Explain this deer bahavior

[fly]

So how do you all think the deer behavior/activity I saw last night relates to the rut?

My stand is about 10 yards inside the woods next to a large standing corn filed.

I got set up around 3:00pm. I did some light (blind) grunting around 3:30pm, again at 4:00pm. Nothing responded. At 5:15pm I looked behind me and saw a 6-point buck 20 yards away licking branches and rubbing his head on overhanging branches. He was directly down wind, but never winded me. He continued to walk down the small opening (tractor road) that went around the corn field. He walked past me and turned the corner and started to walk east. I let out a light grunt. He was about 40 yards away and stopped. He looked in my direction, but just kept doing what he was doing. A lot of brush kept him from seeing me. I grunted several more times (the last time more aggressive) and each time he’d look, but did not seem interested. He even stood on his hind legs and licked some high over-hanging branches. At 5:30pm he was out of my sight. Then at 6:10pm a doe and fawn came out from the woods right where he had been to my east, crossed the opening and went into the corn field. No shot – too far (50-60 yards). The fawn did walk about 20-25 yards from me in the field, but the brush and nearing darkness prohibited an ethical shot. Then at 6:20 I grunted one last time before getting down. A deer (likely a doe) had snuck to my north and was only 15 yards from the base of my tree. It ran into the corn field startled by my grunt.

So the 6-point seemed to be marking his territory, but not ready to respond to grunting? The buck never peed, never scraped. He was on a licking mission and did not seem to be on alert. The doe still had her fawn and wasn't moving to the food until almost dark. Nothing was pushing her. This area is public, but has neet seen hardley any hunting pressure.

[layin on the smackdown]

You know Fank, i had just about the same thing happen to me last night in almost the same type of set up...I hadnt seen anything all evening, tried rattling a little at 5:00, then decided to shut up...at about 5:50 i decided to do a few doe bleats and light grunt calls...not 3 minutes later a big fat momma doe and fawn came out, just about straight to me. She smelled the giant scrape that is near me, and milled around for 5-10 minutes then headed off...I could not get a good shot at her for the life of me either, but the last thing i expected was to have a doe come and investigate the situation - especially with all the young bucks in the area.

I cannot offer anything. I would have thought these sounds would maybe have pushed any does the other direction, but then again, the doe bleat from the can may have raised some interest. other than that, ive got nothin.

[redkneck]

You got me. We've all seen where a young buck will just acknoledge but basically ignore a call. Maybe your buck was pulling some little buds off the limbs and eating them? Maybe he wants to put his name in the hat, but not to the point of confrontation.

[wtnhunt]

Deer use their glands for leaving scent Frank and that scent left behind may be at community scrapes where there are multiple deer using them, and yes they leave scent sometimes without ever peeing in scrapes. That buck may have been just saying hi I am here and maybe he is a little confused yet as to what he is supposed to be doing, maybe kinda like a kid just going into puberty. Possible your grunting had him a little wound up, but he just hasn't quite figured everything out yet.

Does chew licking branches too, have watched them many times, and sometimes they will also rub their heads on overhanging limbs.

[pointing_dogs_rule]

I have many small bucks ignore my calls. Nothing new.

good luck to all
the dog

[Tominator]

Reminds me of a jake turkey. They head for the hills when they hear turkey talk because they are tired of getting their butt kicked by bigger toms.

Sounds to me like the little guy didn't want any part of a fight, so he, seemingly, ignored your grunts.

[arrow32]

I've had them ignore my grunts. Them little bucks for the most part I've noticed just never want anything to do with the grunt.

[The_Kat]

It's early yet...everyones calling for this early rut and I just don't understand why really. I did see my first sign of the rut this past weekend when a little six was pushing some does to a bedding area. But the big bucks were still in groups of 2-3 and little ones are still with the does. Give it a week or two up north, and two to three weeks down south....then your rut activity will pick up.

I'd venture to say the lil buck was just doing his nightly feed routine and marking a lil scent on some licking branches along the way to dinner. The does were merely passing through on their way to feed as well.

[buckee]

It's been about the same here lately too. I've been getting the same reaction. They stop, stare , stop stare, and then continue on their way. They've still got only food on their minds, but very, very soon, things will kick into high gear.
Right now, they have the attitude that, "yeah, I give you a little tussle, but you'll have to come to me, because I'm on my way to get some grub. Maybe I'll meet ya in the field later. "

[fly]

I appreciate all of your great comments.

Grunting is something I do a lot of and according to my hunting journal and memory every buck I've grunted at from mid-October till the end of November has responded and at least walked in my direction. Not all came within shooting range, but they all walked in my direction. These have been spike bucks, 4 pointers, and mature deer. This is why this bucks behavior has me a little stumped.

He was the largest 6-point I've ever seen. Very tall and average thickness for IL. His body seemed to be that of a 2.5 year old. He looked a lot like the deer below.

Being public ground I'm wondering if he might be a dominant buck at 2.5 years old? I'm not sure how heavy this ground is hunted, but I'll bet it gets hammered during the gun season.

Looks like my best guess is that the rut is not in yet and the bucks are just now (today - now) starting to have their hormone levels rise. I'm thinking that every day from this one on is essential to be out hunting trying to catch that magic pre-rut chasing phase!


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[GWSmith]

With a deer that size I can only geuss that it either:
1. Recently got itself beatup in a fight with a tougher buck.
2. Possibly he was simply tired and may have spent the night running from Yotes or something.

The only time I've had a buck respond positively to grunting was when I attempted to "Tell a Story". I started doing Doe Bleats then Young Buck grunts for the first few sequences. Then I went through another sequence and added some Big Buck grunting to imitate the larger buck running off the young one. Then after that I did one more sequence with only the Doe Bleating and the Big Buck grunting to imitate him following her...
The buck that responded with fresh shavings near his bases..stood near then shortly afterwards died right next to the small white tree(with light colored leaves) after I watched him come acrossed the back in the woods from left to right:

[NC8point]

Deer use their glands for leaving scent Frank and that scent left behind may be at community scrapes where there are multiple deer using them, and yes they leave scent sometimes without ever peeing in scrapes. That buck may have been just saying hi I am here and maybe he is a little confused yet as to what he is supposed to be doing, maybe kinda like a kid just going into puberty. Possible your grunting had him a little wound up, but he just hasn't quite figured everything out yet.

Does chew licking branches too, have watched them many times, and sometimes they will also rub their heads on overhanging limbs.

Yeah I agree i think maybe he just isn't sure what to do right now