Chasing

[waterman]

Don't know what it was but today I saw more deer moving than I have in the past two years. Does were everywhere. Spikes running small does and three decent bucks chasing a single doe for about 20 minutes. Must have been barometric pressure or moon phase or something. Was a great day in the woods

 

[remmag]

What county
Im in knox county on a stud
Haven't seen any chasing so far

 

[backyardtndeer]

Here too, north of Jackson. I had deer everywhere this morning. Killed one, when I went to recover him I ran off a doe and buck and 3 or 4 more in a brush pile i couldn't tell what they were. Drove the tractor back and got him and there have been deer going by my cameras pretty well all day.

 

[remmag]

Hopefully it will start here soon
Im hoping the warmer temps don't stall it

 

[redblood]

Videoed 2 mature bucks chasing on my land before i got back to main rd

 

[waterman]

What county
Im in knox county on a stud
Haven't seen any chasing so far

Roane. It's like a switch was flipped

 

[Wrangler95]

Saw a couple bucks this afternoon, one a nice buck but I passed on him

 

[rifle02]

Saturday there was a lot of chasing in North Sequatchie County. The leaves were very dry on the ground and it sounded like a stampede a few times.

 

[redblood]

Roane. It's like a switch was flipped

Today was the first day here where i saw explosive action. Next 3 weeks should be great

 

[Gravey]

That figures. I hunted this past Friday through Sunday and only saw 1 buck pushing a doe but not a long enough look to tell if he was a shooter or not. Guess I should've taken off today too.

 

[dr]

Saw a spike chase a doe in Cumberland Co.this morning.

 

[BSK]

Saturday and Sunday were crazy chasing in my area.

 

[megalomaniac]

Most intense rut I've ever experienced... and what's even more crazy is that is has been going on for 3 weeks straight. One of my hunters yesterday had 2 does about to enter estrus at the same time in the same area. 6 total bucks with them, the 4.5y/os couldn't push off the young bucks bouncing between the two does.

I was worried my rut would have already been over by this past weekend. Most does are back in big family groups, but there are still enough left to breed to create awesome hunts. I'm hoping it continues for my kids this weekend.

No older bucks have been on feed for past 3 weeks.

 

[rifle02]

Friday and Saturday crazy chasing in Sequatchie county. The leaves were so dry it sounded like a stampede. I went this morning in Hamilton County and did not see any chasing. Saw two really good bucks systematically following and keeping their distance but following nonetheless. I did see a button buck who looked lost.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Saturday and Sunday were crazy chasing in my area.

I just saw your signature, I love it!! I may steal it from you!

 

[BSK]

I just saw your signature, I love it!! I may steal it from you!

Feel free my friend!

 

[K-dub]

Saw 3 bucks chasing a doe on the waters edge at watts bar yesterday morning

 

[BSK]

Below is a graph of buck-doe chases caught on my trail cameras. It has definitely been a "different" kind of year. In the graph, the red line is this year's data up through the 18th. The black line is the average of the last three good acorn years: 2020, 2021, and 2023. Notice how much chasing there was this year in mid to late October that is not typical, even for a good acorn year. Chasing was just picking up again the 16th to 18th of November, when I pulled cards last, so I might end up seeing that big spike in chasing that normally peaks around the 17th-18th, but I suspect not. I honestly do believe we saw quite a bit of breeding in mid to late October, hence much less necessary for mid-November.

 

[megalomaniac]

They definitely bred early starting in earnest last week of Oct on my farms. Peak of breeding was around Nov 13, now fizzling out. Some selection bias in current observations of mature bucks since the majority are already dead on my farms.

 

[BSK]

They definitely bred early starting in earnest last week of Oct on my farms. Peak of breeding was around Nov 13, now fizzling out. Some selection bias in current observations of mature bucks since the majority are already dead on my farms.

I've been wondering about that. We've been phenomenally successful this year in that we've killed half the mature bucks using our place (3 of 6). But now I'm wondering, how does that effect the local dynamics, when in a week's time, half the mature bucks are removed?

 

[megalomaniac]

I've been wondering about that. We've been phenomenally successful this year in that we've killed half the mature bucks using our place (3 of 6). But now I'm wondering, how does that effect the local dynamics, when in a week's time, half the mature bucks are removed?

We have done this for years, and AS LONG AS the 3.5y/o class is protected, I have noticed no ill effects (allowing 1.5yo's to agressively participate in the rut). The main down side is we very rarely have the opportunity to kill 5.5y/os since they hardly ever make it to that age class.