The Fight

Last week I witnessed an actual dominance fight between 2 black-tailed deer bucks that were definitely mature bucks. I had been watching a number of deer for some time, when the large buck feeding with others perked up and walked over to a small rise. Something was up. That something turned out to be another buck arriving in the area. The went behind and oak tree and I knew something was going on, so I moved to a better position to see what was happening. What I saw was the 2 bucks pushing very hard and twisting their antlers in attempts to get the upper hand with the other. Several times they stopped and looked at each other and then re-engaged. Most of the time it looked almost like slow motion but then one would make some really quick move and things changed. The end came very quickly after a move by the larger buck. The other buck turned and ran away as quickly as it could. The victor just moved in that direction a bit and watched him go.

Here are the 2 deer with antlers engaged and pushing and twisting as best they can.

In this 2nd photo, the larger buck on the left has pushed the smaller one back about 5-6 feet. In real close-up viewing of these guys, I can see how the larger buck (with bigger/wider antlers) can get tines past the antlers of the smaller one and get them pressed to the skull. I didn't see any blood in the battle. But I'm sure there was a very battered ego.

In this last frame, you can see the larger buck (now on the right) has twisted the smaller bucks head. He soon was able to push the smaller one about 25 feet to the left. He then made a sudden move which the smaller buck decided was enough and he high-tailed it out of there. An interesting encounter to say the least. My first time observing this kind of interaction.

Lots of action here, Peter. I assume they parted the fight OK in the end.

I most recently saw a video where things did not go as well. Three hunters had to dislodge a dead deer carcase from a live deer who had been in a battle with the other and could not break free from the other deer's set of antlers. It took everything the hunters could do to part the two. The deer was finally separated from the dead one and was able to run off after the hunters broke them free of each other.

Thanks for sharing your personal encounter and accompanying photos........well done!

Exciting opportunity to observe and capture, nicely done. It is interesting that they get so involved with their battles that they become oblivious to your presence in the moment. Nice consistency with the exposure and colours across the three photographs. I'm first and foremost a still photographer but when there is action of this type I am sometimes torn about whether I will shoot a video or shoot stills, either way its all good.