Few things stir up the trash talking in hunting camp like the harvest of a button buck. Most all of us have done it at one time or another. It happens.
But keep in mind, button bucks are our shooter bucks of tomorrow. So it’s obviously in a hunter’s best interest to slow down, and take the time to ensure they are not pulling the trigger on a button buck.
But there’s more to the future of button bucks that you may not have considered. Below, Brian Murphy of HuntStand shares some insight on button buck biology every hunter should know.
As mentioned in the video above, button bucks rarely end up making their home range on the place they were born. In fact, Murphy says that 70% or better will move on to reestablish elsewhere.
Studies also show that a button buck’s average dispersal distance is 1-5 miles. And it can be as much as 10-20 miles.
The thought of losing your bucks can be concerning. However, keep in mind, as button bucks leave and take up a home range on the neighboring properties, button bucks born on those neighboring properties will also leave to take up home range on your property. It’s a natural cycle that keeps the local herd in balance.
Murphy encourages hunters to be cautious in their harvest of button bucks. “Sometimes it happens by accident,” says Murphy. “Give that hunter the benefit of the doubt. But when you have a repeat offender that continues to harvest button bucks on your property, it may be time to take some action to limit their opportunities to shoot your button bucks.”
What about you? Do you have rules in place when it comes to shooting button bucks on the property you hunt? Comment below and let us know.
