Rut Is Slowing...

Rut action is slowing down and I think the peak has passed.  This post will share some of the photos of the rut not posted earlier. 

I spotted this buck coming out of a creek bed early one morning.  He was following a doe…

 

When smaller bucks get too close to a doe the larger buck chases him off; this happens over and over again until the larger buck can breed the doe…

 

 I noticed the buck in the next photos limping but I could not tell what might be wrong with him.  I finally was able to see that his right front foot was swollen at the metatarsal area…

 

This buck is visiting a licking branch.  He is leaving his scent by licking and rubbing his pre-orbital scent glands on the branch. Deer of both sexes utilize these branches…

This buck is trailing a doe.  He will likely follow her until the moment she is ready to mate…

Here, a button buck walked up to a much larger deer and invited him to spar.  Fortunately for the button buck, the older deer ignored him…

 

Some bucks are still moving about, hoping to find a doe that has not been bred yet…

 

As always, thanks for visiting, stay well, and stop back soon.