What Instigates The Change?

A full moon, testosterone that has reached peak level and the hint of estrus hanging in the air lead a buck to become mobile. It is his crowning moment, the long-awaited time of the year when the buck begins to march to the beat of an acquiescent doe. In earnest, he suddenly emerges from the security of his sanctuary and begins the repetitive task of visiting all of the doe groups within his normal range.

For the next three weeks, an otherwise sedate buck’s life will become a chaotic, challenging endurance test, during which he could become vulnerable to attacks from every possible angle. When the rut begins, the buck enters the most perilous time of his entire year.

Just as some inner driving force can cause otherwise rational men to abandon the security of everything safe in order to pursue that which is uncertain, a white-tailed buck is driven subconsciously to meet the demands of a force much greater than himself.

A buck is prone to wander out of his sanctuary at any and all times of the day or night when he starts seeking

does. Typically, he makes the rounds within the boundaries of his core area, visiting every doe group. Because he cannot know exactly when a doe will be ready to accept him, and given the fact that other bucks are also seeking mates, the buck cannot afford complacency.

Some bucks remain in perpetual motion, fearing they will either miss an opportunity or that another buck might get there first. This behavior is typical in younger, adolescent bucks, who are understandably eager to fulfill their yearnings, and is the very reason why many 1½- and 2½-year-old bucks are shot early in the rut. Bucks with several breeding seasons under their antlers have the experience of knowing how much energy to use and when to make the effort.

When the rut is set in motion, bucks move simultaneously and distribute an abundance of sign and scent. It is not uncommon for a single male to make six to 12 scrapes per hour as he travels. Scrapes are a buck’s self-promotion, and his scrape line is a promotional tour. It is understandable why a rival buck that encounters the advertise-

ment feels the need to counter with an ad of his own.

If large numbers of bucks live in the area, their competition will only perpetuate the advertising campaign. Occasionally, two bucks will meet in the course of their rounds. One of several possibilities will result from this impromptu meeting. The more aggressive male will vocalize with a snort-wheeze and posture in an effort to intimidate the other buck. If that fails, he will make a bluff-type dash toward the other deer. Generally, that is all it takes to run the intruder off and set precedence. If that doesn’t work, the two will probably engage in a brief battle of pushing and shoving until one surrenders to the other.

Although the buck is more than ready to breed, the doe certainly isn’t; not yet anyway. As the buck moves into a doe group’s home turf, he sniffs trails, places where the does have urinated and the does’ vacated beds. When he visually locates a doe, the buck advances toward her until she flees, at which time he will move to the next if she doesn’t send the favorable message, “I’m your girl; come and get it.”

brennekeusa@clinton.net

A deer’s worst nightmare since 1898.