Buck fever is a term used to describe the intense desire to hunt and kill a buck. This intense desire usually begins when someone is just a few yards away from a buck and views it as their chance to bag a trophy. This intense desire can lead people to do anything, including beat an already injured buck to submission.
The buck may be the king of the forest, but when it comes to hunting, it’s often the underdog. But what happens when that underdog is finally beaten?
The buck starts to get sick. It begins with a fever, then a cough, a runny nose, and sometimes watery eyes. If he has no access to clean, fresh drinking water, he can get diarrhea. He becomes lethargic and loses weight. He will start eating less and stop trying to play and eat hay. The fever may last for one to three days. If his temperature stays high or he doesn’t recover after three days, call your vet. Fever and cough are usually caused by bacteria or a virus. If he gets pneumonia, you may need to take him to the emergency room.
The first time a buck is beaten, it will suffer a series of bruises on its face and legs. The severity of the injuries will depend on the amount of force used, the number of times the buck is beaten, and the number of days between beatings.
Or this can happen too…
Surprisingly, the buck may not react at all. Or, if it does react, it may run away or try to fight back. A buck’s reaction to being beaten can depend on its individual personality and whether it has been conditioned to exhibit certain behaviors after being subjected to physical abuse.
Why are the bucks beaten?
The buck is beaten because it has a lower perceived value than other animals. This is due to the fact that the buck has a smaller rack and fewer points on its head. There are other factors that contribute to the buck’s lower value, such as its low population density and its lack of popularity with hunters.
When the first time a buck is beaten, he learns he has to obey men but decides never to surrender inside.
When a buck is beaten for the first time, he will likely become submissive to the dominant buck in the herd. If there is no other buck in the herd, the beaten buck may become aggressive and attempt to take over the herd.
