Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
I've been following a thread over on the QDMA site that really has me interested in what others have seen (in the field) or what research might exist. I'd like to discuss it here to perhaps get a better feel for what might be happening in TN, North MS/AL, and southern KY (vs. all over the US/Canada).
For context and to get the discussion going, here are a couple of quotes from the thread:
1) Social pressure is perhaps the most ignored and significant stressor in bucks' lives. When you get to goal, the grass is almost always going to be greener on the other side of the fence for a share of the 3.5s coming up. After all, you have competition that they can't overcome, where as the neighbors have less or none that a 3.5 driven to be dominant can't overcome.
2) When you can really see the "success" or failure is generally a couple weeks before the rut kicks in. That's one of the highest risk periods for emigration/bucks shifting core areas, as bucks are starting to really fight for their position in the buck hierarchy. Once at goal, those 3.5 yr old up and comers that desperately want to dominate a niche of their own often are getting their butts handed to them by the big boys and appear to get sick of getting pushed around, but refuse to be submissive. If you don't have an open slot, they're at a very high risk of being gone.
So then, is this how it really happens? A bunch of "ifs" I know but if one manages enough ground and can confirm some level of success at improving buck age structure, can removing an older/dominant 4, 5, 6 year old deer make room for an up-and-comer 3 year old or are they just bound to leave because it's in their nature?
I'm going somewhere with this so just humor me for a bit would'ya?
Any thoughts on this?
For context and to get the discussion going, here are a couple of quotes from the thread:
1) Social pressure is perhaps the most ignored and significant stressor in bucks' lives. When you get to goal, the grass is almost always going to be greener on the other side of the fence for a share of the 3.5s coming up. After all, you have competition that they can't overcome, where as the neighbors have less or none that a 3.5 driven to be dominant can't overcome.
2) When you can really see the "success" or failure is generally a couple weeks before the rut kicks in. That's one of the highest risk periods for emigration/bucks shifting core areas, as bucks are starting to really fight for their position in the buck hierarchy. Once at goal, those 3.5 yr old up and comers that desperately want to dominate a niche of their own often are getting their butts handed to them by the big boys and appear to get sick of getting pushed around, but refuse to be submissive. If you don't have an open slot, they're at a very high risk of being gone.
So then, is this how it really happens? A bunch of "ifs" I know but if one manages enough ground and can confirm some level of success at improving buck age structure, can removing an older/dominant 4, 5, 6 year old deer make room for an up-and-comer 3 year old or are they just bound to leave because it's in their nature?
I'm going somewhere with this so just humor me for a bit would'ya?
Any thoughts on this?