Does anyone have first-hand evidence of mature bucks being territorial over feeders & resources? E.g. running off smaller does and younger bucks.

Time of year would be now, so pre-rut.

I have a big 6 that's 5.5 this year; when he's at the feeder he will menace any and every body and muscle them away from it. He's moved two 10pts, one of which might be 6.5, so much they've switched to a different feeder 1200 yds away.

He's the deer in back, he's pushing the buck on the right aways and pushed the doe around the feeder. He seems to ignore fawns unless they get too close. But he's pretty defensive when he's eating. He is there most of the time when the feeder goes off (morning and evening).

I've got a few thoughts on this. My bucks are currently running in small bachelor groups. I did have pics of them on camera with does and small bucks, so I don't see them running off any other deer.. As for being territorial. Currently they're staying in the same general area moving between my neighbors ranch and my ranch the best I can tell. All bets will be off when the rut comes in. I always see a lot of new bucks and often less of the bucks that were here prior to the rut. It's all about chasing the does!

You typically see the largest bodied animal where there is the most corn - directly under a feeder for instance.

Once they are hard horned I would say definitely. The boss is the boss-it doesnt matter if its food or girls. This is one of the main reasons I want a feeder that throws far. A dominant buck(or doe) will camp out under a feeder if it doesnt throw far and nothing else will eat, or get pics taken of, or get shot. If the feeder throws far then a dominant buck may still run others off just on principal but often they are too busy eating to worry about others catching a few crumbs on the perimeter. This is why I dont like the varmit cages that knock the corn down so close. Plate style feeders are much better for this this reason.
Most all the deer know whos boss but the more aggressive ones dont seem to need an excuse to remind everyone. Like a bully on a playground.
edit... Hud beats me to a post cause he says more with less words......

I say it depends on the buck. Like dogs, it doesn’t matter the size, some of them assert themselves, some of them don’t. I’ve been watching them for fifty years.

Any time there is any type of conflict and 2 bucks or does,or doe and buck have a disagreement, they are going to be territorial. Anytime there is any type of fight, conflict, or disagreement there is a territorial disagreement and 1 will get run off. It can be over feed natural or coming from a feeder, doesif it is 2 bucks, resting places, etc. All types of posturing , which deer do a lot of posturing is a territorial disagreement. Winner gets to stay and loser moves off a ways.

100% yes but it isn't about a feeder. Young bucks and does go to feeders. They just don't like younger bucks. And it's a good thing because I have killed a few bucks getting mad at little bucks and running out in the open.

A buddy of mine invited me down to his lease to shoot a big cull buck that had been ruling the roost at one feeder. No pictures of other bucks whatsoever post rut. I shot him, and his cape was pretty beat up from fighting. Less than a week after shooting him they had multiple bucks showing up at that same feeder.