I got a couple Trail Cam pictures this week that kind of surprised me, and I'm curious if others have seen similar whitetail behavior?I figured if this isn't that unusual behavior - then you all on this forumn would probably be the ones to ask.

Anyhow - These pictures are from Mid-January (last week) - from two different spots on our property. The deer are coming to feed on Standing Corn, Turnips and Clover that they can still paw to get. The cameras are in the staging areas just off the plots in overgrown Apple Orchards. I leave the cameras up to see what bucks made it through - and to see when they drop their antlers.







To me this looks more like September Light-hearted Sparring - than Buck fights.
Anyone have any idea whats going on here? Is it common?


FH

As long as they have the antlers they will play.

I have always heard that they will spar after the rut up in till they lose them to establish domancy.

I beleive it - but I've never seen it. Most years - I'm lucky to get one or two buck pictures in January, Say nothing about a "Batchelor Group". You don't hear much about buck behavior after the 1st of the year in the Hunting Media.

I've picked up several Sheds already this year - so I'm thinking they aren't far from dropping.

FH

A week and a half ago I watched to bucks straight up going at it for about 15 minutes. This was no sparring match, these two were for real. They didn't seem to be chasing any of the does in the field either. They just saw each other and that was it. I was surprised they would expend that much energy this time of year.

I agree!

yep, i got a couple too, just look at the two bucks in the background.

Motown is right. I have my Cuddebacks set to take 30 sec video clips. I got one last week that shows 2 bucks, one is 1 1/2 and the other is 2 1/2, the 2 1/2 is rubbing a tree while the 1 1/2 watches. If I knew how to post video I would.

I watched two 6 points fight for 15 - 20 minutes a week ago. The racks were significantly different, but the body sizes were nearly the same. When they stopped to catch their breath, they wer scent checking does. I saw the big one earlier yesterday following a doe.

I think I have the video part figured out!

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/GregBKH/?action=view&current=38.flv