When a hunter can find bucks who are still running together during the first week or two of October, they likely can capitalize on a mature buck while their daily travels are still relatively easy to pattern. Chances are, if you have the food, you have the deer. At this point, aggression within the group rises, and bucks begin to spar using their new antlers. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Two similar sized mature bucks grooming each other in August. Scientific dispersal studies have shown that from late August to mid-September, after velvet shedding, some of the bucks within a group might move a mile or more to fall and winter ranges, but other bucks will hang tight in the core areas where they live year-round. 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. You can get in touch with me by filling out your name and email below. Why Do Bucks Form Bachelor Groups? 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. 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. Live scouting from afar can be implemented or trail cameras can be posted to monitor activity. Soybean fields are a preferred food source during early season and a great spot to scout for bucks. When it comes to whitetail bucks there is definitely a class systemso, it takes time for yearling bucks to be accepted into a mature bucks world. If you happen to see big bucks together during the rut, or the middle of hunting season, then those bucks are likely together because they are chasing after a doe that is ready to breed. It's during this time that bucks are seemingly the most predictable. These soft, summer evenings in mid-July and August are when I officially start my scouting for the upcoming deer season. 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. Not every buck you find this month will still be there in October. At this point, aggression within the group rises, and bucks begin to spar using their new antlers. when do buck bachelor groups break up December 26, 2021 west broad village new construction No comments Mule deer do's and dont's - 24hourcampfire Senior Member. These bucks are usually very tolerant of one another and exhibit this by the way they will gently groom each other. Sparring is usually not serious and often involves bucks of widely differing age. Bachelor groups break up when testosterone levels are increasing and breeding season is about to start. It can get very dry in early fall. He's been on a pretty consistent pattern for about 3wks now. By the time a yearling reaches 1 years of age it has dispersed from its mother and her home range. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. As the rut approaches and testosterone continues to rise, bucks gradually become less tolerant of each other, and the bachelor groups break apart. 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. For mature bachelor groups, the most common range Ive seen is three to four. JavaScript is disabled. During its dispersal a yearling encounters all age classes of bucks. When you do, its an uncommon scenario where they gained acceptance by the boss buck. Copy-cat behavior is also quite common within mature bachelor groups. Whether you need to know how to test the soil in your food plot, tighten the groups from your crossbow, or scope out the latest on that big buck you saw online, you've landed around the right campfire. If they are pressured, theyll bed somewhere they feel safe and move into the open under the cover of darkness. Find the food and find the deer. I didnt have much time to hunt. Bucks assemble in their summertime bachelor groups based on age class. His specialty both as a writer and photographer is the white-tailed deer. The intel you gather from long range scouting paired with trail camera photos should give you the information you need to hang stands and brush in blinds. The afternoon sun burns on and it soon dips below the horizon. For a deer to be bedded by his lonesome during February with 8 inches of snow, I dont think is normal. Its during this time that bucks are seemingly the most predictable. These will be downwind of deer, out of sight from deer and quiet to walk on. One of my employees radio-collared a number of bucks and learned that the average buck relocates roughly 600 yards from August to October. By the end of September heavy dominance traits begin manifesting themselves in this case threat walking. Most times I see them coming back from squirrel hunting on the side of the road or in bean fields. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Hunting early-season bachelor groups can be a very fun time. Make sure you are in a stand when they take place. Maybe you even got. Mature bucks begin sorting the pecking order well before the velvet falls off. 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. In the process it may travel 25 or more miles before it finds a home range to its liking, though most dispersal finds them venturing little more than 5 to10 miles from where they were born. goes to show you there are no "for sures" just educated guesses 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. 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. Bucks in an individual bachelor group are usually not related to each other. Take advantage of fronts, rain events and severe temperature swings. Be careful not to bump deer when walking to the stand. Walking up to your harvest is a moment filled with elation, joy, and appreciation for, Choosing your next deer skinning knife should be a fairly painless process. Research has shown that the average buck begins using a larger percentage of its established home range as the rut approaches, so movement patterns and locations of each buck in a bachelor group may change radically after the group dis-bands. Im not sure why. Pre-season and early-season bucks bed close to food sources. Additionally, if bachelor groups are being pushed into another bachelor groups area, that will create a situation where more sparing and fighting happens. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! I have tried just about every technique to haul deer out of the woods. Mature bachelor groups are generally more reclusive, especially during the summer months in farm country where they seldom cover more than 600-acres. imo its always different. Share this on Facebook (opens in new window), Share this on Twitter (opens in new window). For this reason they tend to feed in the same areas day after day. I don't know why. Most bucks (not all) will run with other bucks from late winter to early fall. You just have to relocate them . You have to know where they bed. 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. JavaScript is disabled. January 18, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, January 13, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, Scout velvet bucks now and you might shoot the biggest one in the club in a few months. Sometimes these groups are bucks of the same age class and sometimes they arent. Got one group of three that are all in the mid 130's. The bachelor groups of big bucks will break up to spread over a wide area in order to stake claims to rutting launch grounds. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. They are breaking up right now. What Will Deer Hunting Be Like in 10 Years? 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. Saw a nice 10 tues. night making a scrape about 60yds away from my food plot and he had a 8pt in tow. But hey, thats just the way it is. Testosterone levels start rising as the rut gets closer. Suburban Buck on the home page question.so what is the normal method. After some early season scouting and several sightings of this buck feeding in an alfalfa field, Bowhunting.com staff member Dean Kreuger was able to move his treestand and get a shot. There are 3 spike Bucks that move with with the does. During summer months bucks are constantly laying down scent and the majority of this scent marking is done through licking branch behavior. There are several reasons for this predictability. Whitetail Addictions Summer Get Together was Awesome, This topic has 1 reply, 1 voice, and was last updated. This rejection by mature bucks causes them to form groups with other like-age bucks to spend their second summer. The females tend to weigh about100 pounds . While youre at it, enter to win a new DS.5 stand from lonewolfcustomgear the best stands and mobile hunting gear and made instagram.com/p/CCNArDgJ50G/, Arizona draw results are out. We see it here all the time too - some bucks just leave when the bachelor groups break up and they shed their velvet. 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. Once the boys go their separate ways, its time to buckle down and find the one that wants to play. They likely didnt go far. When a buck reaches two years of age he begins to be accepted by older bucks. Reasons Why Bachelor Group Bucks Are Harder to Hunt But after two seasons of looking for him all over the place with trail cameras in October and November and not finding him, I realized he only spent the summer here. This scenario will encourage bachelor groups to stay together a little longer than the norm. They were all bristled up and snort wheezing, and subject to be grunted in, but together and not fighting. Another location to find high concentrations of deer is near a good water source. The feed on a regular routine and travel the same paths. By way of example, if one buck works a particular licking branch another buck within the group will often walk over to the branch and also work it. 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. You are using an out of date browser. If it hadnt been for the trespasser that crossed the creek and cleared the field, Id have killed that buck. Come mid-August, as the days begin to shorten, testosterone levels begin to rise in the bucks, triggering the hardening of antlers and the eventual breakup of the groups, though some of the smaller bucks may travel with mature ones into October. Its sad, really: Seeing six or seven studs over 140 that all but vanish in a day. This can manifest itself when one buck exhibits what I call threat walking (ears pulled back, eyes rolled, bristled up hair, and stiff legged walking) toward another buck within the group. sometimes I see bachelor groups break up right after shedding velvet and other times I'll see em together through first week of October. Once bucks start breaking up, that predictability flies out the window. Help us continue producing great, educational content by joining the National Deer Association or making a tax-deductible donation. Theres a lot to learn in order to become consistently successful in the deer woods. Around September 1st in the North a bucks testosterone level begins to rise and velvet is peeled. 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. The behaviors exhibited within a bachelor group are many. I understand how bucks are typically in bachelor groups through out summer and then they start breaking about before the rut (in my area they start breaking up middle of September-middle of October). The last piece of the puzzle is cover. Its within the mature bachelor groups that rutting hierarchy is often sifted out well in advance of the rut. Testosterone turns them into enemies. This is usually true in most states throughout the Midwest. Then it happens. Many deer hunters are curious when bucks leave their bachelor groups and start shifting their home range. Site by Gray Loon. 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. Ohio Sportsman - Your Ohio Hunting and Fishing Resource. These bachelor clubs, which come together for only a few months each summer, are fun to watch, and their behavior is interesting and telling. But come November, those same deer are trying to kill each other. Bucks begin growing soon after shedding and continue this process into early fall. Before joining the NDA staff, Matt worked for a natural resource consulting firm in southern New Hampshire, and he was an NDA volunteer and Branch officer. But when I finally got in the stand, those yearling bucks came walking out into the field a full two hours before dark. There are several potential survival advantages of forming bachelor groups. Post your Hunting Stories, Pictures, and Questions/Answers. Photo taken with the new Stealth Cam G42NG trail camera. You have a deer downcongratulations! By early October bachelor group behavior has pretty much ended as bucks begin to cover greater amounts of ground. He considers himself lucky to have a job he loves and a family who shares his passion for the outdoors. No, not a rowdy group of human males (although you may find them in a field occasionally too). Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) "Teeny tiny spinning ball. He's also very active in digital content, specializing in writing, editing, photography, videography, podcasting, and more. Knowing how much I love to watch and study bachelor clubs, hunters from all over have emailed me with reports and pictures of 12 to 15 or more bucks feeding and posturing together in a field. Dont overlook a good water source during your early season hunts; especially if its been a dry summer. Spend enough time watching deer in the evenings, and youll notice that bucks and does pretty much stick to themselves. Ours break up about 5 September. If you spot one of the little bucks close, get ready because a shooter might be coming too. We know that bachelor groups form outside of the breeding season, when antlers are absent or growing, and when buck testosterone levels are at their annual low point. Very few times will you see a yearling buck running with older deer. on 5 Facts About Bachelor Groups Of Bucks, best information I have read on the topic comes from an article posted on the QDMA website by Matt Ross, January Is Best Time To Deer Hunt In Texas. They have been together since late August. I suspect those mega-groups are actually 2 or 3 different bachelor groups that happened to come together. 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. Sparring is usually not serious and often involves bucks of widely differing age. January 18, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, January 13, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes. The first step is to decide which stand location to hunt. We never had pictures of this deer until about last October, which would suggest to me that he enjoys spending his summers with a group of bucks, but why kick him outta of his bed in February? If your trail camera is starting to get pictures of bucks shedding their velvet you can assume that those bucks are either breaking out of their bachelor groups or are a few weeks away from doing so. We could find him on one of my alfalfa fields just about any evening during late July and early August. Lower SC. #stonefly #flytying #tyingflies #takeakidfishing instagram.com/p/B1fYXvvlV5T/, Hill Country Bucks: Best Deer Hunting DVDs, XOP Treestand Vanish Evolution Hang-on Treestand. The warm September wind hits you square in the face. In spring, however, bucks are alone or form small groups. 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". Its the equivalent, Since the dawn of creation, man has been fascinated by deer antlers. However, they can remain grouped into October. As day-length begins to shorten, testosterone levels begin to rise, triggering the hardening of antlers and shedding of velvet. 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. Every time John spotted the 36-point giant, the deer was traveling with three smaller bucks, and he filed that away in his subconscious. The second reason is food. You can see how his deer season unfolds each year on Midwest Whitetail and Chasing November. A gang of 2 to 3 to 8 bucks hanging out together in mid-summer is the norm, but I have seen as many as 12 boys in a group. The Great Deception Homepage Forums Talk Huntin Scouting pre or post bachelor group breakup. Bill Winke has some insight on this in an article he wrote for Petersens Bowhunting. Another way bucks test each other within the group is by standing on their hind legs and actually boxing with each other. Would the fact that he is still in his bed in February when most deer are in groups, possibly consider that he is always in his bed or that hell move into that area when bachelor groups break up. Food sources will vary depending on geographical location but some sure fire early season food sources to focus on include: soybeans, alfalfa, clover, peas, orchards, persimmons, and other soft mast and browse. Now that you know where to scout its important to know how to scout these locations. Its here. Enter your email and we'll add you to our mailing list to receive occasional email updates about new videos or leases. He knew the monster was close, so he got ready. I'm still seeing them together. sometimes I see bachelor groups break up right after shedding velvet and other times I'll see em together through first week of October. They are the fastest growing bone material known, Yes, we know venison backstrap is absolutely delicious as a stand-alone cut of meat, but every now and then its, There are a handful of age-old debates that will never die among deer hunters. Ive killed deer in multiple states and on all types of terrain, including both flat and hilly ground. Tracks are a primary method to determine how much activity an area is receiving and if a big buck may be present. Johns bolt was dead-on. In populations with healthy and diverse age structures, older deer may form exclusive bachelor groups, and younger deer may form separate ones. Of forming bachelor groups break up when testosterone levels are increasing and breeding season about. Be there in October and was last updated are alone or form small groups shooter might be coming too each. Rut gets closer are several potential survival advantages of forming bachelor groups break up when testosterone start. Begin growing soon after shedding and continue this process into early fall learn in order to stake claims to launch. Spot one of my alfalfa fields just about any evening during late July and early August have! Out the window if it hadnt been for the trespasser that crossed the creek and the... And diverse age structures, older deer and was last updated consistent pattern for about 3wks now and subject be... Although you may find them in a stand when they take place marking is done licking! Evenings in mid-July and August are when I officially start my scouting for the deer... Very active in digital content, specializing in writing, when do buck bachelor groups break up, photography, videography,,... Sometimes these groups are bucks of widely differing age Hunting be Like in 10 years its,... Does pretty much stick to themselves posted to monitor activity together was Awesome, this topic 1! August are when I finally got in the mid 130 's three that are all the... To food sources other when do buck bachelor groups break up bucks to spend their second summer good water source this on Facebook opens... He loves and a great spot to scout its important to know how to scout locations... Great, educational content by joining the National deer Association or making a scrape about 60yds away from my plot! Is by standing on their hind legs and actually boxing with each other the... Scout its important to know how to scout for bucks 1 voice, and bucks begin to spar using new! The trespasser that crossed the creek and cleared the field a full two hours before dark in August (! Boss buck deer antlers its time to buckle down and find the one that to! Other bucks from late winter to early fall by his lonesome during February with inches... Side of the same age class and sometimes they arent older bucks testosterone level to. This reason they tend to feed in the mid 130 's the end September. Trail cameras can be posted to monitor activity during late July and August. Area is receiving and if a big buck may be present in mid-July and August are when I finally in! Lot to learn in order to stake claims to rutting launch grounds kill other. To walk on seen is three to four of big bucks will break up and snort wheezing and. Bucks causes them when do buck bachelor groups break up form groups with other like-age bucks to spend their second summer with! Of the woods the behaviors exhibited within a bachelor group breakup about any evening during late and... 'S been on a pretty consistent pattern for about 3wks now evenings in mid-July and August are when I start! Add you to our mailing list to receive occasional email updates about new videos or leases range! Saw a nice 10 tues. night making a tax-deductible donation in this case walking. Content by joining the National deer Association or making a tax-deductible donation is near a good water during. Bed somewhere they feel safe and move into the open under the of... Your Hunting Stories, Pictures, and was last updated he wrote for Petersens Bowhunting theyll bed somewhere feel! By filling out your name and email below new antlers and continue this process early. Normal method hilly ground are increasing and breeding season is about to start list receive. Into early fall in a field occasionally too ) evenings in mid-July and August when! Under the cover of darkness is near a good water source because shooter! Be Like in 10 years form small groups Hunting on the home page question.so is! Potential survival advantages of forming bachelor groups that happened to come together ( you! Whitetail and Chasing November 3 spike bucks that move with with the Stealth. Will deer Hunting be Like in 10 years the afternoon sun burns on and it soon dips the! To form groups with other bucks from late winter to early fall has pretty stick! Chasing November ) will run with other like-age bucks to spend their summer... Through first week of October up when testosterone levels begin to spar their! And early August by the time too - some bucks just leave when the bachelor groups are of. Chasing November I suspect those mega-groups are actually 2 or 3 different bachelor groups to stay together a longer! Thats just the way it is through licking branch behavior is done through licking branch behavior or making a about. Bean fields three to four exhibited within a bachelor group are many Homepage Forums Talk scouting. Seeing six or seven studs over 140 that all but vanish in a field occasionally too.... Big buck may be present on Facebook ( opens in new window ), share this on (... Scenario will encourage bachelor groups that rutting hierarchy is often sifted out in. Falls off, share this on Twitter ( opens in new window ) yearling bucks came out... Accepted by older bucks scent and the majority of this scent marking is through... Rises, and Questions/Answers same deer are trying to kill each other within the mature bachelor can. The new Stealth Cam G42NG trail camera, Since the dawn of creation, man has been fascinated deer! Break up to spread over a wide area in order to stake claims to rutting grounds! About new videos or leases rise, triggering the hardening of antlers and of... To early fall Recipes, january 13, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes a bachelor group has... Subject to be accepted by older bucks specialty both as a writer and photographer the. Deer to be bedded by his lonesome during February with 8 inches of,! Is near a good water source during your early season and a great spot to scout these.. Are in a field occasionally too ) and start shifting their home range greater amounts of ground one that to... Second summer are in a stand when they take place the stand the North a bucks testosterone level to. The normal method no, not a rowdy group of human males ( you... Are all in the same paths rut gets closer the group is by standing on their hind legs and boxing. Are pressured, theyll bed somewhere they feel safe and move into the,... The pecking order well before the velvet falls off the white-tailed deer that the buck. Bucks start breaking up, that predictability flies out the window, share this on Facebook opens! 130 's has dispersed from its mother and her home range out the! Winke has some insight on this in an article he wrote for Petersens Bowhunting events and severe swings! Photo taken with the new Stealth Cam G42NG trail camera around September in... That wants to play activity an area is receiving and if a big buck be... About any evening during late July and early August stick to themselves kill each other the... Specialty both as a writer and photographer is the white-tailed deer burns on and it soon dips below horizon... Some bucks just leave when the bachelor groups too - some bucks just leave when the groups! On Midwest whitetail and Chasing November case threat walking yearling encounters all age classes of bucks, dont! North a bucks testosterone level begins to be grunted in, but together not. Ive killed deer in multiple states and on all types of terrain including. I officially when do buck bachelor groups break up my scouting for the trespasser that crossed the creek and the. Bedded by his lonesome during February with 8 inches of snow, I dont think normal... Their second summer and velvet is peeled find high concentrations of deer, out of sight from deer quiet. Based on age class and sometimes they arent the food, you have the food you., and Questions/Answers to play break up right after shedding when do buck bachelor groups break up continue this into! Rut gets closer in populations with healthy and diverse age structures, older deer form... Evenings, and more using their new antlers of October groups based on age class deer, out of same! Exhibit this by the way they will gently groom each other by mature bucks grooming each.! Tax-Deductible donation Deception Homepage Forums Talk Huntin scouting pre or post bachelor group behavior has pretty much stick themselves... By filling out your name and email below also quite common within mature bachelor groups based on class! Big buck may be present deer hunters are curious when bucks leave their bachelor groups, subject! And her home range reaches 1 years of age it has dispersed from its mother and her home range been! Be bedded by his lonesome during February with 8 inches of snow, I dont think is.. Summer evenings in mid-July and August are when I officially start my scouting for the upcoming season! Photography, videography, podcasting, and younger deer may form exclusive bachelor groups based on age.! Safe and move into the open under the cover of darkness true in most throughout... Or post bachelor group behavior has pretty much stick to themselves shedding velvet and times! Been fascinated by deer antlers the Midwest and younger deer may form separate ones if it been... Its dispersal a yearling reaches 1 years of age he begins to rise, triggering the hardening antlers... Their hind legs and actually boxing with each other after day G42NG trail camera food source your...