I saw an 8 chasing/following a doe sunday.

 

Some of the older does are comming in heat now. I saw several deer chasing yesterday and 2 buddies watched bucks chasing does this last weekend.

 

About a week ago when i went out i saw a buck with about 6 does with him! I dont know if he was chasing them but he had 2 in front of him and about 4 or 5 behind him. the next day i knew where to sit to see him and i did now that buck is in the freezer!

 

I saw a 1-1/2 year old buck chasing does in our clover field on September 30th. I think he was confused. I also saw a button buck mount a doe for about 5 seconds. The doe just stood there and then she walked away but she seemed tolerant of the little guy's behavior. I applauded his attempt. :lol:

 

I had a bachelor group of a 4 X 2, a 4 X 4, and a 5 X 5 come in together last saturday. (Roscommon County) Just slowly ambling along eating acorns and beechnuts.

I was able to take the 8 point, my biggest ever!

The 4 X 2 had 2 broken tines, and my 4 X 4 had a broken G1, so it does look like they have been busy fighting.

 

monday I saw a buck attempt to mount a small doe. She kicked him good. First time I've saw this. She was walking through the woods with her tail held straight up in the air. I thought this was early too.

 

Why would this activity have to be early? Whitetail deer have no clocks or calendars. Bucks start pestering does as soon as they lose their velvet, which indicates they are ready and able to breed. It all depends on the does. The rut at this latitude, which is Michigan, occurs at the same time each year. The does come into estrus, depending on their age class, at about the same time every year. Some older does are already in estrus. The weather or our clocks and calendars have nothing to do with it. Warmer weather will slow the breeding activity down, or will cause most rutting to occur at night. The bucks will still be active regardless.

 

I have been hunting a lot in Newaygo county myself. I have seen a lot of scrapes and rubs, but no chasing yet. I just acquired permission to hunt a large farm and I am heading back out tonight. Hopefully I will get lucky and see a few chasing through the corn. Are you in Northern Newaygo county?

Is it 5:00 yet?

 

Wow...14 deer. Is this the same Newaygo county that I am thinking of. All 14 deer in Newaygo county in one place at one time :lol: .

Its actually good to hear the numbers are getting better.

 

8:00 or so opening day I had a 6 pt. buck chasing does. He finally gave up and came in to the apple tree and stood ther eating apples; standing there eating, broadside at exactly 14 yards. Yes, I thought about taking him but decided against it. Maybe should have as the neighbor shot him a couple days ago.

 

Thanks

 

Maybe the increased doe permits in the years past is balancing the herd.

Practicing QDM produces many benefits. Typically, the sex ratio becomes more balanced and the number (or proportion) of bucks in the older age classes increases. Often, more mature bucks are available for breeding, resulting in less stress on yearling bucks and an earlier, more-defined rut. In some cases, deer health and body weights improve due to improved habitat conditions, which also benefit many other wildlife species. The lower deer density also helps reduce crop damage and deer/vehicle collisions.

 

All the activity going on now is by young bucks that dont know any better. The rut is brought on by the does not the bucks. The rut is weeks away.

 

bucks are ready for breeding as soon as they loose their velvet. unfortunately they have to wait for the does to come into heat. that won't stop them from "practicing" though.

 

The rut is weeks away.