Isn't it a little early for this?

fighting or sparing? i had pics up of them sparing nothing like balls out agressive. Bucks will establish their territory this time of year about now. im sure the older bucks are always following their ladies around. deer do follow other deer. so i wouldnt say he maybe was after her, is to so much just following the hidden trail threw the feild if that makes sense.

It's a bit early but not unheard of. Anytime after they shed you will see bucks pushing each other around and sometimes it can get a little rough. That's what sucks, they spend all summer growing those antlers and then break them off before the archery season starts. I see the odd scrapes in my September scouting and have for years but usually they don't get hit the second time. Heck, a few years ago I hunted a scrape in Oct that was opened up again in late Jan and again in late March so anything is possible.

Pecking order,mock scraped,are not uncommon this time of year,it's all a build up of what's to come.

lol trust me, its not going on(just them being like kids always someone wants to rule)..the rut won't, and can't happen any earlier then usual, the does wont come into estrus any earlier. maybe a day or so, just not weeks, heck months before hand. the amount of light makes it happen for the does. once that happens then you'll really see a change. a scrape does not mean rut activity. deer are very social.