Lock Horns

Become embroiled in conflict, as in At the town meeting Kate and Steve locked horns over increasing the property tax. This expression alludes to how stags and bulls use their horns to fight one another.

A whitetail's antlers are useful for defense against predators and other deer. Here are some photos taken mid-December of a couple of two-and-a-half-year-old bucks sparring.

When this behavior occurs in autumn during the pre-rut these matches are considered behavior that strengthens the social bonds among males in the local herd. As the rut progresses sparring contributes to establishing the dominant males for purposes of breeding.

From time-to-time these matches will turn into all-out fights.

On rare occasion bucks will find themselves locked-together which may result in death of one or both animals.

These are some sweet photos on a couple of levels. The composition and lighting is very good and it is not every day you capture this behavior digitally....