What are these deer doing?

W

Win73

New member
My game camera took this picture of these two does up on their hind legs. Are they fighting, playing, dancing? What are they doing? The blurring in the upper center part of the picture is due to water on the lens.

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I didn't know does fought each other. Especially this time of year. What do they have to fight about. Where they are there is plenty of food.
 
Who knows what ticks a female off? It could be bucks that have shed and are still territorial.
 
It could be bucks that have shed and are still territorial.
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I am pretty sure they aren't bucks. There are five in this picture plus other pictures of this same group shows at least one more. In this area I have never seen more than one or two bucks together and never with does except during the rut. Also I am still getting pictures of bucks and they still have their antlers.
 
"I am pretty sure they aren't bucks. There are five in this picture plus other pictures of this same group shows at least one more. In this area I have never seen more than one or two bucks together and never with does except during the rut. Also I am still getting pictures of bucks and they still have their antlers."

A couple of years ago, I had eight (8) bucks coming to my feeders as a group and then they would rapidly disperse when the 'Alpha' buck decided it was his turn at the corn...
 
That is an epic picture
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I was pleasantly surprised when I downloaded the memory stick. It would be even better if there hadn't been water on the lens causing that blurred area at the top of the picture. As is obvious from the picture, we had been having a lot of rain.
 
they would rapidly disperse when the 'Alpha' buck decided it was his turn at the corn...
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Speaking of "turn at the corn" reminded me of this picture. Over a five minute period, I got several pictures of these two. It almost looked like they were trying to stare each other down. That is a pile of corn between them.

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It is my understanding that does have a pecking order that is similar to bucks. They just don't have antlers to do battle with. Many people have reported the same activity year round. Territorial and dominance fight IMO.
 
They have the posture of two Big-Horn Sheep, about to blast each other with their heads.

...Up on the rear legs. Arch the back. Shift the weight forward. Thrust... BOOM!


It could be bucks that have shed and are still territorial.
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The one on the left appears to have mammaries. It's unlikely that a Doe would be fighting a buck. ;) (though possible)
 
It's just "sparring between two gals down at the winter-wheat patch, ones probably disenchanted with the other for saying "you sure look fat in those hooves" !!!:D ( actually it's a display for the matriarchal rite of passage, note the ears layed back on the deer to the right of them);)
 
Yes establishing a pecking order or reinforcing it .Note deer that have ears layed back -not a social event ! Kicking may also be used to displine a younger deer .
 
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