Pre Rut

There are a number of locations on our property where you can predict the arrival of a deer scrape almost to the day. Last Saturday doggo and I were out hunting ringnecks when we decided to check several of those spots for any activity.

Sure 'nuff, and right on time, at the bottom of this photo (arrow) is a recently started scrape.  At the top of the photo is a horizontal branch of an oak tree just to the left of the photo frame.  This is called a licking branch.  Licking branches are located directly above a scrape. 

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 hind 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.  About the licking branch - a tree branch will hang above the cleared out soil. Bucks will rub their forehead glands on it and will also lick it with their tongue. 

The earliest of scrapes that begin to appear in October 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. 

Scrapes serve much the same function in the whitetail world as a mailbox post or a fire hydrant does for dogs.  Scrapes are meant to show dominance over a territory but are normally used by more than one buck.   

Very soon the scrape will be used to communicate breeding readiness. 

The Deer Camp Chronicles

In the run-up to deer camp there are deer and evidence of their rutting (mating) activities.

Buck rubs

A sensory (visual and olfactory) signpost that this is my territory

And tending a scrape

Bucks create scrapes by using their hooves to dig at the ground.  Once the turf 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 pee on their hind legs.  The object is to his 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 this spoor.

Another thing associated with scrapes is a licking branch.  A tree branch above the cleared out soil.  Bucks will rub their forehead glands on the stick and will also lick it with their tongue.

It's all quite romantic.

The Rut

The rut has officially arrived with the bucks making themselves visible during daylight hours and scrapes and rubs appearing on the landscape.

Including this dandy Big Boy that showed-up on one of the trail cameras.

Rub

Scrapes

Above the scrapes there is the licking branch

Trail

Pre-Rut

If you encounter a whiff of deer pee redolent in the autumn air look carefully beneath any shoulder height tree branches that are 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 those of us males of the human species do.  We try to keep it off of our legs and boots.  Whitetail 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 scent. The tarsal glands hold concentrated amounts of that scent.  

scrape - bottom center and  licking branch top center

 

 

Another thing scrapes have is a licking branch - a tree branch will hang above the cleared out soil. Bucks will rub their forehead glands on the stick and will also lick it with their tongue.  

 

Scrapes serve much the same function in the whitetail world as a mailbox post or a fire hydrant does for dogs.  Scrapes are meant to show dominance over a territory but are normally used by more than one buck.   

 

These early scrapes are a bit different.  Few and far between they are mainly used 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.  Later in the season an active scrape will be used to communicate breeding readiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, there are these beginning to appear on the landscape – buck rubs.   

 

 

Around these parts it is typically a tamarack sapling 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 the 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 create the circumstances for successfully spreading 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. 

 

Stay-tuned for additional updates from whitetail romance land.

Scouting the Rut

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.  As the breeding season - the rut - commences these scrapes are used principally to communicate as bucks begin to leave their bachelor groups and stake out their breeding territory.  It is akin to posting a no trespassing sign on a property line.  Eventually it will be used to communicate breeding readiness.   

Another thing scrapes have is a licking branch - a tree branch will hang above the cleared-out soil. Bucks will rub their forehead glands on the branch and will also lick it with their tongue.

Even though these scrapes serve much the same function in the whitetail world as a mailbox post or a fire hydrant does for dogs it would not be unusual for them to be visited by more than one buck.

From last Saturday is this photo of an active scrape.  Coincidentally, it also happens to be located within range of a trail camera set on video mode.

More than one buck has been passing thru here to pay a call and leave a message.  

Here is a short, silent, IR mode video vignette captured recently.  It is an excellent illustration of the role of the licking branch.

 

The Rut

From our walk today there was this.

At the bottom of the photo (center) is a fresh scrape.

Middle of the photo the horizontal limb from the small oak on the left is a licking branch just above the scrape.

Both of these are typically found together.

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 hind 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.  Another thing scrapes have is a licking branch - a tree branch will hang above the cleared out soil. Bucks will rub their forehead glands on the stick and will also lick it with their tongue. 

The earliest of scrapes that begin to appear in October 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. 

Scrapes serve much the same function in the whitetail world as a mailbox post or a fire hydrant does for dogs.  Scrapes are meant to show dominance over a territory but are normally used by more than one buck.   

Very soon the scrape will be used to communicate breeding readiness. 

 

Rut

The whitetail rut has commenced.

From our walk yesterday morning (Saturday) there was evidence of a fresh scrape in the foreground of this trail camera.

And following the upload of the contents of the SD card was evidence of Mr. Buck freshening it the evening beforehand....

Including a healthy reach for the licking branch overhead....

And giving it a really good pee......

Grainy images and really crappy composition but I think you get the picture of the what these fellas will do to stake-out their territory and signal a willingness to breed.

That is at least a ten-point buck too. 

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...