Roe rut 2022
- Thread starter Shootgun
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roaring_stag
Well-Known Member
Buck chasing doe hard, watched her running him around in circles for about an hour last night. Just over my march….. Perthshire.
Crepuscular Charlie
Active Member
Unusual behaviour seen last Saturday morning. At 5am I spotted a buck driving a young doe around in part of a big field of recently cut wheat stubble. An hour later I shot him. She, in a bemused state, wandered around the dead buck while I stayed put to ensure there was no resurrection. All pretty unremarkable so far.
Then, only a minute or so after the shot, a small yearling buck erupted from a wood and ran a good 500yds straight up to the doe. Without further ceremony he immediately mounted her, repeating the act shortly afterwards. She appeared totally compliant. They then walked off together into cover.
I can only think that they were twins, quite possibly orphaned during the doe cull, which might explain their close relationship. The mature buck had probably seperated them when the young doe came into season, leaving her brother hiding in nearby cover. The dramatic, incestuous reunion was the result. That it all happened so quickly after the shot I can't explain. The youngster could not possibly have realised the consequences of the shot meant it was safe to return.
Or was it all a series of coincidences intensified by the fever of the rut?
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's witnessed similar behaviour, or has an alternative explanation for what I saw.
Then, only a minute or so after the shot, a small yearling buck erupted from a wood and ran a good 500yds straight up to the doe. Without further ceremony he immediately mounted her, repeating the act shortly afterwards. She appeared totally compliant. They then walked off together into cover.
I can only think that they were twins, quite possibly orphaned during the doe cull, which might explain their close relationship. The mature buck had probably seperated them when the young doe came into season, leaving her brother hiding in nearby cover. The dramatic, incestuous reunion was the result. That it all happened so quickly after the shot I can't explain. The youngster could not possibly have realised the consequences of the shot meant it was safe to return.
Or was it all a series of coincidences intensified by the fever of the rut?
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's witnessed similar behaviour, or has an alternative explanation for what I saw.
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
The younger bucks (which we spare) that kick off the rut here are mostly spent and eating again, but the grey faces are still on the go, these three mature fellows with a guest yesterday evening:
we saw others also older and in shootable situations, but none were exceptionally good, so we will be looking carefully at the next one (the last for the guest). Cooler this morning, some middle aged questing and young eating, one m/a running, but mostly quiet, a little too cool compared with yesterday; such is the rut!
we saw others also older and in shootable situations, but none were exceptionally good, so we will be looking carefully at the next one (the last for the guest). Cooler this morning, some middle aged questing and young eating, one m/a running, but mostly quiet, a little too cool compared with yesterday; such is the rut!
alan123shooting
Well-Known Member
StephenToast
Well-Known Member
Yeah what he says.
I tend to find with the rut that because the does season finishes in March and I shoot everything I see up until then I get infill of does onto the farm in the first two or three weeks of April, followed by bucks, if I shoot the bucks through April and May it goes pretty quiet then the next infill of bucks is usually older animals from neighbouring ground in the rut late July early August. I shoot them and sometimes they are a stronger flavour but I think that's more down to old age than ruttiness.
I called a big old buck yesterday afternoon from about four fields over the boundary. I think he must have been about 50 years old. Massive droopy coronets and flat and missing molars. He got made totally into mince.
Sometimes towards the end of August/early September you'll get young bucks again and they taste like a young buck in April so I don't think the rut has any effect on flavour.
kieran222
Well-Known Member
I watched a buck chase a doe the other day. It was on a grass field beside a small wooded area. What I found a bit unusual was that the buck kept himself between the doe and the woods. It was like watching a sheep dog working sheep, he definitely didn't want her going back into the woods.
Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
1st. August, Gloucestershire, nr Bourton-on-the-Water: Strong responses to the Buttolo Call - 3 Roe bucks coming in, 2 very close in and shot.
Look at the wonderful coronets on that!
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
That’s pretty much my favourite type of head, good bit of weight with a bit of abnormality, absolute belter
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
Pretty much my experience here in Angus too
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
Out in Fife last night, saw 3 bucks in total with zero rutting behaviour on display, all very settled…….looking like that’s probably it for another year….finished up with a yearling and a malform for the evening’s efforts.
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