It's amazing what a couple of weeks does to a buck's weight. This guy went missing the night of 11/3, but was back today. And we wonder why they die. It doesn't help that we didn't have anything green for them to eat until these last two rains kicked in this week.

Pre-rut:




After just a couple of weeks:

it's higher than people realize.

It’s been a while but it is not uncommon for us to find a dead one or two.

Wow. What's your age guess on that buck?

It is estimated a buck will lose 25% or more of its body weight over the course of the rut. That is some serious mass gone from the body. It is nature. Bring nature. And yet, most of the bucks survive, because it is what they do.

Yes, we always find a couple that die. But that is nature. If we weren't shooting as many deer as we do, we would expect to see a whole lot more dead from nature. It is what nature does.

Not trying to be mean or offensive by saying that. I am in awe of nature all the time. It is amazing what Antlered animals go through every year to prepare for breeding...the simple act we humans take for granted is a year long quest for bucks and other animals. Think about that for a second.

And yes, most of us guys could stand to lose 25% or more from our body mass during our breeding season too...

Pretty positive he's 6.5. Doesn't look like it today, though

I have asked this question lots of times,we would see 6-7 young bucks at the feeder at one time, so there should be 6-7 mature bucks in 4-5 years?
But a lot do die, shooting out too many does make them travel/run more, I had young buck constantly running, it was amazing how much we would see him run, he had one side broke off so when I found him dead, I knew he ran himself to death.

I'd really like to hear a biologist address this in a presentation. I suspect that no more than 1/4 3-year olds that you see make it to 6+.

I don't know that the number of does has that much to do with it. If you have fewer, he may have to move more to find her, but with more, he'll have more to chase so it could be a wash? For example, I am way overstocked on does, but he spent all of September and October living at this feeder. He was completely absent the last 10 days, so he ran plenty.

Was driving into a pasture off of the highway one day about 3:00 or so. Looked down the dirt road and saw something at the edge of the road with another something standing over it. Pulled up and saw that the object in the road was a mule deer doe. I stopped close enough to spit on her and she was gasping for air laying on the ground. A young mule deer buck walked around a cactus bush and started nudging her with his horns trying to get her up. Both stayed laid there the entire time I was parked watching them and the doe was really heaving for air. The buck was pretty tuckered out himself, but never left her side. I drove past to go sit in a stand after watching them for 10 minutes or so. When I came back by, both were gone. She was really intent on not giving it up and I still wonder if she lived or not. I know the bucks are stressed, but for the most part, so are the does, especially early and late does that are being pursued by numerous bucks.