Buck Movement Down-Time

Buck Movement Down-Time
By T.R. Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors

In the last few years I've read and heard a lot about "buck down time" or the "lockup" of bucks during peak breeding, when many hunters report that they see very few bucks. Supposedly this lockup is a result of many (or most) of the bucks being with estrous does. I suspect that this new "buck activity" and rut phase is a hot topic because some writer or seminar speaker, who may have limited knowledge of the activities of bucks and does during the rut, incorrectly assumed that their lack of buck sightings during the rut was the result of many or most of the bucks being holed up with estrous does. While this seems to be a likely explanation, and it is a possibility, it is unlikely, because it assumes that most of the does are in estrous during the same week, which is a false assumption.

Deer Biology and Habits

Deer research has shown that rarely do more than 25 percent of all the does in any one area come into estrous during any one week. Therefore it is unlikely that this lack of buck sightings is completely due to many or all of the bucks being with estrous does.

It is possible that all or most of the bucks are with does during peak breeding, especially if there is an extremely low buck to doe ratio, or there are limited older age class bucks in relation to the number of does. However, in most areas there are enough bucks in the areas that hunters should see some of them during this so called "buck down time". This "buck down time" or "buck lock up" also assumes that bucks try to confine does to one area, where both of them stay for an extended amount of time.

While it is true that bucks actively chase does when the does are close to being in estrous or are in estrous, bucks do not force does to stay in one area. Bucks chase does because the does are not in estrous yet, or because they do not want to let a particular buck breed them. The chase is often part of the mating or ritual behavior, whereby the does determine if the bucks are suitable to sire their offspring. The healthiest mature bucks often stay with the does the longest as the does run from them, while the less healthy or younger bucks often stop chasing the does. This results in many of the does breeding by the healthier mature bucks.

Does don't necessarily stay in one area while they are with a buck. Generally the does follow their normal daily routine. They leave their daytime core areas to go to food sources at dusk, often spend the night in or ner the food sources, and return to their daytime core areas at sunrise. The bucks usually follow the does when they are in estrous, often bedding near them or downwind of them when the does are bedded at night and during the day.

When all of this is added to the fact that does are rarely in estrus for more than 72 hours (after which the bucks often begin to look for more does) it suggests that this one explanation for the lack of buck sightings during one or more weeks of the rut seems unlikely. So, why do hunters see fewer bucks than normal during some weeks of the rut? If you understand the timing and activity of the rut, there are some logical explanations.

Fall Home Range Shift and The Dispersal Phase

Between the time when bucks first start rubbing and the time when peak scraping occurs both the habitat and the bucks experience some changes associated with the sun. As summer turns to fall, the food sources in many areas change, some are depleted or become unpalatable, while others become more abundant and more palatable. This may cause the bucks to move to new areas in search of new or preferred foods, and hunters no longer see them where they were before this occurred. I refer to this as the Fall Home Range Shift. As summer turns to fall the testosterone level of the bucks begins to rise, and they become more aggressive and interested in breeding. This causes them to move to their fall breeding areas, with the result that hunters may no longer see the bucks where they were earlier in the year. I refer to this as the Dispersal Phase. These two events often occur at about the same time (especially in the northern and mid latitudes of the whitetail range). However, these events may occur at different times in different areas, depending on when particular food sources are depleted or when preferred food sources become available.

The Rest Phase

In many areas those bucks that actively participated in sparring, fighting, chasing and breeding loose a lot of fat during the rut, and they become exhausted. In order to gain back the fat they lost during the rut (which they need to get through the winter) these bucks often return to the security of their daytime core areas for a week or more, to rest and eat. This results in fewer sightings of those bucks that participated in breeding. I refer to this as the Rest Phase. Depending on the buck to doe ratio of the herd, the age structure of the bucks in the herd, and how many bucks and does there are in the area, hunters may see some or none of the bucks that participated in breeding, and some of the younger or less dominant bucks during this phase. This Rest Phase often occurs about a week after the week of peak breeding. To find out when peak breeding normally occurs in your area log on to the Trinity Mountain Outdoors web site at www.TRMichels.com and click on the Whitetail Rut Dates Chart link.

Habitat Changes and the Winter Home Range Shift

In many areas, especially in the north, western plains, mountainous region and agricultural areas, there may be major changes in the habitat, and in deer use of the habitat, as fall turns to winter and as the habitat changes due to the weather and changes in food sources. In areas where the weather becomes too cold and windy, or the snow becomes too deep for the deer, they will move to areas with less snow depth or where they can get out of the cold and wind. They will look for new security and thermal cover.

In areas where the food sources have become depleted, or the cornfield, sorghum or sunflower fields that the deer may have used for food sources and security cover have been harvested, the deer may also move to areas where they can find new food, and new cover they can use for security and thermal cover. Because these habitat changes occur at different times in different areas, they may occur during different phases of the deer rut in different areas. These changes may result in fewer buck sightings in these areas, as compared to before the changes occurred.

What to Do

If you are hunting in an area where you have been seeing one or more bucks you are interested in, and you don't see them for one or more days, you should not assume that all or most of the bucks are with does, because it is unlikely. If the Fall Home Range Shift or Dispersal Phase has occurred you should begin looking for deer where they can find new food or preferred sources. You should also look for areas where fresh rubs and scrapes have appeared, in an area where they haven't appeared previously that year - this tells you that one or more bucks have moved into that area. You can either watch the area until you see the bucks, or use a game camera to find out which bucks are in the area.

If peak breeding is occurring in your area it is possible that the bucks are with does. However, the bucks should not be with the does for more than four or five days, at which time they may start using their normal travel corridors, trails and rub routes as they look for more does. You should continue to hunt the area (unless you are sure the deer have completely left), so that when the bucks begin looking for other does you are ready for them. Or you can try to find out where the does bed and feed, and hunt the bucks in or near those areas.

If you think one or more bucks is in its Rest Phase you can figure out where their daytime core area and food sources are, and figure out where and how to hunt them there, or you can wait a week or so until the bucks begin looking for does again during the late breeding phase. If major habitat changes have occurred, or you think the Winter Home Range Shift has occurred, you should begin looking for areas where the deer can find security and thermal cover, and available food sources, and figure out when and where to hunt them in those areas.

If you are interested in more deer hunting tips, or more deer biology and behavior, click on Trinity Mountain Outdoor News and T.R.'s Hunting Tips at www.TRMichels.com. If you have questions about deer log on to the T.R.'s Tips message board. To find out when the rut starts, peaks and ends in your area click on Whitetail Rut Dates Chart.

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