I''m often asked what criteria whitetail bucks use to form bachelor groups in the late summer. Let me explain. Except during the rut, small groups of bucks will travel together the rest of the year. In heavily wooded areas, these bachelor groups usually consist of two to three bucks. In more open terrain, bachelor groups are about four to five bucks. Although I'm not sure why these groups are larger, it is almost always the case.

Bachelor groups of males don't "hang" with each other all of the time. Different bucks come and go within these groups. I think it is a way for males to "teach" each other which the more aggressive bucks (often referred to as "dominant," although that term isn't exactly correct) within a herd. Outside of the rut, smaller bucks can sometimes be seen with more mature bucks. You can often see these lesser bucks exhibit submissive type behavior when they are physically closer to a mature buck within a herd. They will often sidestep out of the way when a more mature animal comes near. In some instances, they will actually tuck their tails between their legs, hang their heads, and slowly, but purposefully, trot off. Some encounters are friendly. Sometimes, mature bucks will let a yearling or even a sub-adult (2 1/2 year old) lick and groom them. This usually does not happen during the rut. A more mature buck will allow this, as long as the smaller buck avoids making prolonged eye contact and continually exhibits gestures of subordination. This is a way for bucks to establish a pecking order without physical combat.

Actions of an individual deer are linked closely to its position in a social hierarchy. Most encounters within any family or herd group are met with aggression, where the high-ranking animal (buck or doe) establishes its superior position in the pecking order over a subordinate deer. Often this is accomplished with displays of aggressive body language that end up saving energy and possible bodily injury to each animal. This type of less aggressive behavior is witnessed with bachelor groups during the spring and summer months.

The reason that during some summers just a few bucks are seen in a group and in other summers it appears that bachelor groups include every buck in the area, is mostly based on what age groups of bucks are most prevalent during that particular year. Remember that buck groups are not permanent associations membership within the club is constantly changing. Even though it may appear that the same bucks are staying together all summer and into early fall, most times they shift from group to group. Different bucks always come and go within other bachelor groups.

For instance, if most of the yearlings and the bucks two and a half years old were shot during hunting season, then these age groups of males will be absent in the bachelor groups the following summer. The same principle applies to all other age classes. Even during the peaceful times of spring, summer, and early fall, each age group tends to "hang out" with other bucks of their own age. Just how many of them form a certain bachelor group depends on how many of each age class dies the year before. There isn't any hardcore rule that bucks follow about joining up with other bucks other than the age class. Getting close to these male groups takes patience. Scout from a distance or better yet a vehicle. By early September, most of these bachelor groups you have been keeping tabs on are already thinking about breaking up. They begin the process by traveling greater distances and feeding by themselves which accounts for why scouting hunters often lose track of bachelor groups by summer's end.

A reliable way to keep an eye on the bucks you watch is to know what preferred food sources they are feeding on as summer draws to a close. Find the preferred food choices and you will find your bachelor groups even if they come to feed separately now. To scout from a distance, use a good pair of 10x50 binoculars. Another option is to scout from a vehicle so as not to disturb the bucks by pressuring them on foot. If you give them too much pressure even in early fall, they will become less visible. It doesn't take a mature buck much time at all to react to even the least amount of trespassing within his range no matter what time of year it occurs.

During the summer when bucks are very careful not to injure their growing velvet antlers, they rarely try to "bully" one another. If a mature buck feels it has to establish superiority over a lesser buck while its antlers are still in velvet, it does so through body language and does not use its antlers or hooves. Establishing the pecking order is a year-round process. Big bucks hardly ever have to establish their rank with lesser bucks. Notice I have avoided the word dominance twice, as true dominance is not really applicable to the whitetail's world. If they must reinforce their position within the herd, it usually occurs with another buck of the same size.

For instance, in early September last year, I saw two mature bucks a 10-point and a larger 8-point feeding in one of my cornfields. I had seen these two bucks with two other equally large 8-point bucks several times earlier during June and July. The big 10-point was high on the pecking order in this group but the four of them seemed to get along very well. I often saw them licking each other and feeding side by side. But on the second of September, both of the smaller 8- point bucks were absent from the group that day and during subsequent sightings throughout most of September. The 10-point buck had a wide and high rack, and I estimated he would score about 145 B&C inches after he shed his velvet. The 8-point buck's rack was as large as the 10-point buck's, but his body size suggested he was probably a year younger. The 10-point exited the woodlot and started walking toward a field of corn. When the 8-point exited the woods, the larger buck stopped, turned, and briefly looked at him waiting for a reaction. The instant reaction from the 8-point was to immediately put his head down and begin to eat clover. By doing so, he showed the 10-point that he had no interest in challenging him and gave him the right to feed first.

Once the 10-point buck saw the 8- point's body language, he returned to feed on the corn. Not until the 10-point moved from the corn did the 8-point buck decide it was safe to enter the corn to feed as well. When the larger racked buck moved off to the woodlot, the 8-point buck fed on the corn for only a few more minutes. Not wanting to lose sight of the larger buck and wanting to be near him socially, the 8-point then quickly followed the 10- point buck into the woods. All four of the bucks I watched that summer were mature whitetails, but as summer ended, the group of four broke i

nto two groups of two bucks each. As summer ends, be alert when you are watching bachelor groups and especially when the bucks start to shed their velvet. You'll get to witness firsthand some of the behavioral changes in social groups, ranging from total tolerance to absolute belligerence. It will shed some light not only on how bachelor groups socialize, but it will also give you clues as to which deer will enter the rut first and as the top dog so to speak. It will also give you some clues as to which bucks will challenge each other for the top position of their pecking order as the rut takes progress. This information can give a savvy hunter all the edge he needs to know how to ambush the best buck.

Remember that a lesser buck will pause in the woods slightly behind or to the side of a higher-ranking buck as he enters a field or pauses to feed on acorns. This lesser buck is often distracted as he concentrates on the more senior buck, providing a terrific opportunity to come to full draw without getting noticed.

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