Yearling Buck Dispersal

[Rusty]

In agricultural areas yearling bucks tend to disperse to their new home range in the spring, when mom pushes them away to have her fawns.   That’s why there’s a spike in roadkills in June.

In forested areas yearlings tend not to disperse until the fall.   I‘ve had these 2 youngsters in my yard and on my camera all summer long.   Then 2 weeks ago I got one last picture of them in hard horn and then they disappeared.  Off to a new home range.    Best of luck boys!   Try not to get shot!

Or hit by a car.       

[GreeneHunter]

I know most hunters would say " let them age to 3-4 years "  but if either of those two bucks were to step in front of my Crossbow / Gun they would end up in my freezer ... just sayin !

[dbHunterNY]

3 hours ago, GreeneHunter said:

I know most hunters would say " let them age to 3-4 years "  but if either of those two bucks were to step in front of my Crossbow / Gun they would end up in my freezer ... just sayin !

yup different standards for different folks. you'd get more meat for sure and they'd get other bucks that are younger to follow from what i've found. have to assess what you own realistic opportunity is though. youngest of bucks get hammered in some areas, making it a hard choice to pass any opportunity.

[grampy]

In a sense, we don't seem lose numbers of yearling bucks. Because the ones here, that disperse to other areas. Are replaced by yearling bucks from outside the area. That's what I've found to happen anyways. I'm not a biologist, so my findings may be just observational.

[nywaw]

Quote

In agricultural areas yearling bucks tend to disperse to their new home range in the spring, when mom pushes them away to have her fawns. 

Why is the timing of dispersal in the spring for the sake of having fawns?  I guess enough time for the bucks to migrate away from the area and establish a new home range long before the breeding season starts?  How exactly do does disperse them?  Chase them away?  And nature just has young bucks understanding that and they move off?

[Next Time]

I agree also yearling move in and out and like you I’m no biologist 

[Next Time]

All good questions above, nature is truly amazing how and why something’s I guess we will never know 

[Rusty]

5 minutes ago, nywaw said:

Why is the timing of dispersal in the spring for the sake of having fawns?  I guess enough time for the bucks to migrate away from the area and establish a new home range long before the breeding season starts?  How exactly do does disperse them?  Chase them away?  And nature just has young bucks understanding that and they move off?

In forested areas there is continuous cover, so when mom pushes them out to have her fawns they don’t go very far.  Then when the hormones and pressures of the rut kick in a few months later they disperse.

In agricultural areas the available cover is much more sparse.  So yearling bucks are forced to travel much further to find suitable cover when mom pushes them out to have her fawns.  

[dbHunterNY]

11 minutes ago, Rusty said:

In forested areas there is continuous cover, so when mom pushes them out to have her fawns they don’t go very far.  Then when the hormones and pressures of the rut kick in a few months later they disperse.

In agricultural areas the available cover is much more sparse.  So yearling bucks are forced to travel much further to find suitable cover when mom pushes them out to have her fawns.  

what blows my mind is how any individual deer going on "excursions" any given season can change drastically from deer to deer. crazy smart idea to at some point be inclined to check to see how the habitat and everything they need on next ridge or mountain over compares to their current home range. my understanding is it happens quite a bit with yearlings. This must coincide a bit with yearling buck dispersal and rut?

[Rusty]

7 hours ago, GreeneHunter said:

I know most hunters would say " let them age to 3-4 years "  but if either of those two bucks were to step in front of my Crossbow / Gun they would end up in my freezer ... just sayin !

Ain’t nothing wrong with that, shoot what makes you happy!   

[Rusty]

4 hours ago, grampy said:

In a sense, we don't seem lose numbers of yearling bucks. Because the ones here, that disperse to other areas. Are replaced by yearling bucks from outside the area. That's what I've found to happen anyways. I'm not a biologist, so my findings may be just observational.

Yup.    Your yearlings move out and other’s move in.

 So if you really want to be obnoxious about it, when you shoot button bucks you’re really not hurting yourself.   

[grampy]

16 minutes ago, Rusty said:

Yup.    Your yearlings move out and other’s move in.

 So if you really want to be obnoxious about it, when you shoot button bucks you’re really not hurting yourself.   

We try to hold off on the button bucks, until they get to be yearlings.    

[Swamp_bucks]

I think that’s what’s going on at the one spot I have a cell camera.  Had a bunch of 1.5 for last 3 weeks of august everyday.  Since last Wednesday just does.  Older bucks move into the area about mid October.