It's way too early, right?

[180class]

I went for a drive last night past a couple of my hunting spots. I pulled up to one of my alfalfa fields, and seen 3 bucks and 5 doe all feeding. I watched them for a while, and noticed the larger of the 3 bucks, was constantly trying to run the other 2 bucks off. After he would push them to the field edge, he would return to the does and walk around them and was even chasing one of the around. Now it wasn't a full out chase like in the dead of the rut, but he was chasing her non the less. Now, my question is, were this just playfull behavior, or is it possible that one of these does was already starting to come into heat? I kept telling myself that there is no way this doe was already coming in, but with the cooler weather we've had, it kept me guessing. What do you guy think?

 

[doublerack]

I would innitally say running the other bucks off is just establishing a pecking order... as for a doe in heat... who knows, maybe she didn't get bred last year and came in early this year.

 

[Blaster]

I'm with doublerack. The bucks are starting to establish a pecking order. As for a doe in heat this early, i couldn't tell you? I would bet they were just being playfull.

 

[vrod]

i did some scouting yesterday in the fog.just moved slow through the timber watching for movement.saw a 10 point with a spike,both tending real close to a nice doe.they would not let her get out of their site.pretty fishy i thought.

 

[Liv4Rut]

They are just trying to establish whos the man and who isn't right now. I doubt the doe was in heat. I've watched bucks in velvet chase does all over the field. I think it is more playful than anything.