I was driving past a large field three nights ago and saw a beautiful buck still in velvet. Probably an 8 point. There were about 5-6 does and only one buck in the group. A group of 5 does was off about 50 yards from a doe and the buck. I watched for awhile as the single doe walked around with the buck slowly trailing her from behind. Every so often he would walk right up to her and smell her behind. She would stop and just stand there. Then he would act like he was gonna make a move on her, then he would stop. They repeated this over and over. I had never seen this before so early...in July. Is this normal behavior where as soon as a buck starts growing his antlers that he is curious about does being in estrus?

I've seen it in bars, but never out in the field this early.

Good one Mark!Seriously though, a buck is able to breed a doe as soon as he comes into hard antler, but I seriouslydoubt a doe is in estrus this early in the year. He was just showing off.

As with all animals, they are just plain curious. I don't believe that the bucks or does are ready to breed yet. See above post about "hard horn"


On their heads, perverts!!

THE RUT IS ON!

Sorry I couldn't resist. [8D]

I know they are not anywhere close to breeding, I just found it odd that a buck had singled out a doe and was trailing her, and she was 50 yards from all of the other does. Just seemed out of the ordinary.

Could he be a buck that was pushed out of his area, for some reason or another.
And is trying to get a head count on the ladies in his new area???