Bucks a bit quiet

[User00003]

Just curious if anyone else is noticing the bucks total disappearance this last week and wonder whether the does will be having their kids early this year due to the early spring conditions? usually of course the bucks go quiet just before the does give birth...

any thoughts/experiences elsewhere in the UK?

Peter

 

[Tackleberry270]

Can't say its any quieter in the woods near me. They are just as hard to find!! Managed to catch up with a youngster last night though and will be out over the next couple of days. Apart from 'out stalking' where abouts are you?

 

[David T]

As above. Wouldn't say it's any quieter than this time last year. Possibly even a few more going around. Out yesterday evening and saw 10 on one, all be it large, permission. No sign of any young yet though.

 

[sikamalc]

Yep it has been quiet, although I took 3 this last weekend with clients. The bucks seem to be keeping in the thick stuff and not showing much, I am seeing movement for about 20 minutes morning and evening and then nothing.
I have not seen any fawns yet, and most of my does still have last years young at foot, or nearby which is a bit late down this way as they should have kicked them out by now.

 

[Yorkshire lad]

Sorry I have to say I'm seeing the total opposite. All I'm seeing is bucks. Seen very few does in the past couple of week but I'm falling over bucks.

 

[cwd]

same for us , best season on good bucks for a long time , a mild winter has definitely helped quality this season , just started seeing the first of the fawns
regards andy

 

[User00003]

That's great to hear, maybe just need to be out later! Tacky, duns, near Kelso.

 

[Heym SR20]

Also seem very quiet with me.

 

[Timney]

Sorry I have to say I'm seeing the total opposite. All I'm seeing is bucks. Seen very few does in the past couple of week but I'm falling over bucks.

We've been seeing a good few bucks as well....and some does. Don't seem to be any fewer than usual, although the past couple of times I have been out they have made their appearance later in the morning and not at first light .

 

[JonnyWhitters]

Can't remember when I last saw a Roe Buck on the farm. Does aplenty though, must be my aftershave

 

[PDP123]

Hi been out this weekend done 4 stalks had 6 bucks some still in velvet. seen 1 fawn looking good

 

[Tackleberry270]

Just got back in. Positioned at the top of a long ride in the middle of the wood. Saw 5 roe cross a rack 200 meters down on their way out of the wood onto farmland. First two were bucks, one chasing the other. Out of the next 3 two were definitely young does and the third could have been a young buck. Had a young buck pop out of the wood quite close and then went back in again and spotted a mature doe feeding on the edge but not venturing out. Gave a few fieps on the caller midway into the evening but no does responded. Haven't seen many mature does in the last week so maybe they are nesting! ...... if thats the right term?! Got a picture in my head of a roe doe half way up a sitka spruce.

 

[TerryC]

Had clients for the last three days getting 4 Bucks at last light but little movement otherwise in Wilts, Dorset or Hampshire I think due to the cold wind on the field edges and the amount of browse in the woods. Very little territorial behaviour with Bucks seen close together which you only normally get when the weather is cold and hardly any fraying.
Quite a few fawns about now once one Doe gives birth then normally others in the area also start which I was told is a survival strategy also found in Antelope where with so many young all at one time then predators are swamped with food ensuring a higher chance of surviving for the fawns.

Regards Terry

 

[bigscott270]

The bucks are chasing up here . Had an old buck chasing a young one away on a sowed park last sunday then had a buck chasing a doe in a silage park this morning. The only time he stopped was on the skyline and couldnt take the shot he then got wind of me and bolted down the gulley......scott

 

[David T]

The bucks are chasing up here . Had an old buck chasing a young one away on a sowed park last sunday then had a buck chasing a doe in a silage park this morning.

Watched bucks chasing does and young bucks. Also mature bucks scrapping with each other.

 

[Mungo]

Out last night and this morning - counted 15 bucks of various ages and in various states. 2 grassed. They certainly aren't being coy at the moment!

 

[tika.308]

Out yesterday evening and I saw 4 bucks and took 2 of them (both clean) plenty of does about ready to burst.

 

[Dawnraider]

Seems to have gone a bit quieter this last week sure the does are dropping though I've not found any fawns yet, did have a buck this afternoon though after one of my farmers rang and said there was one in the meadow next to where he was working, shot him and his antlers were caked in mud there was a large scrape in the grass in the middle of the field when we walked out, farmer said is that badgers, no I said, think we got the culprit, one happy farmer, and I even got a taxi ride in the tractor back to my truck, nice!

 

[bewsher500]

Seen more in the mornings than the evenings, but think that is just a specific bit of ground

Took a scrappy, skinny, four point thing still in full velvet a couple of days ago
looked further away than he was due to the size of him!
Followed up with a rather foolish chap of decent size who was so engrossed feeding in the mid morning sun he didn't lift his head up out of the grass for a full 5 mins despite me popping up 20 yds away from him!

contrast in size is obvious

 

[willie_gunn]

This one on Friday, having seen a couple of others earlier in the week