Good habitat attracts and holds deer, but there are other factors involved.
QUESTION: I have what appears to be two separate does herds on my property but no bachelor group. Can you attract and then hold a bachelor group on a piece of property that has food plots, water, hard mast, soft mast and bedding areas?
ANSWER: The short answer is, yes, absolutely. The more you improve the habitat, the better it will attract and hold deer. Unfortunately, even the best efforts don’t always produce desired results, and there’s no specific recipe of bachelor group habitat.
Sometimes it depends on deer densities, age structure and other variables. Bucks don’t always join bachelor groups. Some are loners, and if deer numbers are low, it’s less likely what bucks are present will group up. Older bucks are more likely to associate, as their home ranges and core areas are more well established whereas yearlings are typically dispersing to new areas in the fall, but may join an established group if one exists.
Property size and location also can be a factor. The local bucks may be congregating nearby but not on your property. Also bear in mind that bachelor groups are loose associations that change on a daily basis. Individual bucks may have separate core areas but come together around feeding time at a particular place, and it’s not always the same bucks.
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