Where do they go???

[RackstackerG5]

Acorns and any other kind of fall vegetation that is sprouting up. We have the same thing happen on our place every year. Map out any natural vegetation you have on your place and set out a camera there. Might be worth the time and may gain some insight on where to hang a stand.

[ROBINHOOD11]

Any dove hunting going on near or on the property?

Now that you say this.....yes, there have been a group of guys out there a couple of times. I drove out there on opening morning to check my camera and change batteries and they were a couple hundred yards from my spot. But big boy showed up that evening.

[RedDirt]

Sometimes they get whooped off that feeder by another buck. I call this the BULLY BUCK RULE. There is always a pecking order, and he may not be at the top anymore.

[AntlerCollector]

They just don't like you

[glen]

It's starts raining this time of year and acorns hit the ground. Find the food source they are using. You have a camera start using it to scout

[Skinny]

That's what sucks about feeding those bachelor groups all summer...eventually they move along. If you're lucky, a couple will still be around your area a little longer or pass through a few times during the rut. We've been through this for years and fortunately taken a couple nice deer that we've seen all summer.

[bloodtrailer28]

That's what sucks about feeding those bachelor groups all summer...eventually they move along. If you're lucky, a couple will still be around your area a little longer or pass through a few times during the rut. We've been through this for years and fortunately taken a couple nice deer that we've seen all summer.

x2. happens to us every year but we rarely see them once they shed the velvet.

[E.TX.BOWHUNTER]

I believe their primary food source changes thru the year. Find what is hot and there are the deer. Lots of new growth with rain and cooler weather. I am sure plants they have not eaten are now getting more attention as the tastes of the plants are changing with the seasons. Some are just now getting more desirable.

[TimH]

the group that hits the feeder all summer long is gone by about the second week of October on the place i'm hunting. they may straggle in off and on after that, or not. kind of weird how that all plays out. no acorns on our place either, so I can't blame that.

[ROBINHOOD11]

I had about 15 deer coming in every day, 7 of those deer were bucks. For the last 4 days all of the does are still coming in and staying longer because the bucks aren't pushing them off the food. Even bucks that were not in this bachelor group have disappeared. I am certain that bucks and doe do not eat different things, my best guess is it isn't food but maybe they are scouting out other areas for the rut? I don't know, like I said... this happens every year but just sucks this one is a 160"

[Bminchew]

Multiple conditions cause this to happen, several have been stated above. The groups break up, and with the urge to breed a pecking order is set. They will still come to the feeder just not as defined as before. They may walk 50yds down wind of it not smell what they are looking for and keep going. During the summer all his worries are on his stomach, and a feeder is a good place to fill that need. When the velvet is gone his needs change from food to breeding. Then he starts just eating as he goes, grab a bite here and there. They tend to show back up late season when the breeding is over to fill their stomachs again. A mature bucks breeding range may be several miles larger than his summer range. This is one of the reasons a lot of the big bucks killed during the rut where never seen before or they are in different areas of a property.

[Cull]

Sometimes they get whooped off that feeder by another buck. I call this the BULLY BUCK RULE. There is always a pecking order, and he may not be at the top anymore.

This is very accurate. Our feeders all have a pecking order.

[krtnorris]

I call it the curse of trail cameras!

[ROBINHOOD11]

I call it the curse of trail cameras!

This is the best answer so far!

[Shane]

Acorns and/or mesquite beans....