Nearly 90 percent of our scouting camera photos for the past few weeks have been taken at night. After constant hunting pressure since the beginning of bow season our deer have finally had it with human activity and are back to nocturnal movement. Our photo counts are also dramatically down from earlier (rut related) photo counts.
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This “buck” fawn could easily be shot for a doe. The fawn is perhaps 70 percent the size of a mature doe and the on-end hair distorts size. A fawns profile is generally square like a suitcase. They also have a triangular shaped head (pug nose). A mature doe’s profile is rectangular like a suitcase and their head is shaped like a Coke bottle (long nose).
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This young buck could cast his antlers any day now. Injury or stress causes even earlier casting. When taking late season does, it is wise to give them a good look and look for raw or scabbed over areas where antlers detached. A drop in testosterone levels caused antlers to shed.
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This buck has shifted from feeding on standing corn to eating late-season rye grain sprouts. Recent warm weather in the northeast as greened up some green plot plantings and is providing fresh growth to hungry deer. A cold snap and hard freeze will send him back to standing corn.
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This little guy is a new arrival. Hunting pressure in the neighborhood no doubt ran him out of his home territory and into the safe haven of our property. He very likely has found a new home and next year will show up sporting a nice full set of antlers. Small antlers as a yearling do not mean small antlers in later life.
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Most of our daylight pictures are of feeding deer on green plots either late at night or from 8-9 in the morning. Last week many were taken in the rain. Deer feed willingly in the rain and although it makes for a wet hunt, don’t let a rainy day deter you.
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