 20 minutes, she kept bleating and she looked scrawny. I could see her ribs, then a fawn came running in ond got on the milk thingy for awhile. Later a nice Doe came in followed by two fawns. The first two freaked out and ran off like mad almost like gang territory,,,I was confused to
She had human traits and was trying to figure out how to get a bow into her hooves! I watched a doe running in circles in the median on Wednesday and another young doe running laps up and down a ditch yesterday about noon.
My guess.. she's weary of bucks right now.. like many does this time of year. The bucks were likely starting their doe socializing right about now where your located.. and would be up for some scenting up of scrapes... checking doe feeding and bedding areas etc.. during this time their scent is left everywhere.. and I've noticed lots of skiddish does when this occurs.. even deer randomly running through the woods purely out of enjoyment it seems.. but ma does always keeping their own to themselves as they seem to want nothing to do with other deer. I think she was scent-checking what may have been through their the night before... and I bet she would have tried to stay away the next night if not for the fact you slayed her. I've actually seen this type of behavior before... ALWAYS occurs following that first real cold front that plunges temps considerably this time of year. I only wish I could have been out.
Cool insight Mike, there is more to the story that backs your thoughts. The 1.5 doe she run off had been roaming thru the woods earlier bleating softly. There was a basket 7 that was half heartedly working about 3-4 different licking branches and he even chased after the 1.5 doe briefly. There were also 2 small spikes but they mostly pestered the 7 pt. From her actions & your comments, it does seem like she was roaming that section and seeing what was there since there were still a lot of deer around.
Congrats on the doe Ryan !! Duke is pretty much is spot on. I've seen it too in the past where the does are running around like they are scent checking.. The does also get real testy with the young bucks and each other this time of year. I had a big doe come in a couple years ago about this time. A 2.5 year old buck was walking by and the doe just turn on him and let him have it with her hooves. She pounded him !! He ran !! He wasn't pestering her... just walking by. After she got done with him... she turned on another doe that was traveling with her. I wished I would have shot her... she was huge for a doe.... but I was waiting on a certain buck to show which didn't. Tim
