Next trip I found these bucks. That 3x3 is one of the biggest bodied bucks I've laid eyes on. What a beast. The rut is hard on these bucks. They beat each other up pretty good. Lots of eye injuries. Notice the big patch of hide missing on the one buck.
The urge to try to help that poor bastard was almost overwhelming. But there's nothing you can do other than bear witness to mother nature's cruelty. And video, of course.
A few years ago, I took an early November drive to the winter ranges to see if I could find some rutty bucks. No snow on the ground, but there's always a few bucks after the does regardless of the weather!