The Pre Rut Phase of the Whitetail Mating Period

Each passing week brings us closer to the rutting season, or rut, of the whitetail deer which usually gets underway by the second week of November.  During the pre rut bucks spend a lot of time checking for does that might be in estrus early…

 

They begin to leave their bachelor groups and test their strength against each other by sparring.  Sparring is one of the ways that bucks determine their status in the herd…

 

This four point buck has a glint in his eye that says that he wants to spar with the three point buck...

 

 

The young doe fawn shows no interest in the bucks.  Her attitude towards them will change greatly in just a few weeks...

 

Mature bucks that normally are cautious and nocturnal become more active, and visible, during daylight hours making them more visible to hunters and photographers…

 

 

 

I don't know what the doe in the next photo is communicating but it may be annoyance with the spike buck that is following too closely...

 

 

 The next photo is the only one taken in the morning which accounts for the difference in the light quality...

 

In this photo the eight point and the spike buck may be "checking out" the doe...

 

 

This buck is surrounded by does and fawns.  The piebald is a button buck I have been seeing frequently.  I hope to watch him grow into a mature buck over the coming years...

 

 

Many fawns are often seen alone as they explore farther away from their mothers…

 

As the last photo demonstrates, sometimes deer can be difficult to spot even when they are standing in plain view...

 

 

Thank for stopping by, stay well and come back soon.