RE: When a buck disappears- where does he go ?
To eat something else....somewhere else?
I think (Emphasis on "think") that they have multiple cores within their home range. What you're seeing is what I see here every year. Their summer core is different when the food source changes. I'm seeing it change, here, right now. they're getting off the beans and onto the mast crops....although the beans are greener than ever and plentiful. The acorns are falling, though. I heard them hitting all around me, last night.
I've said it before.....wher emy bucks, here, "summer" .....is different from where they "winter". It's a simple way of stating what I did before.
Find his next preferred food source....and you'll find his next core.
It's also getting time for them to think about splitting up.....so your chances of spotting him will go down...if he's a lone buck (in lieu of several).
Three seasons and this is my "theory". Take it with a grain of salt.