Active Scrape

Several weeks ago the Missus and I were out for a walk and found an active deer scrape near a trail camera.  Naturally, the camera was aimed away from the scrape.  It was a small matter to rotate the cam on the tree in the general direction of the scrape.  

This cam is located just south of the middle guard tower.  

Last weekend I uploaded some photos from that cam to review who was visiting.  I took the first pic a couple of days ago when out with the dog to provide a sense of orientation. Date and time stamps are visible.  

The scrape is the darker patch in the turf located in front of the dog and slightly to her left - centered near the bottom of the photo.

 

Pre-Rut

 

Two weeks ago we found our first deer rub; predictably a sacrificial tamarack sapling. While out for our daily walk yesterday Ruby and I found our first 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 to deposit their scent on it.

 

The earliest of rubs and 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.

Daylight Bucks

Yes, evidence of daylight movement of bucks around these parts.

The boys have got romance on their minds...

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.

Pre-Rut

As the pre-rut begins another behavior that bucks engage-in is sparring.

It's all about establishing dominance and thus breeding rights when the main rut kicks-in.

It's not often you witness this behavior in person.  

Thusly, it is infrequent to capture it digitally...

 

 

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.

Love in the Air?

This short, silent, video vignette was captured at the very end of January.

Two weeks before Valentines Day there is no mistaking the behavior captured digitally by an ever-vigilant trail camera. 

That is a dandy buck chasing a girl deer - and if I'm not mistaken he's got loving on his mind.

An occurrence more common in the southern latitudes - this behavior is less common here half-way between the equator and the north pole.  Nevertheless, it is not entirely unknown.  

Female whitetails generally come into estrus within a shared window of opportunity beginning in mid-October into mid-December.  Gestation is around 200 days with fawn drop beginning in April and into June.  Unbred does will come into heat again 28 days later.  

With better nutritional resources here in farm country female deer born in the spring are often bred in their first year of life.  These younger mothers will come into estrus later than mature does and their fawns are delivered in July and sometimes as late as August.  

It is these late-bred does that explains the arrival of newborn fawns on the landscape in summer.  These fawns are at a disadvantage going into the fall as they lack the head start necessary to put on sufficient bulk and fat reserves than those with the earlier start.  

While some may not survive their first winter - around here (food sources), the absence of large predators (wolves and black bear) and the moderating impact of water on opposite coastlines - these late arrivals stand a better chance of survival than their brethren born in Wisconsin's north woods.   

A remarkably adaptable animal the whitetail deer is. 

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

This is a buck rub. Every day we see more of them while out on our daily walk.     

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.   

Around here the tree of choice for rubbing seems to be willow, younger aspen and tamarack.  This happens to be an assault on a basswood tree planted about a decade and a half ago and happens to be in our front yard. Is it something about the bark? Is it the diameter of the tree? Is there a scent imparted by the tree to the deer?  Or vice versa?  

It's actually the versa. 

So here's the rub.  If you've ever had an opportunity to watch my Labrador retriever in action it's all about scent.  When she is running hot on a trail she isn’t following with her eyes as much as she is following her nose.  Deer scrapes are much-ado about scent-marking. A deer rub carries with it a sensory experience that engages scent and visual impact.    

The rub above was made by a dominant buck - brought about by the impact of testosterone overload.  It would not be unusual for other bucks to add their contribution to the rub but it's more to do with establishing the hierarchy amongst the local bucks.

The term dominant buck is apropos given that one of the reasons for this behavior is to mark their territory and curb and intimidate the lesser bucks both psychologically and hormonally.  This suppresses testosterone levels in the subordinate males allowing the dominant whitetail to exert his influence.    

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.  It is the whitetail equivalent of leaving your name and phone number with someone at the bar.     

If I had to hazard a guess I think I am witnessing pre-rut activity - colloquially the same as the beginning of the breeding season.

 

More Rutting Activity

 

Speaking of the rut after the morning walk this was discovered in the south corner of our front yard.

This basswood tree had been planted about fifteen years ago as a tiny potted 'stick' of a tree.  And over the last decade and a half it has grown into a handsome and straight native hardwood of about 3+ inches in diameter near its base.

Overnight Mr. Buck decided to pay a nocturnal visit and tear-up the bark on the south-facing side of the trunk to mark his territory and establish dominance.

Grrrrr.......

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. 

Rut

I took these photos a coupe of weeks ago during the mid-December antlerless hunt.  One of the only deer I spies appeared to be a fork (possibly a six) but for sure it was a buck.  It was there a gone in a flash and disappeared from my field of view.

In any event, when I dismounted my stand to begin a slow and deliberate walk back to the house in the gathering dusk I encountered a couple of interesting phenomenon.

First, was that this buck not only chose to walk precisely in the trail I had busted in the snow hiking to and from the arm pit stand.....

click on images for a closer look

He had seemingly deliberately chose to step mostly in my footsteps.  Not outside or parallel to my trail. But in and on my trail.  Go figure.  You have to wonder what's up with that, eh?

Second, there was this.  Something that was most definitely not there on my walk out - but was there on my walk home.

A scrape.

That buck I observed was freshening his scrape directly below the licking branch of a swamp oak.  The only time he stepped-off my track!

How else would those girl deer get impregnated in January?



Don't let anyone tell you that rutting behavior doesn't extend late into the calendar year and sometimes into January.

Scouting

Yesterday I blogged about flagging the property boundaries as a first step in preparation for a logging operation.  One of the benefits of spending the better part of a day beating the bush is scouting for deer sign.  Not only did the dogs and I jump about a half-dozen bedded whitetails - we also took note of evidence that the rut (the breeding season) is now kicking into high gear.

scrape in the foreground - click to enlarge

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 scent. The tarsal glands hold concentrated amounts of that scent.  

 click on the image and you will see a deer stand forty yards distant

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.   

 click on any image to enlarge

Then there are the rubs.  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 seen on these photos was made by a dominant buck.  Consider it both a visual and a sensory calling card brought on by too much testosterone.  

red oak along the trail fifty yards from the house

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 leaving your name and phone number with someone at the bar.

More later so stay tuned..

Active Scrape

By the time you read this we'll be out hunting and maybe even have something hanging.  Both of the following photos were snapped on December 4th - a week ago - a nice eight-point buck and a chubby doe. The location is that busy deer scrape located on the main, north-south trail at the north end of The Platz.

 
That big guy survivor pictured above should be safe. It is an antlerless-only hunt this weekend/