Encounters with bachelor buck herds?

NVPete · Jul 24, 2009

The other day, a friend of mine said he saw a bunch of fifteen bucks running together. A day later, I had what I thought were a couple of bucks blowin' across the road just in front of me...as I was getting out I realized there were seven or eight bucks runnin' together on the move to somewhere in a hurry...thery disappeared into thick trees before I got the camcorder fired up. One year, hunting the Rubies near Secret Pass,and during the regular season, my brother and I flushed a bunch of 11 bucks...no shooters in the group. Another time, while hunting Jack Creek (NV Area 6), I was hunting for a really nice buck, flushed out 10 bucks still travelling as a group... the biggest maybe a willow-horned 4x4...I let 'em all go. Third tale: I came upon 7 bucks feeding in a bitterbrush patch in Snow Canyon (NV Area 6), I was so startled (as were the deer), I couldn't figure out which one of the bigger two bucks to shoot...they were scatterin' like a covey of quail...I dumped what I thought was one of the bigger ones... tremendous ground shrinkage... it was a 20" 3x3, probably the smallest of the 7!! Anyone have similar encounters, whether out scouting or hunting?

bucksmut · Jul 24, 2009

I usually have these encounters while I am scouting pre-bowhunt through mid September.

From what I have observed I have found that early in the summer the big bucks and small bucks have no issues running together in these bachelor bunches but as the summer goes on I have noticed the bigger shooter bucks peel off, go nocturnal and disappear!

The smaller bucks I have seen in these same small buck herds as late as October but like I said they are usually void of real monsters.

I actually saw a herd last night just like this consisting of 3-really narrow three-points that were almost identical they were running with a 2-point and a couple of small four points. It was fun to see them!

I don't know about anyone else but to me I have noticed over the years that these types of encounters only happen really high on the mountain or in the lowlands.... I havent ever seen a bachelor group in between! Anyone else notice this?

DMCHUNTER · Jul 24, 2009

My best bachelor experience was several yrs ago pre 92 in Nevada. Counted 115 bucks laying around on a high bench the day before archery season started.

huntmancam · Jul 24, 2009

You must have made a mistake, you put a 1 in front of 15.

Just kidding. WOW, 115. I bet that was quite the sight.

Most I've seen together was 17, and I thought that was a lot.

sageadvice · Jul 24, 2009

Most i saw in one bunch was a dozen bucks, all bucks i had scouted in the general area but that day, they were all bunched up in one group feeding in a high saddle near the top of the highest peak around. Awesome to see!

Oh, they were pure Blacktails, A-zone.

Joey

gb22 · Jul 24, 2009

More than a few years ago, I had a great day in Idaho's Unit 39. I saw 26 mature 4-points bucks on opening morning of the season. It was October 5th.

I know that's late for a bachelor group but there were 13 of them in one bunch and another group of 4. All of them were nice, mature bucks....4x4 with antlers 24" to 28" inches wide....except one old guy with a gray face and long spikes...just like an elk.

I shot at none of them, because I had my eye on a REALLY big loner, who eluded me for 4 years; old guy passed on of natural causes.

Within the shadows, go quietly.

MrB · Jul 24, 2009

Hey Guys, the bachelor groups out here are just about over for the year. I just took this picture yesterday. The posturing has already started. Just a week or two ago these guys were friendly. Now, as soon as this young buck got within 10 feet of my buddy "Medusa" he puffed up like a blow fish and stomped right over to him. The young buck thought they were playing around, so he lowered his head too. Medusa drove him back with conviction! I don't the youngster will be getting too close to any of the bigger bucks the rest of the summer. The testosterone is starting to climb

Generally the deer out here stay in smaller bachelor groups of 2-5 bucks. About five years ago I did see 22 bucks feeding together on a distant ridge. That is the most Blacktail bucks I've ever seen bachelor group.

Thanks, Mike
www.mountainmikesreproductions.com

Scrillznac · Jul 25, 2009

This time of the year in the west up until about mid September I rarely see bucks that aren't in bachelor groups. Muleys and blacktails both are always in groups of at least 3-4 bucks in July and August.

fatrooster · Jul 25, 2009

Just the other day while scouting I counted 16 bucks scattered and then 18 bucks scattered the next morning. Last year I saw a group of 22 deer together with 17 of them being bucks. Once, I counted 37 bucks scattered on a mountain side. They were in bachelor groups of anywhere from 4 to 9 bucks in a group. I love scouting bucks in July and hunting them in August for this reason. fatrooster.

Jabali · Jul 25, 2009

sageadvice · Jul 25, 2009

That's what I'm talkin 'bout!!!

Great pic!!! Thanks!

Joey

fldrw22 · Jul 25, 2009

NV PETE,Are you ever going to share the pics of the muley sheds I have been hearing about.

NVPete · Jul 25, 2009

Hey fldrw22... I ignored your previous post out of embarassment!Go to shed hunters... I posted my 2009 results! (I did find a few more little threes and forkys... also a very small 3x4 match)... not exactly my dream results. I don't do ATV... just hike MAO for hours at a time... I gaurantee all my finds are just dumb luck... but with me elk hunting, deer hunting, shed hunting... it's always an adventure. I thought I done good seeing bachelor herds of 7 to 10 bucks 'til I read a few of the replies to my post... I did see over 180 different bucks out videotaping during the rut, but nothing like 115 in one spot!!
What prompted me to post this... I had 8 bucks blow by the front of my truck the other day, by the time I stopped, fired up the camcorder, jumped out of the truck and chased after them I wasn't able to get a single frame!!!

NVPete · Jul 25, 2009

+1 Joey!

fldrw22 · Jul 26, 2009

Pete ,I wasnt giving you a hard time ,I heard a rumor about a monster set .I was talking to a freind who lives in Pioche when he mentioned you .

spcheuvront · Jul 26, 2009

Jabali;

Those are some outstanding bucks.

I see at least 2 toads, and maybe 1 more.

You are very fortunate to see let alone photograph such a site.

Thamk you for letting the rest of us be GREEN with envy.

Steve Cheuvront