Silly Cervids

[Bob Moran]

This evening I was in my ground blind and saw six deer in a small pasture headed my way. Suddenly, one of the deer (a juvenile I guess) started racing around the other five. It was running a loop around the others that was about 150 yds in length and the others just stood there and watched. Nothing was chasing it. Anyone ever observe this behavior? Was it just a youngster being silly or was something else going on? Whatcha' think?

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have seen deer get playful at times.

Really not much different than a puppy or a child getting rid of excess energy.

It sure is fun to watch.

[VictoryHunter]

Just playing! Our deer seem to do that quite often around here.

[ChuckC]

Have you seen that you-tube clip from a trail camera set up over a wallow.  A young elk is playing in the water, then (I think) mamma calls, and the calf runs off ( after just one more splash session).

CHuckC

Seen fawns and yearlings carry on like that. I think they are just enjoying life being young!

Bisch

[Stumpkiller]

Years ago I was watching a field from inside the woods near a corner and two small bucks took to the field and started sparring.  A spike joined them and he "proinked" around them stiff-legged in a circle like a baby goat does.  I was laughing out loud watching.  He'd buck and shake his head - just full of excitement watching those two bigger deer go at it (halfheartedly).

Wish I had a video of that.

[joe ashton]

energy to burn....

[CoachBGriff]

I was hunting a big, mature, open timber one time, and I had two fawns come out and chase each other around in a giant loop multiple times.  

The loop started directly under my tree stand, and the diameter across the loop was probably 150 yards.  

They sprinted waaayyyyy away, and then they chased each other back around to again.  Then they just walked off.

[cahaba]

They remind me of young calves the way they buck and play.

[Whip]

Yep, we see it all the time right behind our house.  Usually it will be the young ones, but on occasion Mamma will join in the chase.

[reddogge]

They also raise up on hind legs and do a pretend boxing thing.

[bofish-IL]

About 5 years ago I had a button buck that I called sneezy. Each evening that I hunted this same stand I would hear him back in the brush like he was trying to get something out of his sinus. He would make this noise then come running by my stand up over the hill. 2 minutes later here he comes running back. He would do this for 10 minutes or so until finally an old doe and yearling doe would walk out and he would join them feeding.  Then he would start bumping the yearling doe until she would run and play with him. He put on quite a show.