Pre Rut

Most days Jill and I take the girls out for a walk – generally 1 to 1½ mile if the app on the mobile device is to be believed.  Of course, if you are a Labrador retriever you might as well double the distance because Labs never travel in a straight line and are always hunting something, rolling in something, splashing in the creek and generally getting into something which usually leads to a bath upon returning home.  But I digress.  We were also scouting deer sign as the male whitetails are beginning to stake-out their territories in preparation for the breeding season – or the rut.  The lead-up is what is known as pre-rut.   

These are beginning to appear on the landscape – buck rubs.  Generally a tamarack sacrificed to the cause.  It is a common misconception that deer rubs on trees are caused by male whitetails attempting to rub the velvet from their antlers.  While it would not be unusual for a velvet-antlered deer to rub against a tree the rubbing seen at this time of year is a consequence of deer that have long-ago shed the velvet from their antlers.  The rub in this photo was made by a dominant buck.  Consider it both a visual and a sensory calling card brought on by an increase in testosterone levels.   

It isn't unusual for other bucks to add their contribution to the rub but it's more to do with establishing the pecking order.  The term dominant buck is apropos given that one of the reasons for this behavior is to mark their territory and curb the lesser bucks both psychologically and hormonally.  This suppresses testosterone levels in the smaller bucks allowing the Big Guy to exert his influence and spread his seed during the breeding season.  The glands located in the forehead of the dominant male send a signal that this is my turf.  It also signals to the ladies of the male's readiness to mate.  Consider it the whitetail equivalent of passing-along your name and phone number to someone you might wish to meet again.   

If you encounter a whiff of deer pee redolent in the autumn air look carefully beneath any shoulder height tree branches close by.  You may locate a bare patch of dirt in the turf that is trampled with deer hoof prints.  This is called a scrape. 

Bucks create scrapes by using their hoofs to dig at the ground.   Once the soil is stirred up, they urinate on the scrape.  Bucks don’t pee the way we do.  We try to keep it off of us.  Bucks actually try to pee on their own legs.  The object is to hit their tarsal glands in an effort to leave their scent on the scrape.  Every deer has its own unique bouquet and the tarsal glands hold concentrated amounts of that spoor.  These early scrapes are few and far between and used principally to communicate as bucks begin to leave their bachelor groups and stake out their territory.  It is akin to posting a no trespassing sign on a property line.  Before too long it will be used to communicate breeding readiness. 

click on images for a closer look

 

At the bottom-center of the photo (above) is a scrape.  Yesterday I relocated a trail camera to patiently record who visits this location.  Above the scrape is a licking branch.  I’ll talk more about the role of the licking branch after I swap-out the SD card next weekend to see if this scrape is active. 

Stay tuned...