RE: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN BUCKS FIGHTING WHILE HUNTING?
I've seen at least a couple of fights every year for about the last 4 years. Last year, I was hunting near our fenceline by a feeder and food plot setup that was on my neighbor's side of the fence (he does not mind me hunting there, but we both know not to shoot across the fence onto the other's property). There,I got to see one of the most memorable things I have ever seen hunting or otherwise. Bucks were sparring every few minutes, but most fights were just light 'pushing matches' that neither buck was too aggressive about...except for one fight. There was a big bodied9 pointer that every deer had been very submissive to hanging around the feeder and nibbling around on clover. I remember seeing him at the feeder, raising his head and turning around to see another big, 10-point,160-class buck eating in the plot. He immediately turned around, laid his ears back and started walking stiff-legged toward the other deer. The big 10 pointer saw him coming, but did not posture at all. He just kept eating and made sure that theother buckwas in front of him. The 9-pt got about 10 ft from the other big guy and lunged at him. The fight was on. They fought pretty evenly for about 15 minutes, then the aggressor, the 9-pt, started to wear down. He, at one point, was pinned down on the down, but managed somehow to get his feet and keep fighting. After a few more minutes though, he gave up and disappeared into the woods. The big 10 pointer ran after him for about 15 yards, stopped and then went back to grazing. Just like nothing had happened.During the time of that brawl, there had also been 2 other fights going on...one of which, duringthat period, had 3 bucks involved! This was the most amazing sight and one of the times I wished I hadmy video camera. Never got a shot at either of those big bucks that day, but the memory of it will always be more of a trophy than most any antlers I will ever hold in my hands. That is why I go hunting. The chance of seeing something memorable that not many people have ever seen.