Strange deer behavior for late October

[megalomaniac]

Don't recall ever seeing this in late Oct, but I still have mature bucks grouped up. 1.5yos and 2.5yos now running does like crazy, which is normal for this time of the year on my farms.

Also, not seeing any broken racks. It's like the old guys have called a truce for now.

Pics are from 2 different farms in past 2 days.

 

[Pilchard]

I had 5 bucks in my yard together this morning in Williamson county. Two 1.5 year olds. One 2.5 yr old. One that is 4.5 and one that is at least 6.5. No does this morning which is unusual.

 

[megalomaniac]

The big bachelor groups of 5 to 7 bucks per group have broken up. But the geriatric fellows are staying together. NOT normal on my places... usually this time of year the mature bucks have separated from all other bucks and are loners.

 

[BSK]

Very interesting Mega.

 

[timberjack86]

Seen the same thing last weekend around the Ohio river in Kentucky.

 

[HoytDawg]

I'm seeing the same in coffee county

 

[Andy S.]

Some bucks sparring, some working licking branches and some scent checking does here in SW TN. Not getting any groups of bucks lately.

 

[tellico4x4]

Got first pic of youngsters sparring yesterday. Quite a few scrapes being opened.

 

[tntrkkllr]

I have found a few scrapes my self here in SW tn.. won't be long now! October 30th is coming in quick

 

[Ski]

This guy got his entire main beam broken off. He was perfect on the 9th & then next pic I get of him is the 15th and he's only got one antler!

 

[DayDay]

This guy got his entire main beam broken off. He was perfect on the 9th & then next pic I get of him is the 15th and he's only got one antler!

View attachment 199725View attachment 199726

Smart buck!

 

[Popcorn]

Same in Trigg county, mature bucks grouped, young bucks on the fringes. I have seen no chasing only noticed a little checking this week. Fresh scrapes only appeared in the last few days.
Stewart county Tn deer are still absent! Likely in a food coma somewhere half buried in a pile of acorns!

 

[Ski]

Smart buck!

The ploy would have worked for me. I'd have left him be. But he was too comfortable and made himself too available. My 75yr old dad killed him Wednesday. Biggest buck of his life, albeit one horned.

 

[Andy S.]

^^^ Congrats to your dad, great buck right there. Thanks for sharing.

 

[philsanchez76]

interesting. im definitely seeing the same in Davidson and Rutherford counties. have friends reporting the same.

 

[tree_ghost]

I'm seeing the same thing. Bucks are 2-3 weeks behind from last year at this time. I know rut timing stays the same annually so does this information mean we're looking for a quick intense rut?

 

[Ski]

I know rut timing stays the same annually so does this information mean we're looking for a quick intense rut?

That's my guess. When the ladies start heating up I'm guessing it'll get intense real quick.

 

[Andy S.]

I'm seeing the same thing. Bucks are 2-3 weeks behind from last year at this time.

Meanwhile here in SW TN, "some" bucks seem to be very ahead for our area, when we are typically 10-14 days behind middle TN. Of course, the bucks are on their own because does are still grouped up doing their own thing, not studying the bucks, which is normal for this time of year. One buck tonight that is thinking with the wrong head.

 

[BSK]

Very, very strange. I'm still getting videos of groups of bucks in food plots feeding and sparring, but the minute a doe shows her face, off they go chasing her. I hardly have a video of a doe group calmly feeding. All I get is zoom, zoom, zoom, bucks chasing does everywhere through the plots and through the woods. And it isn't just the yearlings chasing, it's all the bucks. I have never seen so much chasing this early.

Scraping has exploded. Scrapes everywhere.

 

[utvolsfan77]

Here in Greene County, not seeing any chasing yet, but bucks are still grouped up and a few scrapes are starting to appear.

 

[tree_ghost]

I'm seeing the same thing. Bucks are 2-3 weeks behind from last year at this time. I know rut timing stays the same annually so does this information mean we're looking for a quick intense rut?

And just like that things can change in the whitetail woods….I had more scrape activity last night than all season put together till this point. One very familiar old friend made an appearance, better late than never…should be fun!

 

[BSK]

I'm seeing the same thing. Bucks are 2-3 weeks behind from last year at this time. I know rut timing stays the same annually so does this information mean we're looking for a quick intense rut?

Really interesting observations tree_ghost. I guess being as far east as Mboro, your timing/behavior last year was different than ours. Due to the severe drought, we had a rare late rut. And the deer were in such poor shape, we picked up little chasing until right as breeding was kicking off in late November. This year is just like 2021, when we had a bumper acorn crop, although this year is even more exaggerated. In 2021, I picked up a flurry of chasing around food plots Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, but then things went quiet until the rut kicked off at its normal time around Nov. 12. This year, bucks have been chasing since late September, and right now it's just crazy. Does this mean the rut is early? No, just means the deer are in excellent health and have a lot of extra energy to burn.

 

[Lt.Dan]

The ploy would have worked for me. I'd have left him be. But he was too comfortable and made himself too available. My 75yr old dad killed him Wednesday. Biggest buck of his life, albeit one horned.

View attachment 199730

Can't eat the antlers

 

[BigAl]

I've seen bucks grouped together on camera one night and then chasing (pestering) on camera the next. Probably just getting more activity due to the cooler weather.

 

[DayDay]

The ploy would have worked for me. I'd have left him be. But he was too comfortable and made himself too available. My 75yr old dad killed him Wednesday. Biggest buck of his life, albeit one horned.

View attachment 199730

I wouldn't pass up on an addition of this much meat to the freezer either.

 

[megalomaniac]

Really interesting observations tree_ghost. I guess being as far east as Mboro, your timing/behavior last year was different than ours. Due to the severe drought, we had a rare late rut. And the deer were in such poor shape, we picked up little chasing until right as breeding was kicking off in late November. This year is just like 2021, when we had a bumper acorn crop, although this year is even more exaggerated. In 2021, I picked up a flurry of chasing around food plots Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, but then things went quiet until the rut kicked off at its normal time around Nov. 12. This year, bucks have been chasing since late September, and right now it's just crazy. Does this mean the rut is early? No, just means the deer are in excellent health and have a lot of extra energy to burn.

So why are some mature bucks still grouped up this late? Granted, sample size of only 4 bucks, all the other mature bucks are by themselves as per usual. But I've NEVER seen any mature bucks grouped up this late in October. August/ early Sept... that is normal. But not now. And not really sure what it means, if anything. Again, everything else is normal... chasing by 1.5 and 2.5y/os. 3.5 and 4.5's working scrapes at night....

 

[JCDEERMAN]

This guy got his entire main beam broken off. He was perfect on the 9th & then next pic I get of him is the 15th and he's only got one antler!

View attachment 199725View attachment 199726

I know the feeling!

 

[BSK]

So why are some mature bucks still grouped up this late? Granted, sample size of only 4 bucks, all the other mature bucks are by themselves as per usual. But I've NEVER seen any mature bucks grouped up this late in October. August/ early Sept... that is normal. But not now. And not really sure what it means, if anything. Again, everything else is normal... chasing by 1.5 and 2.5y/os. 3.5 and 4.5's working scrapes at night....

No idea Mega. It's a crazy year, and I honestly believe this year is still being influenced by last year (in the areas hit hardest by the drought).

 

[JCDEERMAN]

No idea Mega. It's a crazy year, and I honestly believe this year is still being influenced by last year (in the areas hit hardest by the drought).

Agreed

 

[knightrider]

The ploy would have worked for me. I'd have left him be. But he was too comfortable and made himself too available. My 75yr old dad killed him Wednesday. Biggest buck of his life, albeit one horned.

View attachment 199730

Alright! Congrats to dad!!!