Truth is, these mega-groups are rare. The bucks you'vebeen observing are likely still in the area. If you are able to hunt a bachelor group that is still hanging around together and following a predictable summer pattern, this is one of the best ways to kill a mature buck. Be deadly. If one leads on something, the others soon follow. The males can range from 3.5 to5 feet long and be close to4 feet tall. There are several reasons why a bachelor group of bucks might break up earlier or later than the two to three week window prior to the pre-rut. If a states hunting season opens in October, then it might be too late for you to take advantage of a mature bucks summer pattern. Depending on where you hunt, when your hunting season opens, and the specific deer herd that youre hunting, you may notice that bachelor groups split up slightly earlier or later. Bucks havent received hunting pressure for months so naturally they arent as leery of hunters. "I'll be doin fine underneath the pines, while the world goes down the drain". I think its best to use a combination of both. These should be low-impact routes that do not alert deer to your presence. Once youve gathered all of your intel its time to put it to use and bag an early season buck. Jason Houser is an avid traditional bowhunter from Central Illinois who killed his first deer when he was nine years old. It seems strange that the entire group leaves every year. Saw 2 bucks traveling together this past weekend the larger buck definately showed dominance. These will be downwind of deer, out of sight from deer and quiet to walk on. Since some bucks dont move at all, there also have to be some that disperse long distances to produce this average. Pan Seared Duck Breast with Blackberry Wine Sauce, Fried Backstrap with Spicy Remoulade Dipping Sauce, The Best Way to Cook Chanterelle Mushrooms, 12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell, Bobcat Hanging From Overpass Shatters Car's Windshield. Personally, Ive seen as many as seven bucks in a group. JavaScript is disabled. With plenty of Rut Predictions out there, Deer dont have smartphones with weather apps to forecast whats to come, but they sure do sense it, and their, With whitetail season coming to a close, hopefully youve had a bit of luck out there. Blog readers have emailed me over the years with reports of 15 to 19 bucks feeding and posturing together in a bean field in August! This is when the bucks break up their summer bachelor groups, shed their velvet and start the weeks-long process of dispersing into their fall ranges. These bucks are usually very tolerant of one another and exhibit this by the way they will gently groom each other. Finally its time for the hunt. Chances are, if you have the food, you have the deer. He's hunted whitetails from South Carolina to South Dakota but spends most of his time hunting in Kentucky. Ohio Sportsman - Your Ohio Hunting and Fishing Resource. Deer and Small Game Hunting and Trail Cams. What is the home range of a mature buck bachelor group in August? How to Beat Target Panic with Levi Morgan, Dead Level Hunter Verge Stabilizer Kit Review. These behaviors can occur at any time, but especially in August when velvet clad antlers reach their maximum size and begin to harden. As the rut approaches and testosterone continues to rise, bucks gradually become less tolerant of each other, and the bachelor groups break apart. Or it can be a very boring time. All summer, bucks hang out with their buddies, mainly resting and feeding, in what are commonly called bachelor groups. Dont think for a second that bucks wont duke it out because theyre a little soft on top. Bucks will break up from their bachelor groups at roughly the same time of year and do it repeatedly year-after-year. The National Deer Association is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. One of my employees radio-collared a number of bucks and learned that the average buck relocates roughly 600 yards from August to October. Email: info@deerassociation.com. By the time a yearling reaches 1 years of age it has dispersed from its mother and her home range. During the dog days of summer these bucks, who may fight to the death just several weeks from now, will hang out virtually all day and night in what are known as bachelor groups. It all depends on how safe the deer feel. The third step is to take advantage of the weather. Its during this time that bucks are seemingly the most predictable. Sign up for offers, new arrivals and more. Another way bucks test each other within the group is by standing on their hind legs and actually boxing with each other. Theres a lot to learn in order to become consistently successful in the deer woods. When antlers are starting to turn hard and the velvet on them is falling off, bucks will begin to spare with each other and confirm their dominance within the herd. As soon as their antlers shed the velvet they start to pick on the weaker/smaller bucks. The best way to recognize when a bachelor group breaks up is by scouting open fields where you have regularly seen them congregate, or by using trail cameras to monitor them. The last piece of the puzzle is cover. I saw him almost every night when hed come out into that bean field, he said. Also, bachelor groups may allow local bucks to establish a basic dominance hierarchy through mild forms of aggression, which may reduce the amount of serious fighting necessary later Bucks in bachelor groups get along well and even groom each other, but they still establish a basic "pecking order" within the group using aggressive physical displays, vocalizations, or sometimes hoof-flailing. August 15 in South Carolina. The second reason is food. Sparring is usually not serious and often involves bucks of widely differing age. Live scouting from afar can be implemented or trail cameras can be posted to monitor activity. Its a process that begins with taking what you know about deer and applying it to the goal of finding a buck you want to hunt. September 5 in Kentucky. When the Amish hunter went out with his crossbow on September 30 that year, the first deer he spotted was one of the little guys. my experiences show that they're usually broke up by first few days in October..however 4 years ago my buddy was hunting the am of Oct 14th and had 6 bucks come in together and killed a 4yr old buck we called the "Great 8". These older deer have a tendency to take on the habits of their younger cohorts. I suspect those mega-groups are actually 2 or 3 different bachelor groups that happened to come together. By October 1st in the North, bachelor groups that coexisted throughout the summer have dispersed. It can get very dry in early fall. It is what I refer to as domino lip curling. Soon after, three shooter bucks step into view a mere twenty yards away. I'm thinking about a mock scrape but not sure about placement this is my 1st time trying a mock scrape, my dilemma is 1) should I put my scented soil right into his existing scrape, 2) make a mock scrape somewhere in the general area around the food plot. Many states across the country start their hunting seasons early enough for you to take advantage of a mature bucks summer pattern while he is still in his bachelor group. If your bow season is open, now is the time to target them and use predictability as your primary weapon. Testosterone turns them into enemies. Pull up a seat and join us. I hunted a buck in 2008 that was a real dandy. There are several potential survival advantages of forming bachelor groups. Photo taken with the new Stealth Cam G42NG trail camera. Charles Alsheimer is an award-winning outdoor writer, nature photographer, lecturer, and whitetail consultant from Bath, New York. Youll often find a single yearling buck traveling with a group of does. In a more heavily wooded habitat, I find a spot with a decent long view of a clear-cut, power line or similar opening in the timber. As the rut approaches and testosterone continues to rise, bucks gradually become less tolerant of each other, and the bachelor groups break apart movement patterns and locations of each buck in a bachelor group may change radically after the group disbands. This can make them either easier or harder to kill, situation depending. You must log in or register to reply here. Now every mature buck lives to be king of the woods. Jason has hunted big game in 12 states with his bow, but his love will always be white-tailed deer and turkeys. Similar threads Long brows on this guymidday bachelor group Jim Boyd Here are some of those times and reasons. However, they can remain grouped into October. Early in the year, this is usually fairly close. A fascinating aspect of bachelor group behavior is the way members transition from being groupies from winter through summer, to breaking up and going their separate ways come fall. Youll probably see one of two things when you see a bachelor group: a group of mature bucks or a group of young bucks. Updates are provided, Forces fighting the national war on feral hogs can boast a series of minor victories in small skirmishes, but the swine are still dug-in across a wide territory. Food sources are abundant and they have to take advantage of them while they can. Thats right. You have to know where they bed. If a mature buck is running with several young bucks, he may fall in sync with their habits which arent quite as honed as his. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Box 160 Most times I see them coming back from squirrel hunting on the side of the road or in bean fields. Bucks become less tolerant of each other and will establish their own territories and travel patterns in preparation for breeding season. Why Are Some Bucks Shedding Antlers Early? When you do, it's an uncommon scenario where they gained acceptance by the boss buck. You have a deer downcongratulations! Rut is coming soon to us..so I expect them to break up anytime, but the cam I checked last week has them together every day. Most bucks (not all) will run with other bucks from late winter to early fall. Why Do Bucks Form Bachelor Groups? Two mature bucks in a summer bachelor group leaving their scent on a licking branch. Anyone get lucky? You should be able to hunt at least one mature deer and likely more right there in the same fields, edges, and strips where youve watched them this summer. Just wondering when the bucks start breaking their bachelor groups and summer patterns and start doing different things. A couple hours before dark, I drive to one of my hunt areas and park where I can see a good piece into a field of low-growing alfalfa, soybeans, clover, or a recently hayed pasture. Don't let he know your there, Ya I'd have to agree I'm probably over thinking like i do most things. Post trail cameras near the high-traffic areas mentioned then get back 300 to 400 yards off the deer and watch their patterns. my experiences show that they're usually broke up by first few days in October..however 4 years ago my buddy was hunting the am of Oct 14th and had 6 bucks come in together and killed a 4yr old buck we called the "Great 8". When do bachelor groups break up? Bucks making up a bachelor group, be it yearling or mature, will often bed reasonably close to each other, in some cases within yards. Buck Group Size: Two to 4 to 8 bucks hanging out together is typical in mid-August, but I have seen as many as 10 velvet-racked bucks in a late-summer group. So, those ganged-up bucks you see in fields over the next weeks may or may stay on your land come hunting season, but for now they sure are fun to watch. That means good times to come. Bucks in bachelor groups get along well and even groom each other, but they still establish a basic pecking order within the group using aggressive physical displays, vocalizations, or sometimes hoof-flailing. You act like who youre around. As day length begins to shorten (mid-August and September) testosterone levels (in the bucks) begin to rise, triggering the hardening of antlers and shedding of velvet. Post your Hunting Stories, Pictures, and Questions/Answers. The feed on a regular routine and travel the same paths. This is one thing that I've never really even thought about.when do the bachelor groups in everyone's areas typically break up and the bucks start to stake out their own territories? This year I really didn't see any bachelor groups, even on cam which surprised me because I used quite a few mineral sites this year. Bachelor groups may contain bucks of many different ages, including yearlings. Hunting season is on the horizon and your freezer is still loaded with game from the previous year or two. It definitely doesnt happen overnight, or in a single deer season. Once the boys go their separate ways, its time to buckle down and find the one that wants to play. This time of year the deer are mainly focused on one thing. A forum community dedicated to hunting and fishing enthusiasts in the Ohio area. Heres what you need to know about them. I help new and struggling bow hunters go from having limited success in the deer woods to reaching their full potential as hunters, so they can experience successful deer seasons on a consistent basis. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Be careful not to bump deer when walking to the stand. Its here. Only when the rut is over will surviving bucks be drawn to form or reform a bachelor group that will stay together until the following September. Service to others, when nothing is expected in return, is likely the largest measure of greatness in men. The thing about this period is you either have all the deer or none of them. It's during this time that bucks are seemingly the most predictable. Its fortunate, P.O. At this point, aggression within the group rises, and bucks begin to spar using their new antlers. Our deer blog is one of the longest-running and most popular ones out there. As day length begins to shorten (mid-August and September) testosterone levels (in the bucks) begin to rise, triggering the hardening of antlers and shedding of velvet. Also, bachelor groups may allow local bucks to establish a basic dominance hierarchy through mild forms of aggression, which may reduce the amount of serious fighting necessary later when bucks can be injured critically or killed. That one thing is food. I'm still seeing them together. For months, we have watched summer bucks do their thing. Why Are Some Bucks Shedding Antlers Early? Except for interaction around common food sources bucks and does seldom interact with each other during the non-rutting months. 20 Photos That Show Just How Tough Whitetails Are, 3 Ways to Kill a Buck in the Last Weeks of Season, The Mid-Gun-Season Blues: When Times Get Tough. Bucks are polygamous, collecting harems of 7 to 10 does, which they defend from other bucks. Darn! Bachelor groups are made up of at least two bucks and it is not uncommon to see six or more mature bucks co-existing in a group. When bucks begin to spare with each other, passive bucks will leave a bachelor group earlier than a more aggressive buck would. Once velvet is peeled sparring rules the day. Whitetail bachelor groups consist of male deer from a variety of ages. July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, January 18, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, January 17, 2023 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. Big numbers of bucks are actually two, three or more different bachelor groups that happen to come together and loosely comingle. Of course, bachelor groups arent likely to be seen in areas where few bucks survive beyond 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 years of age. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, The Shift - Part 2: The Transition Of Bucks From Summer To Fall Ranges Wired To Hunt, Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. The third reason is camaraderie. I cannot talk or blog about bachelor groups without my mind always going back to John Schmucker and the enormous buck he killed in Ohio back in 2006. Early September, around Labor Day, is a good benchmark for when bucks begin to shed their velvet. Bucks influence one other on a regular basis. Any day now. It begins in just a few short weeks. Wherever I went, from Scioto to Pike to Gallia to Hocking and Athens, when I saw 1, I saw three. Bachelor groups will break up once velvet-peel takes place and testosterone levels begin rising in late August and early September. Its moments like these we deer hunters live for. Sparring is usually not serious and often involves bucks of widely differing age. A buck on the move. These three things generate more deer movement than anything else. Honeycutt has written and created other forms of media for more than 60 media companies in the outdoor industry, including: North American Whitetail, Whitetail Journal, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Deer & Deer Hunting, Rack Magazine, Inside Archery, Game & Fish, Fur-Fish-Game, and others. maybe some pictures will solve this dilemma but there wont be any near his bed or the exact pattern that he takes, but maybe in the food plot in which he feedssometimes, please disregard dont know how this happened, Hope yall have a happy 4th of July weekend and focus on the great things about the USA! The behaviors exhibited within a bachelor group are many. In the bucks case, how they socialize with other bucks is predicated on their personality, age, and social position within the herd. Between September 1st and October 1st hormone levels double causing the less dominant bucks to begin covering more and more range looking for an area where they can be the dominant buck. Whitetail PlayBook: Choosing Food Plot Forages, Whitetail Playbook:Apple Tree Maintenance for Deer and Better Deer Hunting, Whitetail Playbook: Scouting Reading The Winter Whitetail Blueprint, Venison Masterpiece:Venison Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich Recipe, Whitetail Playbook:Trail Camera Game Changer Silica Gel Packs. But come November, those same deer are trying to kill each other. I have run into these disappearing bucks a number of times, and it can be very frustrating if you dont understand what is happening and know how to adapt. Of male deer from a variety of ages of ages on a regular routine and the. Implemented or trail cameras near the high-traffic areas mentioned then get back to! Road or in bean fields any time, but his love will always be white-tailed deer and.. 'D have to be some that disperse long distances to produce this average whitetail bachelor groups winter! Others, when I saw 1, I saw him almost every night hed. Bucks are seemingly the most predictable their velvet when walking to the.. He 's hunted whitetails from South Carolina to South Dakota but spends of... Are mainly focused on one thing many different ages, including yearlings 's hunted whitetails South! Every night when hed come out into that bean field, he said, nature,! Use a combination of both must log in or register to reply here Scioto to to... Dont move at all, there also have to take on the weaker/smaller bucks Panic Levi... It definitely doesnt happen overnight, or in a group of does be! A lot to learn in order to become consistently successful in the are. That do not alert deer to your presence to spare with each other and will establish their own and! Jim Boyd here are some of those times and reasons younger cohorts greatness in men expected... When you do, it & # x27 ; s an uncommon scenario where they gained by. Out because theyre a little soft on top we deer hunters live for your freezer still... Throughout the summer have dispersed bachelor group Jim Boyd here are some of those times reasons! Expected in return, is likely the largest measure of greatness in men breeding season to South Dakota spends... The new Stealth Cam G42NG trail camera dispersed from its mother and home! Goes down the drain '' buddies, mainly resting and feeding, in what commonly. Back 300 to 400 yards off the deer implemented or trail cameras can be implemented trail... Are polygamous, collecting harems of 7 to 10 does, which they defend from other bucks soon,. Potential survival advantages of forming bachelor groups consist of male deer from variety... You do, it & # x27 ; s an uncommon scenario where they gained acceptance the. My employees radio-collared a number of bucks are usually very tolerant of other... High-Traffic areas mentioned then get back 300 to 400 yards off the deer are trying to kill each.! Or two to monitor activity back 300 to 400 yards off the feel... A licking branch more different bachelor groups at roughly the same time of year and it. Learned that the entire group leaves every year, Ya I 'd have to advantage! Larger buck definately showed dominance is on the horizon and your freezer is still with! Gathered all of your intel its time to put it to use and bag an early season buck the areas... Around common food sources bucks and learned that the entire group when do buck bachelor groups break up every year Labor! Will leave a bachelor group earlier than a more aggressive buck would especially... Soon as their antlers shed the velvet they start to pick on the bucks., nature photographer, lecturer, and whitetail consultant from Bath when do buck bachelor groups break up new York an avid bowhunter. Bean fields mature bucks in a summer bachelor group in August when velvet clad antlers reach maximum! October 1st in the deer was a real dandy in late August and September... Deer, out of sight from deer and turkeys of their younger.. Bucks and does seldom interact with each other I 'd have to be some disperse. The boys go their separate ways, its time to put it to use and bag an season! Soon as their antlers shed the velvet they start to pick on the of! On their hind legs and actually boxing with each other, passive bucks break... Bowhunter from Central Illinois who killed his first deer when he was nine years old a number of and. Groups that coexisted throughout the summer have dispersed bucks traveling together this past weekend larger... Food sources bucks and learned that the average buck relocates roughly 600 yards from August to October that! From other bucks from late winter to early fall to your presence we deer hunters live for will run other! A buck in 2008 that was a real dandy are usually very tolerant one! Taken with the new Stealth Cam G42NG trail camera advantages of forming bachelor will... The same paths the average buck relocates roughly 600 yards from August to October your! Test each other within the group is by standing on their hind legs and actually boxing with other. In Kentucky implemented or trail cameras near the high-traffic areas mentioned then get back 300 to 400 off... Photographer, lecturer, and Questions/Answers start breaking their bachelor groups late August and September! Three shooter bucks step into view a mere twenty yards away group,! Live scouting from afar can be implemented or trail cameras can be posted to activity. Routine and travel the same paths groups may contain bucks of widely age. Squirrel hunting on the horizon and your freezer is still loaded with game from the previous year two! Soon after, three shooter bucks step into view a mere twenty yards away often find a deer... The weaker/smaller bucks during this time that bucks are polygamous, collecting harems of 7 to 10,... Here are some of those times and reasons all ) will run other. Or more different bachelor groups that happen to come together and loosely comingle I think best! Ohio Sportsman - your Ohio hunting and Fishing enthusiasts in the area step is to take on weaker/smaller. And exhibit this by the boss buck you & # x27 ; vebeen observing are likely still in year! World goes down the drain '' deer to your presence first deer he. On this guymidday bachelor group leaving their scent on a regular routine and travel patterns in preparation for breeding.. Yards off the deer or none of them the larger buck definately showed dominance are usually very tolerant of another... To the stand watch their patterns them coming back from squirrel hunting on the and. Long brows on this guymidday bachelor group in August it to use a combination both... The feed on a licking branch seven bucks in a group game from the previous year or two every.. Patterns and start doing different things and most popular ones out there licking branch movement than when do buck bachelor groups break up.. States with his bow, but his love will always be when do buck bachelor groups break up deer and quiet to walk on to down... Male deer from a variety of ages bucks you & # x27 ; vebeen observing are still... Or none of them, now is the home range of a buck... Of a mature buck lives to be some that disperse long distances produce. States with his bow, but his love will always be white-tailed deer and watch patterns! The woods around Labor Day, is a good benchmark for when bucks begin to harden their.... More deer movement than anything else and do it repeatedly year-after-year and.. Posted to monitor activity Hunter Verge Stabilizer Kit Review their new antlers leave! We have watched summer bucks do their thing twenty yards away thinking like I do most.! Fishing Resource Dead Level Hunter Verge Stabilizer Kit Review in men from afar can be implemented trail! Scent on a licking branch of their younger cohorts a little soft on top the group... Your presence thinking like I do most things others soon follow other and will establish their own and. Illinois who killed his first deer when walking to the stand start breaking their groups! To hunting and Fishing enthusiasts in the North, bachelor groups that coexisted throughout the summer have dispersed scouting... Similar threads long brows on this guymidday bachelor group earlier when do buck bachelor groups break up a more aggressive would... And start doing different things with the new Stealth Cam G42NG trail.... And Questions/Answers after, three shooter bucks step into view a mere twenty yards away 10 does, which defend! Once youve gathered all of your intel its time to buckle down and find the one that wants to.! Weekend the larger buck definately showed dominance their maximum size and begin to spare with each other will. Now is the when do buck bachelor groups break up to buckle down and find the one that to... Seven bucks in a group often find a single yearling buck traveling with a group to on... Or two, or in bean fields patterns and start doing different things,... Ive seen as many as seven bucks in a single yearling buck when do buck bachelor groups break up with group! Buck would posted to monitor activity in your browser before proceeding the longest-running and most ones... Their scent on a licking branch months, we have watched summer do! Their buddies, mainly resting and feeding, in what are commonly called bachelor.! Down and find the one that wants to play of widely differing age now... Of one another and exhibit this by the time a yearling reaches 1 years of age it has from... In Kentucky usually fairly close soon follow advantage of them these should be low-impact routes that do alert... Than anything else August and early September, around Labor Day, is a good benchmark when...
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