Related bucks hanging out?

[TaperPin]

One scouting trip, a true monster walked right below us 200 yards away during a lunch break - either his body was very small, or he was the poster child for a 200-210 point deer with a 5” drop tine off the left side. For 20 minutes the big guy and two slightly younger deer, all with drop tines of the same shape and location slowly worked their way across this big opening and at one point the big guy rubbed a little on a little tree which was a treat given his size. There was a fourth even younger 3x3 deer with no drop tine. Do family members know they are related? I’d assume so. How often are the small deer we see with old deer related?

 

[6.5Express]

Ive wondered the same thing, and similar antler configurations or features make me think it's the case. Even seeing similar configurations / features multiple years in a row in a location. But, I dont have facts to back it.

Good question; I'm glad you asked it.

 

[TaperPin]

Ive wondered the same thing, and similar antler configurations or features make me think it's the case. Even seeing similar configurations / features multiple years in a row in a location. But, I dont have facts to back it.

Good question; I'm glad you asked it.

I bet the ease of dna testing has brought up a lot of interesting deer trivia that will slowly become more publicly known as researchers publish more papers on it.

 

[jimh406]

I don't believe they know they are related. However, it's common for bucks to hang out together until the rut starts. Sometimes in a group of 2-3 and I've seen as many as 10 or so ... some with similar racks and some that are not.

 

[Smithb9841]

I was wondering the same thing on my elk hunt in Colorado this year, seen 2 very nice bucks with nearly identical antler configurations and wondered if they were related both deer were not really wide maybe just inside the ears but were both really tall 4 points with forks about the same depth on their forks and had pretty heavy horns. Was only about 25 yards away so got a good look at both and there racks were nearly identical in everyway.

I don’t think they know they are related but looked like they could have been twins. Would like to hear some more experienced guys chime in.

 

[jmez]

Deer have no concept of relatives.

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[TaperPin]

Deer have no concept of relatives.

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I always assumed animals could smell relatives since a dominant kangaroo rat kills the offspring of rival males. (or some animal I can’t think of) Or is that a myth? Idk