The Whitetail Bucks Shed The Velvet

Many of the whitetail bucks shed their velvet during the last week of August and the first part of September, but I had not seen any signs of this until September 1st, when a four-point came running into the meadow with the velvet completely shed.

Velvet Completely Shed

That evening a small three point showed up that aptly portrayed how the process usually proceeds.  The velvet on his right antler had small cracks, and was speckled with bloody spots and streaks of blood, while velvet hung in long bloody strips from the left one.

Velvet With Small Cracks And Bleeding

Velvet Hanging In Strips

Soon all of the bucks will have bare antlers and the first stirrings of the pre-rut and rut will sweep through the herd, as the cooler weather of autumn arrives.

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Originally posted at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill