I hunt on a small 20 acre wooded property that’s been in the family since the late 1960s. In that time, and with several hunters each year, only a handful of bucks have been taken on the property in rifle season and mostly all yearlings. I’ve hunted this property for 20 years myself and can attest that during rifle season, mature bucks do not frequent this property. We do see them in archery season, but by rifle they are long gone.
Now on the other hand, this property is a doe hunter’s haven. Groups of doe are active on this property all throughout the day and don’t even seem to mind the hunting pressure.
PA rifle season occurs during the post rut and conventional wisdom says the bucks are played out by now and holed up in remote food and cover.
So discussion points are:
1) Why don’t the doe get so skittish like the bucks during the post rut? After all, they mated too and are now pregnant.
2) Conventional wisdom also says that deer will continue to mate into January. Has anyone ever seen rutting activity during or after rifle season? With so many doe active on a property, one would think that wound result in a strong attraction for any bucks still looking for love, but that has not been our experience, at least during daylight hours.
Now on the other hand, this property is a doe hunter’s haven. Groups of doe are active on this property all throughout the day and don’t even seem to mind the hunting pressure.
PA rifle season occurs during the post rut and conventional wisdom says the bucks are played out by now and holed up in remote food and cover.
So discussion points are:
1) Why don’t the doe get so skittish like the bucks during the post rut? After all, they mated too and are now pregnant.
2) Conventional wisdom also says that deer will continue to mate into January. Has anyone ever seen rutting activity during or after rifle season? With so many doe active on a property, one would think that wound result in a strong attraction for any bucks still looking for love, but that has not been our experience, at least during daylight hours.
