This past Sunday my wife and I went for a drive up north to the small logging town of Barrier. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed every minute of it. It might be the last sunshine we get before the long winter arrives.
In the way home we drove along a cattle pasture when I spotted about 25 deer. We stopped and started to take pictures.
Observing the deer we discovered several smaller and medium sized bucks among the does and fawns. These images are taken with a 600mm lens. In reality the deer are about 300 yards of off the road. We discovered the bucks when we looked through the photo lens.
Two bucks approached each other and after sniffing and dancing around each other they started to fight. The latest for well over twenty minutes. As you can see in the next image the does don’t pay any attention to the fighting. The fight attracted other bucks, 7 in all out if view staying just inside the tree line. The bucks showed no interest in the does whatsoever. The fighting is a sign that the rut soon will be upon us. Maybe in a matter of days even.
Now is a good time to pack your rattling antlers or rattling bag along on your hunting trips.
Related articles:
Early Season Antler Rattling
Deer Scent and Calling Tactics Trough the Seasons
Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
Tags: Antler Rattling, Bucks Fighting, Deer Hunting
4 comments:
I'm new to your site and so not sure what the date was when the the article about your observing the white tails approaching the rut, hunting these elusive deer with a large hunter population (Kelowna ),limited time and limited knowledge make me a good candidate for your mentorship acouple of us are looking forward to signing up for your course ! so if I can time the peak of the rut this year will help improve my chances thanks so much for your knowledge and your willingness to share it ! ttys Ed
Ed - Welcome to Whitetail Deer Passion. The deer where observed north of Kamloops, which is not to far away from Kelowna.
Observe the does in your area. When they get company from the big bucks the rut has started. From what I've seen this evening only the smaller bucks are near the does and show little interest. Ones the smaller bucks move off you know that the big boys are nearby.
If you and your friends are interested in my course please contact me by email and I'll be able to provide you more information about the course. You can find the contact at the top of this blog and on my website.
Good luck.
-ov-
Those are mule deer. Good call.
Well observed Anonymous. And if you look very closely you can see a few whitetail mixed into the bunch. The area around here is unique in that whitetails and mule deer live side by side.
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