Mule deer Bachelor Groups

[Thegreatwapiti]

My boy and I were elk hunting the last 2 days. We saw 3 bucks on Tuesday (all together) and a "herd", 5 bucks together today? What can I learn from this? Is this pre, post, or during rut behavior? We have deer licenses starting next weekend! Any thoughts?

[Lefty]

Pre Pre rut,,,,,,
My daughter got a pic on her Ring Camera ( yes right out the front door) 5 bucks no does,,,

[Tigger]

What you can learn is that those bucks are buddies right now. They hang out talking about does and how they are going to round them up later on and brag about last year. However, in the not too distant future, one of them is going to brag just a little too much and someone is going to get offended. They will drop the gloves and have a tussle. Just some pushing and shoving. But the jerkish behavior will ramp up until one of them opens a can of whoopass on the other and they will part ways until after the rut.

That helpful?

[Thegreatwapiti]

That helpful?

I only have a doe permit.....so no........ it wasn't helpful.

[>>>---WW---->]

Nothing unusual, just normal mule deer behavior. Here in NW Colorado we always figure the rut to start somewhere around the first full moon in November. That's when the BIG boys that you never knew existed start popping out of the wood work. Sounds like you have your hunt planned for a good time.

[Lefty]

What you can learn is that those bucks are buddies right now. They hang out talking about does and how they are going to round them up later on and brag about last year. However, in the not too distant future, one of them is going to brag just a little too much and someone is going to get offended. They will drop the gloves and have a tussle. Just some pushing and shoving. But the jerkish behavior will ramp up until one of them opens a can of whoopass on the other and they will part ways until after the rut.

That helpful?

Nailed it!!!!