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Getting scrappy

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dogmatik

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2002
Messages
2,314
Location
Lakeland, Fl
Quite possibly the first time I've caught it on camera. They spent a bit sizing each other up after entering the frame from opposite directions. Cool to see.
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I used to think sparring was more rare than it is. However, once I switched to using video on trail-cams instead of still pictures, I realized I'm seeing bucks - especially young bucks - sparring all the time.
 
BSK said:
I used to think sparring was more rare than it is. However, once I switched to using video on trail-cams instead of still pictures, I realized I'm seeing bucks - especially young bucks - sparring all the time.
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Same here. I cannot say enough how cameras have given me more insight into deer behavior than a lifetime of hunting.
 
Ski said:
Same here. I cannot say enough how cameras have given me more insight into deer behavior than a lifetime of hunting.
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Agree completely. The trail-camera has taught 10x more about deer movement patterns than I ever learned from hunting. And trail-cameras collecting information in HD video have been another game changer.
 
I think the light sparring is more common in younger bucks. I consider it the same as young boys fighting and sparring around the middle school and early high school years.

By the time most of us have became seniors in high school we pretty well knew our place and are spending energy in other activities.

I know the older bucks do fight but there has to be a significant reason for it. I am willing to fight, but there has to be a good reason.
 
swampbadger said:
I think the light sparring is more common in younger bucks. I consider it the same as young boys fighting and sparring around the middle school and early high school years.

By the time most of us have became seniors in high school we pretty well knew our place and are spending energy in other activities.

I know the older bucks do fight but there has to be a significant reason for it. I am willing to fight, but there has to be a good reason.
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Older bucks establish their "pecking order" very early in the season. This is an important adaptation, as it reduced injuries from serious fighting. However, serious fights still do occur, and it's usually the result of two older bucks who do not know each other (or each other's dominance status) coming into contact as bucks increase their range during the rut.
 

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