Bucks changing winter ranges?

[1DEER1I]

Just wondering, I have watched a good buck the last 4 years during the rut and every year he has came back to the exact same area, and has never even strayed a little from it during the rut or the winter months. This year it obviously snowed fairly hard the first storm and now I have heard he has been filmed and dropped off the other side of the mountain (I haven't actually seen the film, so can't believe everything you hear) and wondered if the heavy snow on the first storm would have pushed him off the other way, and what the chances are he will eventually begin working his way back to where he normally winters? Or will he more than likely stay where he is now?

 

[BBB]

My experience is bucks show more fidelity to summer ranges than winter range. I remember a buck that I watched winter in the same general area for a few years, he didn't show up one year as he decided to winter about 20 miles to the north (I don't know why). The fopllowing year he wintered down to his traditional winter ground and was nailed by an Oldsmobile..

 

[archeryguru]

I would say if that is actually the buck that was filmed that he will more than likely stay there. For one reason or another he was forced somewhere different. If it is not him he more than likely didn't make it through the season. But then again you just never can say for sure.

archeryguru

 

[browtine]

What kind of distance are we talking??? I have watched deer and elk use different winter ranges before. I have seen them travel up to about 3 miles during the winter in one year to hit different winter ranges and migrate between both of them. If its more then 5 miles I would guess thats where he stays.. If its under, he may come back "home".

Later, Brandon

 

[1DEER1I]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-24-09 AT 10:29PM (MST)[p]Distance would be about 7-9 miles, and I'm not talking flat area or foothills, I'm talking if its him he dropped off the east side of the mountain rather than the west side where he usually does.

 

[Gator]

During the hunt he might of got pushed eastward a great distance and just never made it back to the west side to migrated down with the herd on that side instead he hooked up with some ladies from the other side and followed them down on the east side, good thing is he spreading those gene's around, I bet next year he will be back on the west side if it is a better area.IMO


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

 

[nickman]

They are animals. They react to any given situation. There are many reasons they may change a migration route, or rut location....none of which are rocket science.