Sometimes it feels like the whole year is spent waiting and anticipating the month of November. In these parts November means one thing...the whitetail deer rut has started...
The rut is the one time of year when secretive bucks throw caution to the wind. One might be seen at any time of the day and almost anywhere...
The buck shown above is making a scrape. He creates a bare spot of earth by pawing the ground. When the size is acceptable, he will stand in the center and urinate on his legs allowing the flow to pass over his tarsal glands and imparting his unique odor. In this way he announces his availability to mate.
A different buck emerges from the woods. He has been thrashing bushes and small trees with his antlers.
He still has the evidence hanging from his antlers...
He will get back to the rut after he finishes his apple...
He's not looking for another apple in that tree...
His mind is back on the rut now...
He is about to add a licking branch to his scrape...
By stretching to his full height and both licking and rubbing his pre-orbital glands on the branches he demonstrates his size to other deer.
Grizzly and black bears do something similar when they rub their backs on trees and telephone poles.
Thanks for visiting, be well and come back soon.
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