I've chased these furry critters for 20 years now (and have be exposed to ALOT of deer on managed land in mulitple states for that entire period) and just this season in MO I saw a pair "get it on" for the first time in my life. The buck was a nice 16" 2.5 yr old 7ptr and the doe had a button buck with her. The buck was already in the foodplot (about a 3 acre clover patch) with several other small bucks and about 10 does and fawns.

When the doe entered the field the 7ptr went too her and then chased her for over 10 minutes. ALLOVER the plot, end too end, into the woods, out of the woods. I mean chased her like a bird dog. BUT the first thing I noticed was that the doe had her tail held out perfectly parallel too the ground for the entire time that I saw her. She finally stopped in the middle of the plot and the buck successfully mounted her, did his thing and then walked circles around her for 10 minutes afterward and wouldn't let another deer within 20yds of her (including her own buttonhead). Strangely she didn't move from that exact spot for over 10 minutes. She just stood there hunkered in one spot. Finally she began to move about and the buck left her for other deer and areas in the foodplot. Then an equally sized (rack) 8ptr who was OBVIOUSLY much older and massive, walked into the plot. But the 8 had busted his main beam off right above the G1. The 7ptr came over and began posturing, hair raised, heads went down and I thought I was about to see a brawl. LOL the 8ptr kept his full side facing the 7ptr and really puffed himself up. The 7ptr would get close but never get directly in front of or touch the older buck.

The 8 then went too the doe that was just bred and chased her into the woods and they were gone for the rest of the afternoon (cheap slut!). I think I heard the 7ptr laughing at the old buck and mumblin sumpin bout sloppy seconds...


RA