What Happened?

BamaFada · Sep 10, 2012

I am freaking out! Since Aug 1st, I have gotten over 1000 pics/week of three 8 points. I went to check my cameras yesterday and had 100 pics on (1) camera that were all doe. On my other camera I only had 14 pics. Fortunatley I saw one of the 8 points in those 14 pics.

Season starts in less than 2 weeks and my deer are moving. Should I be worried they are gone?

Maybe rut will bring them back, but not sure what to think?

BamaFada · Sep 10, 2012

I have an acorn tree that has been dropping for about a week now, and thougth that was going to be prime for start of bow season. I am afraid with fields being cut the deer are moving to better food sources. My 100 acres is all hard woods and bedding areas.

BSK · Sep 10, 2012

Poser said:
Home ranges start shifting right about now.

What Poser said. Bucks often inhabit very different locations from summer to fall. many bucks spend their summer grouped together in a bachelor group, but right around antler velvet shedding, these bachelor groups break up and the bucks all return to their individual fall ranges. This can mean some properties see a huge loss of bucks at this time of year, if their property was the summer range of a bachelor group.

This "loss" of bucks can be permanent through the fall months, as in those individual bucks do not return until next summer. Onthe flip side, bucks that spent their summer "somewhere else" with a different bachelor group may return to your property, because your property is their normal fall range. These bucks will start showing up on camera during mid to late September. In addition, most bucks expand their ranges during the rut, bringing them across your property during the 4-6 weeks of breeding process.

BamaFada · Sep 10, 2012

Thanks BSK. All I can do is get in the woods and see what decides to show up. I have been getting nervous this would happen, I just hoped it would not happen until at least after opening day.

BSK · Sep 10, 2012

BamaFada said:
Thanks BSK. All I can do is get in the woods and see what decides to show up. I have been getting nervous this would happen, I just hoped it would not happen until at least after opening day.

Happens generally during the first two weeks of September every year. But "new" seasonal range-shifters should be showing up by bow opener.

yamaha200 · Sep 10, 2012

maybe the clicking of your trail cams a 1,000 times a week scared them off ! lol... Don't swat it, new bucks might start to show up when they start shifting around.