Lastnight when I was sitting on the edge of a bean field, a small 8 pointer and spike buck came out feeding, the two were locking horns for a while, but the spike would kinda jump up and trot a little ways after being pushed around for a few seconds. Then a 6 pointer came out and was sparring pretty good with the 8. They would just walk up, lock horns put their head down and push eachother around.

Is this a sign that rut is beginning, or is it something younger bucks do all the time to show dominance, because it seemed like if the 6 pointer and spike got too close together the 8 would be right in between the two.

I just thought I would say that is a really cool thing to see, that is the first time that I have ever witnessed anything like it.

I think the younger bucks do play like that from time to time from what i have seen but the young ones get to jumpy when a cold front moves in i saw a spike chasing a doe all around a soybean field this morning and rut is at least 4 weeks away.

We have been seeing several small 1and 1/2 year old bucks already this season and they have been sparring with each other. I am conviced it is just a social behavior, perhaps they are enamored by their new headgear ........a new toy so to speak.........dabow

Bucks spar mainly to obtain their dominance before the rut and to build their neck muscles for the real fighting yet to come. Here is a pretty decent site that explains sparring. I found it pretty interesting, I hope you find it usefull and interesting also. Good luck on the upcoming trips to the woods!

[link]http://www.nighthawkpublications.com/hunting/science-ch8.htm[/link]

That article was pretty interesting..that is kind of what it seemed like to me too. Just a shoving type match, because it was like the 8 pointer would kind of let the 6 push him around a little, then he would push a little harder. I think it is really interesting to watch, I am going out to the same area tonight, and hopefully their dads show up