Midway Through The Rut

Yesterday was a great time to be in the woods if you wanted to see bucks on the move.  The chasing phase is mostly over, with only spike and button bucks still trying to pursue does.  For the most part, the mature bucks are either with a doe on the verge of being ready to breed, or they are calmly walking through the woods sniffing out does that have not been bred yet...

 

 

This buck, both above and below, is the double main beam that I have posted earlier. There is a second main beam that is plainly visible in the next photo as he lifts his head to sniff and lick a branch...

 

The rut takes a heavy toll on the bucks.  They typically lose a significant amount of weight, often break antlers, and suffer other more serious injuries.  The next two photos are of bucks with broken antlers, probably occurring when they clashed with a rival over a doe...

 

 

 

This buck has lost his right eye, almost certainly when the antler tine of another buck damaged it while fighting...

 

 

Sadly, we have entered the window (October through March) specified by the National Park Service for eliminating these deer.  If you wish to see living mature whitetail bucks I must stress the  importance of doing it now, before the sharpshooters begin their grisly task.

 

Thanks for visiting, be well, and stop back soon.