Dogs Disturbing Deer
Filed under: Ask Grant, Hunting Tactics
Dear Dr. Woods, In my camera survey my shooter bucks on our lease have disappeared. Several that were showing up 6 weeks ago have suddenly vanished. I have kept my intrusion to a minimum but have noticed several dogs showing up on trail camera pictures. I don’t know if the dogs have pressured them to another area or if the bucks have moved to other food. I don’t have a clue where these dogs came from. The lease is in soybeans, so I can’t imagine them moving for food. Water can’t be the issue either. Do you think it could be the dogs or is it likely something else? Ronald
Ronald,
If your soybeans were still green (not starting to mature and turn yellow), then I doubt the bucks left in search of better/different food. The date should be too early for acorns to be available. From what you’ve shared, it sounds like the dogs (predators) could be the cause. Mature bucks don’t like be harassed. Dogs can certainly harass or even kill mature bucks. I can’t tell you for certain that the bucks moved because of the dogs, but that’s certainly a possibility!
Growing Deer together,
Grant
