I spent the primary two hours of this morning (Tuesday, March 1) in under freezing climate, binoculars in hand, awaiting no matter is perhaps within the close by 20 acre subject in addition to alongside the sphere’s wooded edge; a dense group of elm, stay oak and cedar timber surrounding the sphere. Deer season is precisely 2 months gone so that you would possibly count on that the bucks have already shed their antlers and there can be nothing however flat heads strolling round. However…
As daylight got here trickling within the first deer I noticed was strolling alongside inside the sting of the woods to the north. It was over 100 yards away so I glassed it … and noticed a pleasant buck with a primary yr 8-point rack. Simply then two mature does strolled into view to my left. The younger buck seen them and instantly trotted towards them. Each does veered off into the woods and the buck adopted.
I crouched down and eased over to a spot I beforehand mounted as much as watch deer from. And it turned on the market was some good watching to be carried out. A minute later I heard a crash and two bucks loudly got here into view within the woods to my left; a pleasant 8 or 10 pointer was combating arduous to maintain from getting beat to heck by a taller, longer and heavier buck. This greater, extra mature buck had all of it; physique size and weight, lengthy tines, most important beam width and he was in full assault mode and able to fiercely kick some butt. He gouged and slammed the opposite buck’s head and neck. Wham! The large boy knocked the lesser off his toes. And when the lesser regained his footing he ran for it.
I didn’t have my Sony digital camera they usually weren’t in good iPhone vary and sadly I didn’t get photos.. (I’ll get the Sony charged up this afternoon and be able to zoom the motion when wanted. Okay, let’s return to speaking about when bucks shed their antlers.
Frankly, I don’t know if the bucks have shed their 2021 antlers the place you reside. Nonetheless I do know the reply to that query … the place I stay. And that places the story on the desk, “It’s all in regards to the climate and “Location, Location. Location”. Merely put, within the northern United States bucks shed their antlers throughout earlier months than the states additional south.
So let’s pause right here and we’ll come again to the Location and shed speak. First let’s take a look at a number of the photographs that I did handle to take with my iPhone this morning.
Really I witnessed 7 buck fights this morning.
The buck on the above left nearly obtained his head twisted off earlier than the opposite buck’s strain broke his left most important beam.
Above: one of many smallest bucks takes on a yr older buck.
Above: AThree bucks blended it up after which walked away.
The above bucks put up an excellent battle.
