New Deer Behavior to Me

I have several deer of all ages and gender using a small broken tree like an overhanging licking branch. It is located just to the left of a scrape with an overhanging licking branch. As you can see a mature doe is still using both of them. I don’t see any evidence of a buck actually scraping since late Dec but it is still a hub of deer scent checking.

When I came across this spot in mid December I was intrigued by this young tree that was broken off and looked as though it had been chewed on at some point in the past. I was also curious what the rutting activity was like this time of year and also if this tree was getting used for anything. Sure enough, almost every deer that comes into the field of view will sniff the broken tree. Not as many deer will use the overhanging branch though. I also have more pictures of does with their noses up in the overhanging branches than I do of bucks.

Has anyone else come across a broken tree near a scrape or trail and have evidence that deer are using it to keep tabs on what other deer are in the area?

KentuckyBoy

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I think this is just a communication thing. There may be a real remote chance that a doe has yet to conceive and maybe gone into heat again but I’d think the bucks are pretty much out of that game by now so as far as it relating to breeding I’d say not. Deer tend to be very social especially females and fawns/yearlings.

In my experience deer especially does will use licking branches year around. It’s not a breeding thing all the time more of a dominance or boundary thing.

So the Does should continue to use the scrape as seen in the photos but it would be rare to not expected to see a buck do it? If a buck is using the branches or the little tree it would be just for social behavior not breeding.

Yep, that is what I have seen in the past

When I first realized these deer were using this vine as a licking stick, it was to the ground. I have two spots on my farm like this and the deer frequently utilize it.

It’s just so interesting to me, all the things that deer are doing out there to communicate that we seldom see. Trail cams have been truly amazing in terms of just being able to see what deer do out there.

I’m sure there are a lot more subtle ones that we completely miss or don’t understand.

Nice pics and videos, guys.

Grouse

Thanks for the video Randy. To me and 2 licking branches I know of; it just like dogs peeing on post. They just saying who has been there.

Kentucky Boy 75 wrote:

So the Does should continue to use the scrape as seen in the photos but it would be rare to not expected to see a buck do it? If a buck is using the branches or the little tree it would be just for social behavior not breeding.

I agree 100% that is is social and not breeding. The deer, both bucks and does, use them all year round. However I noticed they are usually closer to a does bedding area rather than a bucks area

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

I’m sure there are a lot more subtle ones that we completely miss or don’t understand.

Nice pics and videos, guys.

Grouse

Things like this also make a guy realize just how skilled our ancestors were at understanding and observing animal behavior. Their meat pot depended on those skills.