Will small bucks mate when larger bucks are around?
11-14-2014, 08:55 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 65
Will small bucks mate when larger bucks are around?
I saw some really nice mature deer when i set up my camera on a piece of property we just bought. When I was fixing to take my camera back home I saw a pretty big scrape with a broke off licking branch on the main trail heading out of the swamp. I decided to set up the camera facing it because I could tell the area was being worn out. The deer I saw come back and chew on the branch and start hoofing at the dirt was just pathetic. He couldnt have been a yearling because he had a decent sized body (~125lbs). I think he looked to be at least 2.5 but you couldnt tell that from his horns. He had the smallest 4pt rack I have ever seen. They went straight up and were not even above his ears and the fork was hardly noticeable.
Please tell me that with some big 8 pointers in the area that they will breed all of the does?
Please tell me that with some big 8 pointers in the area that they will breed all of the does?
Last edited by X_Rayted35; 11-15-2014 at 04:58 AM.
11-14-2014, 10:11 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Eastern wv
Posts: 3,646
well those big ole 8 points are probably his daddy, give him a couple years, but yes young bucks breed when they can, doesn't happen often, mature bucks seek the does out when they approach estrus (s) the younger bucks just chase everything.
RR
RR
11-14-2014, 07:51 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NE Kansas
Posts: 1,101
I had the same thought when i saw the title...
I read an article once that tracked this very thing in a scientific study. They were saying that most mating actually is by the less dominant bucks.
It was mainly a matter of numbers. The big bucks simply weren't numerous enough to mate with all of the does, and that gave the smaller bucks plenty of opportunity.
It did vary though. Opportunities for the lesser bucks came in the peak of fertility.
I read an article once that tracked this very thing in a scientific study. They were saying that most mating actually is by the less dominant bucks.
It was mainly a matter of numbers. The big bucks simply weren't numerous enough to mate with all of the does, and that gave the smaller bucks plenty of opportunity.
It did vary though. Opportunities for the lesser bucks came in the peak of fertility.
11-15-2014, 04:58 AM
#8
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 65
I had the same thought when i saw the title...
I read an article once that tracked this very thing in a scientific study. They were saying that most mating actually is by the less dominant bucks.
It was mainly a matter of numbers. The big bucks simply weren't numerous enough to mate with all of the does, and that gave the smaller bucks plenty of opportunity.
It did vary though. Opportunities for the lesser bucks came in the peak of fertility.
I read an article once that tracked this very thing in a scientific study. They were saying that most mating actually is by the less dominant bucks.
It was mainly a matter of numbers. The big bucks simply weren't numerous enough to mate with all of the does, and that gave the smaller bucks plenty of opportunity.
It did vary though. Opportunities for the lesser bucks came in the peak of fertility.
11-15-2014, 09:13 AM
#9
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,230
I think males of any species, without regard to size, will breed any female that can get to. Bigger bucks may try to prevent it but there are too many females to prevent smaller bucks from mounting a good number of them.
I have done a lot of elk hunting and when it comes to elk there are herd bulls that try to contain all the cows. Problem is as soon as another bull comes along and challenges the herd bull it distracts him and a younger bull nearly always uses that chance to breed one or two cows. Seems logical to assume the same thing would happen with deer.
I have done a lot of elk hunting and when it comes to elk there are herd bulls that try to contain all the cows. Problem is as soon as another bull comes along and challenges the herd bull it distracts him and a younger bull nearly always uses that chance to breed one or two cows. Seems logical to assume the same thing would happen with deer.
11-16-2014, 09:11 AM
#10
Little Doe Peep
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Japan
Posts: 14,945
I think males of any species, without regard to size, will breed any female that can get to. Bigger bucks may try to prevent it but there are too many females to prevent smaller bucks from mounting a good number of them.
I have done a lot of elk hunting and when it comes to elk there are herd bulls that try to contain all the cows. Problem is as soon as another bull comes along and challenges the herd bull it distracts him and a younger bull nearly always uses that chance to breed one or two cows. Seems logical to assume the same thing would happen with deer.
I have done a lot of elk hunting and when it comes to elk there are herd bulls that try to contain all the cows. Problem is as soon as another bull comes along and challenges the herd bull it distracts him and a younger bull nearly always uses that chance to breed one or two cows. Seems logical to assume the same thing would happen with deer.
I don't have nearly the experience hunting that he has, but the rest of what he says makes a lot of sense.
