JULY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 11
Bachelor Groups
By Matt Ross
During the summer you've probably seen what are known
as "bachelor groups." These are groups of bucks that travel
together during the spring and summer and generally follow
the same movement schedule of bedding and feeding.
Bachelor groups may contain bucks of many different ages,
including yearlings, and are usually not related to each other.
Bachelor groups form outside of the breeding season,
when antlers are absent or growing, and when buck
testosterone levels are at their annual low point. Bucks in
bachelor groups get along well and even groom each other,
but they still establish a basic "pecking order" within the
group using aggressive physical displays, vocalizations or
sometimes hoof-flailing. As day-length begins to shorten,
testosterone levels begin to rise, triggering the hardening
of antlers and shedding of velvet. At this point, aggression
within the group rises, and bucks begin to spar using their
new antlers. Sparring is usually not serious and often
involves bucks of widely differing age. As the rut approaches
and testosterone continues to rise, bucks gradually become
less tolerant of each other, and the bachelor groups break
apart. Research has shown that the average buck begins
using a larger percentage of its established home range as the
rut approaches. Thus, patterning a bachelor group may be
useful where archery or firearms seasons open early enough,
but the pattern will fade quickly in the pre-rut period.
Forming bachelor groups may aid in predator avoidance at
a time when bucks are relatively defenseless because they do
not have antlers, or when antlers are growing and vulnerable
to damage. Also, bachelor groups may allow local bucks to
establish a basic dominance hierarchy through mild forms of
aggression, which may reduce the amount of serious fighting
necessary later – when bucks can be injured critically or
killed.
Of course, bachelor groups aren't likely to be seen in areas
where few bucks survive beyond 1½ or 2½ years of age.
When harvest pressure is reduced on yearling bucks through
quality deer management, numbers of older bucks will
increase over time, increasing your likelihood of spotting a
bachelor group where you hunt. ■
Matt Ross is a biologist and the Assistant Director of
Conservation for Quality Deer Management Association.
Above: Mule deer bachelor group in Dawes County.
Below: White-tailed bucks in South Dakota.
PHOTO
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
PHOTO
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
