Hate it when deer disappear!

[JeffJ]

Well as usual the deer we want to see or kill disappear! The following deer have disappeared. Our place is high fenced but you always worry...any of them COULD go over the fence if they wanted, not to mention typical mortality when bucks start fighting:

3.5yo 13pt - no pics or sightings since 10/16
3.5yo 8pt cull - nada since 10/27
3.5yo tagged deer - he wont ever be shot but we like to keep an eye on him. He vanished the middle of October and hadnt been seen until our manager glassed him at about 800 yards yesterday

I know the smart, dominant deer tend to vanish during the beginning of the rut but it still puts me a little on edge.

[Boomerang]

Unlikely they went over, but anything is possible. Unless you see some strong signs of poaching, I would speculate the bucks are just being bucks and that's why they are big.

When the rut starts you'll see them or their diet changes (with a heavy freeze)...

[Hockley]

Our good deer on low fence property always disappear during the rut. Once it is over they slowly start making their way back to us and when we get a hard frost then they are all back plus some that they bring with them.

[JeffJ]

Yea, we have so much good grass and fobes right now they could stay in the trees and never be seen.

[skeeter]

I read in an article not too long ago that 100% of mature bucks(not confined in a high fence) will leave there normal home range area during the rut. The deer we see on camera all year usually vanish during the rut. But we always see different bucks during the rut as well. Take it for what its worth.

[BTLowry]

When the smell of love is in the air the big bucks will follow their nose wherever it might lead them.


I know that deer can jump a high fence but I doubt your bucks have

[Ron]

They know what time it is. They've been doing it forever.

[JeffJ]

When the smell of love is in the air the big bucks will follow their nose wherever it might lead them.


I know that deer can jump a high fence but I doubt your bucks have

Yea, in reality I dont worry about that. They can but I cant see why they would. we have a buck to doe ratio right now that will allow him PLENTY of opportunity to breed and he has access 24/7 to alfalfa, protein and water.

[diamondrules]

havent you read on here that deer cant hide in a high fence?lol

[mikep453]

I read in an article not too long ago that 100% of mature bucks(not confined in a high fence) will leave there normal home range area during the rut. The deer we see on camera all year usually vanish during the rut. But we always see different bucks during the rut as well. Take it for what its worth.

That is exactly what has happened at my place right now.

[deano70]

I've watched a mature buck jump a hi fence a few years ago. He was chasing a hot doe on the other side and when he went over, his hind leg clipped the hi-wire and he almost broke his neck but he got up and was on the trail chasing her down as soon as he hit.

[Acuna]

Stop worrying Jeff!

[oktx]

I had a 130-135 inch buck show back up on camera 366 days later.

[Chad C]

The only time of the year we have ever lost bucks is late fall early spring when they drop their antlers. They didn’t go over they went under. You would be amazed how tight of a hole they will force themselves thru. We have deer that vanish every year only to be spotted again the following year or during the summer months. The few escape artists (three) that we know of have been spotted on the adjoining ranch several times. These three deer are all natives! We just put in another fence last year to hopefully prevent any further escape attempts! Just because a ranch is high fenced doesn’t mean you can walk out on the front porch and pick off whatever deer floats your boat! Our “livestock” seem to be rather difficult to locate at times!

[JeffJ]

The only time of the year we have ever lost bucks is late fall early spring when they drop their antlers. They didn’t go over they went under. You would be amazed how tight of a hole they will force themselves thru. We have deer that vanish every year only to be spotted again the following year or during the summer months. The few escape artists (three) that we know of have been spotted on the adjoining ranch several times. These three deer are all natives! We just put in another fence last year to hopefully prevent any further escape attempts! Just because a ranch is high fenced doesn’t mean you can walk out on the front porch and pick off whatever deer floats your boat! Our “livestock” seem to be rather difficult to locate at times!

That is why we check fences atleast weekly. Exotics are REALLY bad about fences...100x worse than a deer. Typically deer wont even try to go over or under unless they are really pushed.