Last month I photographed two Mule Deer bucks that showed decidedly different effects of the rut.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I found this handsome guy at Bear River MBR on November 13 as he escorted a single doe around the marshes (she’s just out of frame to the right). He seemed to be in prime condition with a beautiful coat, a nice spread of antlers and the classic swollen neck of a buck in rut.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Four days later I photographed this buck on Antelope Island. He’s handsome too but he shows the apparent scars of war. Battles between competing bucks are intense this time of year and at first glance it appears that this guy may have been on the losing end of at least one of them.
However, the more I look at my images of this buck the more I wonder if the “scars” were caused by something else. They seem too uniform in depth to have been caused by the sharp antlers of a competing buck during battle. All four of them seem to be places on his skin where there is no hair but the hide itself appears undamaged. Perhaps it’s a skin condition or something else I haven’t thought of. I just don’t know.
I never did get a look at the right side of this buck so I don’t know if there were any similar scars there. He simply crossed the road in front of him (just out of frame) and then he was gone.
Ron
As an afterthought I decided to include a heavily cropped version of the previous image to show more detail of the “wounds”.
He doesn’t look in the slightest bit bothered by them – where ever they came from.
Which is the important thing for me.
A majestic beast.
Agreed, EC. He acted completely normal while I was watching him.
Great shots Ron! Looks like it’s pretty rough rutting.
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
They look like rub marks. I have a dog with scars like that from where she may have gotten caught under a fence (she’s a rescue).
Could be, Arwen…
Hi Ron,
Fraternity initiation. He’ll get it taken care of with a trip to Super Cuts… 😀😀
Cheers,
Dick
That must be it, Dick! Don’t know why I didn’t think of it…
I remember wondering if these were car scars…or someother vehicle. They looked more like scrapes to me…from a vehicle or hooves…contact with something. I wonder if the hair folicles are intact or destroyed and , if intact, will fill in white. He looks to be in good condition.
Lots of possibilities, Patty. Fun to wonder though.
Except for the one at the top of his back, these patches don’t look like scars to me. The skin is just too smooth. Both of these bucks are gorgeous animals.
I agree, Susan – on both counts.
Hmmmm – wonder if it got hit by a car and skidded around. We had one that way a few years back that had also lost an antler, BUT wasn’t that smooth in the wound areas. Great shots no matter what. 🙂
Thanks, Judy.
Another remote possibility is an encounter with one of the bison on the island but I suspect that is highly unlikely.
I don’t know, either, but my first thought was the wounds looked like the shape of another deer’s hooves (along with a couple of antler scrapes??? But who knows what might have caused them. There are many options. I wonder if he won the battle or was conquered this year? And I look at your page first every morning. It’s a lovely way to start the day.
Critters keep a lot of secrets from us, don’t they, Laura? In this case we can only speculate.
I’m glad to hear that I’ve become part of your morning routine!
Yep, you, the magic you bring through your photography and coffee with the dogs curled up at my side. A lovely way to begin the day!
A beautiful set Ron, I love it when you digress and take shots of other critters. Here’s hoping you’ll take some more of an Ermine this winter!!
I have to admit I look at your shots before I do much reading of the post and the spots on the bucks side looked initially like the hair was scrapped off. Like he got caught between something, fence or wooden projections that would pull hair, but not inflict any deeper cut or wound.
Other than that, two beautiful bucks!!
You may very well be right, Dick. They sure don’t look like typical fighting scars to me but then I’m far from an expert on the subject.
I’m glad to hear that you appreciate my occasional “digressions” (transgressions?..) as I like to photograph wildlife other than birds whenever I have the opportunity.
I’m constantly looking for weasels, especially in winter. They’re very elusive subjects though…