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bucks with does in summer

Joined Apr 2009
132 Posts | 0+
Minnesota
I may be leaving a buck in with my does this summer. I have done this before with out problems (that I know of).


Has anyone done this? Has there been any problems? Do they grow out the same? Should they be in with other males?


 
 
I do it with the breeder buck every year, no issues. They never hurt a single fawn, and they are always the dominate deer of the pen so they always get to eat their fill at the feeder. I honestly don't think it hurts antler growth in anyway.
 
Some does are not so friendly after they fawn. I have seen does kick at buck and break antler points off causing issues. All in all you should be fine. Just watch for the kickers and move if needed.
 
We have for over 25 years kept the breeding buck in with his does and never had a problem. The bucks will always help mom clean up the new born fawns. Them buck fawns need a dad around to learn from. This pic won 1st.prize at NADEFA with the caption ( dad , just wait till I grow up and grow antlers )


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It probably won't hurt the health of a breeder buck to leave him with the doe year round. If you want him to grow the nicest set of antlers his genetics enable you should consider in what environment on your farm will he be stressed the least. Consider the bachelor groups you see in the wild. Yearling bucks hang with other yearlings and the mature bucks with other mature. Mother Nature is very wise. If you have plenty of pen space I would put your breeder with a few of the smaller bodied bucks you have in his age group during growing season to get the best set of horns on his head. Don't put him all by himself! The biggest bodied buck is almost always king of the pen during growing season. Once in hard antler throw all this out the window. The clean thick mass, narrow, long tined,big bodied 8point will destroy everybody in the pen in pecking order.We as herdsman dictate the stress level of the animals behind our fences.The whitetail is an amazingly adaptable creature but remember forcing him to adapt creates a level of stress. Stress is an antler growth killer. Flees Bucky grew his best set of antlers surprisingly in the doe pen I believe.