January Rut

Saw something pretty wild on my way home from work last night…Just after dark, but had plenty of light for Binos because of the snow and clear skies…

#1 hit list buck…oldest and most dominant buck around my area.. was locked up with a doe. Chasing her around the picked bean field and the doe wasn’t trying to get away. Ive seen this behavior enough times in my life to know that it was breeding escapades going on. From what I could tell this was a full sized doe, not a yearling fawn. From 100 yds in the binos they looked similar in size, not that typical noticeable size difference you see between a mature buck and yearling doe.

While watching them in my truck I remembered almost a month ago December 13th.. I saw the same buck tending a doe in the field across the road from where I was watching him now. I thought it was pretty rare to see that breeding behavior last month, rare enough that I could remember the date.

I think that witnessing this 3rd cycle is EXTREMELY RARE. I feel fortunate to have seen it. This fawn will be at a extreme disadvantage being 2 months behind the average. Might not be ready to be weened when the comes time for the rut next year.

Every year I see things that amazes me about whitetails. The fact that my buddies are looking for sheds that are starting to pop up; this buck still has enough in the tank to seek and chase every last one doe around.

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I would agree that is late for breeding activity, but to be honest I have seen a buck actively chasing a doe in March and she was not running away either.

How are your buck to doe numbers? I would say if there are still does that haven’t been successfully bred, the doe numbers must be quite a bit higher than the buck numbers…or that doe just wont take for some reason no matter how many times she comes in and is bred.

That lucky buck might just get to keep on trying all spring

I have alot of deer around. Dont notice significantly higher doe numbers.. I had 5 different- 2.5 year old bucks around this fall not including the one that my wife killed. And numerous younger bucks. They would be plenty mature for getting the breeding done. I am wondering if this older buck is so dominant that he doesn’t allow much to take place, or bullies them off the property? But I wouldnt think that someone couldnt slip in while he was locked down with a doe for a couple days.
I am pretty confident in the fact he was breeding, he had his nose right up her tail. Had little re-guard for the truck. These two deer were away from the large herd up the hill half mile away.

I have no doubt he was breeding. That’s the only reason he would be around a doe this time of year. If not breeding they can’t be bothered with does, it’s all about food.

On another note, that one your wife shot was a 2.5 year old???? Or did I read that wrong. That thing grew that big in 2.5 years

Didnt have a history on him. He was new “passerby”.. So it was just a guess on 2.5…. could be 3.5….. loved to eat

A buck doesn’t care what time of year it is. If a doe isn’t taking and comes into heat every 28-30 days they will chase. Research has shown this in studies and does that don’t take can run bucks down and die in winter. High doe numbers are one reason for this and that is why it is important to manage does. Also genetic issues can cause a Doe to continue to enter into heat but not take.